Gina Hinojosa
Democratic · TX · Texas State Representative, District 49
Gina Hinojosa is the 2026 Democratic nominee for Governor of Texas, challenging incumbent Republican Greg Abbott. A civil-rights and labor lawyer, she served on the Austin ISD school board (elected 2012, later board president) before winning election to the Texas House in 2016, representing central Austin's District 49 since 2017. A McAllen native and daughter of former Texas Democratic Party chair Gilberto Hinojosa, she holds a UT-Austin degree and a George Washington University law degree. She won the March 2026 Democratic gubernatorial primary with about 60%.
Track record
Healthcare Affordability
· 1 record
As a state representative, was House sponsor of Senate Bill 1350 in the 2019 session, creating a hospital health-care-provider participation program that has drawn over a billion dollars in federal funds for indigent care in Travis County; the bill took effect May 31, 2019.
May 31, 2019For
Source: capitol.texas.gov · researched July 3, 2026
Public Education Quality
· 1 record
Served on the Austin Independent School District board of trustees (elected 2012), later as board president, during a period when the district raised teacher pay, balanced its budget, and avoided further school closures after opposing the closure of her son's elementary school.
November 8, 2016For
Source: house.texas.gov · researched July 3, 2026
Civil Rights
· 1 record
As a state representative, authored House Bill 73 in the 2021 session to bar the use of a victim's sexual orientation or gender identity (the "gay/trans panic defense") as a legal defense; the bill failed to advance out of the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.
April 6, 2021For
Source: capitol.texas.gov · researched July 3, 2026
Elections
- Governor · November 3, 2026 · Texas
Profile last researched July 3, 2026.