Texas Democratic Party Nominee for Governor Gina Hinojosa to Hold Campaign Rally October 3 in Eagle Pass

By Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2026 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

EAGLE PASS, Texas — Democratic candidate for Texas governor Gina Hinojosa will bring her campaign to Eagle Pass on Saturday, October 3, 2026 as she seeks to become the first Democrat elected governor of Texas in more than three decades. The Brownsville, Texas native has risen from the U.S.-Mexico border to Austin, Texas as a State Representative.

Hinojosa is scheduled to appear at the Cruz Antonio Muñoz Gym from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. during an event promoted by the Texas Democratic Party. The rally is open to the public and admission is free.

The “Celebrate the Blue on the Border” gathering will include a meet and greet with Hinojosa and other Democratic candidates as well as giveaways.

The Eagle Pass stop comes during the closing stretch of a statewide campaign that has drawn increased attention as recent polling indicates a competitive contest ahead of the November 3 general election.

Currently serving her fifth term in the Texas House, Hinojosa represents a Central Austin district. Before entering the Legislature, she worked as a civil rights and labor attorney and served on the Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees, including as board president.

Public education has remained a central issue throughout her legislative career and campaign for governor.

Standing between Hinojosa and the governor’s office is Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking a fourth term after first being elected in 2014.

Recent polling has brought greater attention to the race. A Marist Poll conducted September 17 through September 20 placed Hinojosa at 49 percent among registered Texas voters compared with 46 percent for Abbott. The three-point difference was within the survey’s margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.

Among independents surveyed by Marist, Hinojosa received 52 percent support.

Much of the Democratic candidate’s message has centered on affordability, public education and the cost of living while attempting to reach independents and voters outside the party’s traditional base.
Education in particular has emerged as one of the defining issues of the campaign.

Hinojosa opposes the state’s private school voucher program and supports increasing teacher pay and school safety funding. Her education proposals also include replacing the STAAR testing system and opposing state takeovers of local school districts.

Affordability has provided another major theme. One proposal would use money from the state’s Economic Stabilization Fund to provide a one-time $1,500 payment to Texas households. The plan would require legislative approval and has generated debate over its potential economic effects.

The rapid expansion of large data centers across Texas has also entered the campaign.

Hinojosa has called for a moratorium on new data centers until additional protections are established for communities and has advocated ending tax incentives for the industry.

Together, those issues form an economic message centered on concerns many families encounter directly including electricity costs, housing, education and everyday household expenses.

South Texas represents another important part of the statewide contest.

Eagle Pass and Maverick County sit within a predominantly Hispanic border region where Democrats and Republicans have competed increasingly for voters during recent election cycles.

The community has also occupied a prominent place in statewide and national debates over immigration, border security and Operation Lone Star.

Saturday’s visit therefore gives the Democratic nominee an opportunity to take her statewide message directly to a community that has experienced many of those policy debates firsthand.

For local residents, the appearance also provides an opportunity to hear directly from a candidate for the state’s highest office rather than experiencing the gubernatorial campaign primarily through political advertisements, television coverage and social media.

The historical challenge facing Hinojosa remains significant. Texas has not elected a Democratic governor since Ann Richards won in 1990, and no Democrat has won statewide office in Texas since 1994.