Democrat Gina Hinojosa has defeated three-term Republican incumbent Greg Abbott in the 2026 Texas governor's race, CBS News projects, a result that marks a historic shift in the state's politics.
Hinojosa is the first Democrat elected governor of Texas in more than three decades. The last Democrat to hold the office was Ann Richards, who served from 1991 to 1995.
She will also become the third woman to serve as governor of Texas, following Richards and Miriam A. Ferguson, who held the office during two separate terms in the 1920s and 1930s.
A state representative from Austin who grew up in McAllen, Hinojosa challenged Abbott as he sought a fourth consecutive term. Abbott, who first took office in January 2015, had maintained Republican control of the governor's mansion for more than a decade.
The contest grew increasingly competitive in the months before Election Day. A University of Texas at Austin poll released in August showed Abbott leading Hinojosa 45% to 40%, with 10% of voters undecided.
Throughout her campaign, Hinojosa focused on affordability, public education and other issues affecting Texas families. She criticized Abbott's leadership and argued that voters were more concerned about rising costs than political divisions.
The candidates also clashed over state permitting policy, with Hinojosa questioning Abbott's commitment to new restrictions and joining other Democrats in calling for a moratorium until lawmakers could establish additional protections for residents.
Education was another major dividing line. Hinojosa advocated for greater investment in public schools, including higher teacher salaries and changes to the state's standardized testing system.
Her victory ends a Republican hold on the Texas governor's office that began in January 1995, when George W. Bush succeeded Richards. Republicans controlled the office ever since, through the administrations of Bush, Rick Perry and Abbott. Hinojosa is expected to take office in January 2027.
