Gov. Greg Abbott cruised to the Republican nomination for governor on Tuesday, securing his party's nod as he pursues a historic fourth term leading the nation's second-largest state. On the Democratic side, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa of Austin won her party's primary, setting up an Abbott-Hinojosa matchup in the November general election.
Abbott, 67, faced only token opposition in the Republican primary, a reflection of his deep support among Texas conservatives and his commanding grip on the party after more than a decade in statewide office. He has served as governor since 2015, winning re-election in 2018 and 2022 by comfortable margins. A fourth term would be unprecedented in modern Texas history and would extend his tenure as the longest-serving governor in state history.
Abbott heads into the general election with a formidable war chest and strong name recognition, though his tenure has not been without controversy. He has faced sustained criticism over the state's response to the 2021 winter storm that knocked out the power grid and killed hundreds of Texans, as well as ongoing scrutiny over the state's aggressive immigration enforcement operations along the southern border.
Hinojosa, an Austin legislator and former Travis County Democratic Party chair, won the Democratic nomination in a race that drew limited statewide attention. She is a progressive lawmaker who has focused on education, voting rights, and reproductive access during her time in the Texas House. She becomes the first Latina nominated by a major party for Texas governor.
The general election matchup is a steep climb for Hinojosa and Texas Democrats. Abbott has won his previous two gubernatorial races by double digits, and no Democrat has won a Texas statewide race since 1994. Still, Democrats point to demographic shifts, suburban realignment, and what they describe as voter frustration over the power grid and abortion restrictions as potential openings.
Abbott is expected to formally launch his general election campaign in the coming weeks.