Ballot Spotlight: Texas Governor

2 days ago

3 min read

As the November election looms closer, one of the most anticipated races of this election cycle is on the front of every Texan's mind. The office of the Governor of Texas is one with significant power, shaping which bills are passed into law, naming people that can fill seats on statewide boards as well as acting as the head of the military forces within the state. The Texas AFT Committee on Political Education (COPE) has endorsed public-education powerhouse Gina Hinojosa in this race.

Hinojosa currently serves as Texas House Representative for District 49, a position she’s held for almost ten years. Additionally, she has been in the spotlight as an advocate for the concerns of her constituents for fourteen years, first serving on the Austin Independent School (AISD) District’s Board of Trustees, a position she sought after state budget cuts threatened to close her son’s elementary school. During her tenure with the AISD Board of Trustees, Hinojosa acquired millions in funding for AISD schools and under her leadership, schools within the district met state standards for the first time since the state implemented the modern A-F accountability system.

In her time in the Legislature, Hinojosa has contributed substantially to public education in Texas. She’s authored a number of bills pertaining to education:

HB 1157 (89R), which sought to reform the use of average enrollment for the calculation of school funding
HB 1179 (89R), which sought to reform Texas’ academic accountability system
HB 5419 (89R), which sought to reform the Texas Education Agency (TEA) budget and increase funding for public schools

She has also been a staunch defender against all forms of privatization, including vouchers and charters.

By contrast, incumbent Greg Abbott, who is seeking an unprecedented fourth term as Texas Governor has been the face of ugly ideological debates affecting everything, including public education, in Texas.

Recently, Greg Abbott put a ban on state public schools’ ability to hire foreign workers through the H-1B visa program. This ban comes after Abbott expressed his desire for legislation to reduce the number of public school employees in Texas on federal visas. But most crucially, Governor Abbott’s near-decade long crusade to implement a voucher program in the state of Texas has been the cause of much controversy and fighting over how to best use state dollars for education.

Defeated many times over several legislative sessions, the Governor embarked on an intra-party fight in 2024 to primary those inside the GOP caucus that correctly opposed vouchers. Through this craven political opportunism, backed by billionaires like Jeff Yas, Governor Abbott got his pro-voucher majority. Pressure and threats from President Trump on the few still skeptical of privatization was just the cherry on top in the 89^th Legislature.

But in the face of a ballooning voucher program, highly reported funding shortfalls in districts from El Paso to Houston, and closer than expected polling, there are signs the Governor is running scared. Just this summer, Abbott announced the introduction of the Texas Classroom Commission, with the stated goal of strengthening student achievement to ensure Texas becomes the no.1 state for educating kids. It’s no surprise that he’s seeking brownie points on education since we are nearing what marks a historic election cycle for Greg Abbott. If reelected this November, Abbott would become the longest standing Governor in Texas, beating Rick Perry’s 12-year record.

If elected, Hinojosa would provide Texas with a different vision. She has voiced her concerns regarding Abbotts's ability to properly serve public schools. Education, which rarely makes headlines during elections, has become a critical factor in this election. Hinojosa has critiqued Abbott’s handling of schools, arguing that he is rigging the system against children, especially children that come from working-class families.

Hinojosa has also combated the privatization efforts of public schools, calling vouchers a “scam” that drain billions from public neighborhoods and the Teacher Retirement System (TRS). The voucher program is poised to careen out of control, with the Texas Comptroller requesting $2 billion for further expansion literally this week. Hinojosa knows this is madness.

The state of Texas has hit the boiling point for public education. Greg Abbott has presided over the gutting of various programs, defunding of public schools, while focusing more on implementing his ideology in and outside of the classroom. This upcoming election places public education front and center, and if Texans do value the future of this state and its students, we must make sure Gina Hinojosa becomes the next Governor.