With the midterm race for Texas governor culminating on November, Democratic candidate Gina Hinojosa is again counting on swing voters such as independents.
Hinojosa said in social media post on Tuesday, June 23, she is leading incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott among independent voters 41% to 12% who said they would back the Democrat.
“In April, we were up 13 with independents. Now, we’re up 29,” the post read even though she did not cite the specific poll.
For the duration of her campaign, Hinojosa noted the election could be swayed by third party and minority voters. She noted that she has held a steady lead over Abbott in both those categories.
She has hammered Abbott on what she has called his “corruption tax” that serves billionaires and his donors at the expense of working Texas families.
Gov. Greg Abbott decries Democrats on border security
While Hinojosa was touting her lead among independent voters, Abbott also took to social media to double down on support from his conservative base.
“Texas held the line when Biden and radical Democrats wouldn’t,” he said in the social media post on Tuesday, June 23. In the post, he noted “now I am formally requesting $11 billion back from the federal government — money Texas spent on Operation Lone Star, hundreds of miles of border barrier & 500K+ illegal immigrant apprehensions.”
He cited the state did the federal government’s job and must be reimbursed for it.
Abbott has also made the case for his record in the state as one where all Texans prosper but did not hold back other issues when he called the Democratic agenda “radical” and “not good for Texas.”
Important dates for 2026 Texas election
The last day to register to vote for the General Election is Oct. 5, either online, by mail, or in person.
Early voting starts Oct. 19 and runs through Oct. 30. The absentee ballot request deadline is Oct. 23 for mail requests or Oct. 19 for in-person requests. The absentee ballot return deadline is Nov. 3, by mail or in person on Election Day.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Kristian Jaime is the Top Story Reporter for the El Paso Times and is reachable at Kjaime@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Gina Hinojosa, Gov. Greg Abbott on independents in Texas governor race
Reporting by Kristian Jaime, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kristian Jaime, El Paso Times | USA TODAY Network
