Democrat Gina Hinojosa has defeated incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in the 2026 Texas governor's race, Decision Desk HQ projected early Wednesday, ending more than three decades of Republican control of the governor's mansion and denying Abbott a record fourth term.
With 85 percent of precincts reporting, Decision Desk HQ projected Hinojosa the winner 53 to 45, according to RedState. The @DecisionDeskHQ X account posted the call at 12:00 AM EST, and NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth reported that Abbott publicly conceded the race Tuesday night — before the network's decision desk made its own projection. CBS Texas also projected Hinojosa the winner.
Hinojosa, 52, a state representative from Austin who grew up in McAllen, will become the first Latina governor of Texas and the third woman to hold the office, following Ann Richards and Miriam A. Ferguson, per CBS Texas. She is the first Democrat elected governor since Richards, who served from 1991 to 1995.
"We did not end one era of single party rule to usher in another," Hinojosa said in her victory speech, according to CBS Texas.
Abbott, who took office in January 2015 after succeeding Rick Perry, conceded at 10 p.m. Tuesday. "I love our state. It has been an honor to serve it. And know that we are leaving Texas in far better shape than it's ever been. Together, we've accomplished a lot," he said, with his wife Cecilia at his side.
The @nextnews X account reported the call Tuesday night: "Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeats Gov. Greg Abbott in Texas, NBC News projects, flipping the governor's mansion. Hinojosa leads 57.1% to 41.6% with 67% in." RedState also posted the headline of its report: "Democrat Gina Hinojosa Wins Texas Governor's Race, As Greg Abbott Loses Bid for Fourth Term."
The race tightened in its final months. A University of Texas at Austin poll released in August showed Abbott leading Hinojosa 45% to 40%, with 10% of voters undecided, per CBS Texas. Hinojosa ultimately overcame a more than four-to-one spending disparity, according to CBS Texas's reporting on the outcome.
Education and affordability dominated the closing weeks. Hinojosa opposed Abbott's school voucher program and called for greater investment in public schools, including higher teacher salaries and changes to the state's standardized testing system. The candidates also clashed over the rapid expansion of data centers across Texas; Abbott announced a pause on new state permits for the facilities, while Hinojosa questioned his commitment to the restrictions and joined other Democrats in calling for a moratorium until lawmakers establish additional protections for residents.
The result was part of a wider Democratic wave in Texas and nationally. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth reported that Democrat James Talarico won Texas' U.S. Senate race against Republican Ken Paxton, and that Democrats won control of both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, flipping both chambers from Republican control. The @nextnews post summed up the night: "Texas went for the full set tonight."
Democrats have not held the Texas governor's office since George W. Bush succeeded Richards in January 1995; Republicans held it through Bush, Perry and Abbott.
Our Take
This is a devastating night for Texas Republicans and for the America First movement in one of its most important states. Abbott spent a decade and a half building the strongest economy in the country, securing the border where the federal government refused to, and turning Texas into the destination for families and businesses fleeing blue-state ruin. He deserved better than to be shown the door by a wave election — but that is what a four-to-one spending disadvantage and a national Democratic tide can do.
The lesson for Republicans is not that Texas is lost. It is that no state is safe when the base stays home and the other side turns out with a mandate for change. Hinojosa ran on schools and affordability, and she won. If Republicans want the governor's mansion back, they need to make the case to working families on those same kitchen-table issues — and they need to do it before the votes are cast, not after.
And for the rest of us: two years of divided government in Washington, a Democratic-controlled Congress, and a Democratic governor in Austin. The fight for Texas starts now.
