Texas governor-elect Hinojosa puts a Republican on her transition team, vows bipartisan government
Democrat Gina Hinojosa, who beat Republican Gov. Greg Abbott on Nov. 3, is due to take office Jan. 19, 2027, while Republicans keep the state Senate.
Gina Hinojosa, a Democratic state representative, held her first news conference as Texas governor-elect on Thursday, after she defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott on Nov. 3. She will be the state's first Latina governor and is set to take office Jan. 19, 2027. Hinojosa pledged a bipartisan transition and administration and said she would not be governor "for just Democrats."
Her transition team has Joe Madden as executive director. Ernest Bailes, a former Republican state lawmaker, and Ryan Pollock of the Texas State Building and Construction Trades Council are co-chairs. Hinojosa said Abbott was "gracious" and committed to a smooth handover.
Democrats also won the Texas House, while Republicans kept the state , and Democrat James Talarico won a U.S. Senate seat. Just the News reports that Hinojosa took 52% of the vote, a seven-point margin over Abbott, and says Bailes was among House Republicans who opposed Abbott's Education Savings Account bill. According to the Epoch Times, she told CNN that Texas will have laws to protect residents from data centers and that the state needs to stop what it is doing with them until then.
- 52% Hinojosa's vote share, as Just the News reports — Just the News
- seven points Hinojosa's margin over Abbott, per Just the News — Just the News
- Jan. 19, 2027 date Hinojosa is set to be sworn in — The Epoch Times
Three sides of the story
Liberal1 outlet
A profile of Texas' first Latina governor-elect
NPR's explainer is titled "What to know about Gina Hinojosa, Texas' first Latina governor-elect." It says she will become the first Latina governor of Texas, and it describes her as a state representative whose main legislative goal has been to strengthen public schools.
Center4 outlets
A bipartisan transition pledge after beating Abbott
The Seattle Times, running an Associated Press report, leads with Hinojosa's pledge to build a bipartisan administration after what it calls a "stunning upset." It says she is the first Democrat to win the office since 1990, quotes her saying "We are forging a new way forward," and notes her agenda faces a divided Legislature. Courthouse News titles its report with her "Now the fun part starts" remark and lists the team, quoting Republican Ernest Bailes on putting partisanship aside.
It adds that Republican Rep. Brian Harrison started a petition asking Abbott to call a special session to curb emergency powers, and quotes Sen. Ted Cruz: "Texas is blue." It says Republicans' Senate majority creates a "recipe for potential gridlock." Border Report's headline says she introduced her transition team and promised bipartisanship.
- The Seattle Times: Gina Hinojosa begins work to take office as Texas’ first Democratic governor in decades
- Courthouse News: ‘Now the fun part starts’: Gina Hinojosa begins transition into governorship
- Border Report: Texas Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa introduces transition team, promises bipartisanship
Conservative3 outlets
Her bipartisan team, data centers and campaign promises
The Epoch Times leads with the Republican named to the team and the bipartisan pledge. It quotes Hinojosa saying there is "really little light" between her and Bailes on public schools, and notes Abbott's office and the Texas Republican Party did not respond to its requests for comment. A second Epoch Times piece covers her CNN interview with Jake Tapper.
She said Texas will have laws to protect residents, and that "we need to stop what we are doing with data centers" until those protections exist. The piece notes the Trump administration backs data center expansion. Just the News opens with the team being led by a Harris Democrat and a Republican who voted to Ken Paxton.
It adds her campaign promises of a $1,500 check and an end to the voucher program, and says Elon Musk gave more than $5.5 million to Abbott's campaign.
- The Epoch Times: Texas Governor-Elect Hinojosa Names Republican to Transition Team, Pledges Bipartisan Administration
- The Epoch Times: Texas Governor-Elect Says She Plans Laws to Protect Residents Affected by Data Centers
- Just the News: Texas Governor-elect Hinojosa announces bipartisan transition team
Which side made the stronger case?
Just the News reports that during the campaign Hinojosa vowed to send all Texans a check for $1,500 and to end the state's Education Savings Account voucher program. She takes office Jan. 19, 2027, and Courthouse News notes Republicans still hold a majority in the state Senate, which could cause gridlock.
All sources: 9 articles from 8 outlets
Liberal (1)
Center (4)
- Border Report: Texas Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa introduces transition team, promises bipartisanship
- Courthouse News: ‘Now the fun part starts’: Gina Hinojosa begins transition into governorship
- Newsweek: In Democratic Texas, the Southern Border is About to Change
- The Seattle Times: Gina Hinojosa begins work to take office as Texas’ first Democratic governor in decades
Conservative (4)
- Just the News: Texas Governor-elect Hinojosa announces bipartisan transition team
- The Epoch Times: Texas Governor-Elect Hinojosa Names Republican to Transition Team, Pledges Bipartisan Administration
- The Epoch Times: Texas Governor-Elect Says She Plans Laws to Protect Residents Affected by Data Centers
- Washington Examiner: Hinojosa’s Californication of Texas will have national implications (opinion)
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