Gina Hinojosa is Intensifying Her Criticism of Gov. Greg Abbott as a Recent Univision/yougov Poll Showed the Texas Governor’s Race Tied at 47%
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa is sharpening her case against Gov. Greg Abbott as new polling shows at least one survey putting the two candidates dead even heading toward the November election.
Appearing over the weekend on MS NOW’s The Weekend and The Assignment, Hinojosa criticized Abbott over state contracts, data centers and the ongoing controversy surrounding federal border construction in Texas’ Big Bend region. Her campaign promoted the appearances under the headline, “Republicans in Texas Have No Game.”
The interviews came days after an N+ Univision poll conducted by YouGov found Abbott and Hinojosa tied at 47% among 1,000 registered Texas voters, with 5% undecided. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.
Other recent polling has produced different results. An AARP Texas survey showed Abbott at 49% and Hinojosa at 46%, while an Overton Insights survey had Abbott narrowly ahead. The Texas Politics Project’s poll tracker shows that the overall polling picture remains mixed even as several recent surveys have shown a closer contest.
Hinojosa Targets Abbott Over State Spending
During The Weekend, Hinojosa argued that state government has increasingly favored politically connected interests at taxpayers’ expense.
We are dealing with a system where the governor gives his donors $1 billion in no-bid contracts. This is their playbook, right? More and more taxpayer dollars to their donors, and Texans get less and less.
Gina Hinojosa
The statement was part of Hinojosa’s broader campaign argument that Texans are paying more while receiving less from state government. Abbott, who is seeking another term, has campaigned on his record on border security, public safety, property taxes and school choice.
Hinojosa also said she has encountered Republican voters who share concerns about the rapid expansion of data centers in Texas.
“I’m meeting with MAGA Republicans who are really mad that data centers are the latest physical manifestation of a governor and a government that is working against us and working for the moneyed special interests,” she said.
Data centers have emerged as an issue in the governor’s race as Texas confronts questions about electricity demand, water use, infrastructure and tax incentives associated with the rapidly growing industry.
Big Bend Becomes A Campaign Issue
Hinojosa also focused heavily on Big Bend after traveling through Presidio and Terlingua, where she met with residents, business owners and local leaders concerned about federal plans for border barriers and other security infrastructure.
The controversy has grown beyond the gubernatorial campaign. Landowners and conservation groups have filed multiple lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s plans, while federal officials have temporarily paused some construction activity. The projects have raised concerns involving private property, environmental protections, archaeological sites and public lands.
The federal government has also sought access to privately owned land in the region, with some property owners facing the possibility of eminent domain proceedings connected to border infrastructure.
Hinojosa told The Assignment that residents she encountered felt disconnected from government decision-making.
“They have no voice in Congress because Greg Abbott didn’t call an election,” Hinojosa said. “They don’t know who to talk to. They don’t know what’s to come.”
Her comments referred to Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, which includes much of the Big Bend region and has been without a representative since former U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales resigned effective April 14. Presidio Mayor John Ferguson has also criticized Abbott for not calling a special election to fill the vacancy.
Hinojosa Says She Would Challenge Federal Government
Hinojosa said that, if elected governor, she would consider litigation against the federal government to protect the region.
“I would use every tool in the toolbox,” she said, including “taking the federal government to court to defend our sovereignty here in Texas.”
Legal challenges are already underway. On Monday, six landowners and Conserve Big Bend filed another federal lawsuit seeking to stop border-wall construction across the region. Other lawsuits have challenged construction on environmental, property-rights, cultural and religious grounds.
The Big Bend fight gives Hinojosa another issue on which she is attempting to reach beyond the Democratic base as the campaign enters its final weeks.
The Nov. 3 election will determine whether Abbott receives another term or Hinojosa becomes the first Democrat elected governor of Texas since Ann Richards won the office in 1990.
