# Texas gubernatorial election competition

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/texas-gubernatorial-election-competition
> Updated: 2026-09-18T14:35:36.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 3.

The Texas gubernatorial race between Republican incumbent Greg Abbott and Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa has become increasingly competitive. Early reports indicated a shifting political landscape where some conservative voters expressed a willingness to split tickets, supporting Hinojosa to prevent Abbott from securing a fourth term. These voters cited Hinojosa’s proposals, such as a moratorium on data center projects, as points of interest.

As the November election approaches, polling shows Abbott maintaining a slight advantage, leading in most recent surveys by margins of one to seven percentage points, though some polls indicate an exact tie. The campaigns have focused heavily on economic affordability. Abbott has criticized Hinojosa’s past record regarding property taxes, while Hinojosa has campaigned on addressing grocery price gouging and restricting private equity firms from purchasing residential homes.

Recent polling data indicates a significant shift, with Hinojosa reportedly taking the lead for the first time in new surveys. While Texas has historically been a Republican stronghold—having supported Donald Trump by 14 points in 2024 and not electing a Democrat to statewide office since the 1990s—Hinojosa’s momentum is viewed as a potential challenge to the established political order. Hinojosa stated that the results demonstrate her message regarding the protection of Texas schools and the ‘American Dream’ is resonating with voters.

## Claims

- Two new polls released on Thursday show a tightening race for the Texas governorship. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Democratic State Representative Gina Hinojosa leads Republican Governor Greg Abbott in the new polls. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Texas supported Donald Trump by 14 points in 2024. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- No Democrat has been elected to a statewide office in Texas since the 1990s. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-18: Gina Hinojosa leads Greg Abbott in new Texas gubernatorial polls

New polls show Democratic State Representative Gina Hinojosa leading Republican Governor Greg Abbott in the Texas gubernatorial race, signaling a tightening contest in the traditionally Republican state.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gina-hinojosa-leads-greg-abbott-in-new-texas-gubernatorial-polls

### 2026-09-13: Texas Governor Greg Abbott leads in polls against Gina Hinojosa

Texas Governor Greg Abbott holds a slight polling lead over Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa ahead of the November election, as campaigns clash over property taxes and cost-of-living policies.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/texas-governor-greg-abbott-leads-in-polls-against-gina-hinojosa

### 2026-08-25: Texas conservatives show willingness to split tickets

Conservative voters in Texas are showing signs of ticket-splitting, with some supporting Democrat Gina Hinojosa for governor over Republican Greg Abbott due to specific policy disagreements.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/texas-conservatives-show-willingness-to-split-tickets

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Cite as: Texas gubernatorial election competition. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/texas-gubernatorial-election-competition