Gina Hinojosa

Gina Hinojosa’s route into elected office began with a proposal to close her son’s elementary school in Austin.¹ She organized with other parents, won a school board seat and became board president in 2015, before moving into state politics.¹

Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, she attended Brownsville public schools, graduated from the University of Texas and earned her law degree at George Washington University.¹ Her work as a civil rights and union lawyer included Texas Rural Legal Aid, Catholic Charities and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.² She and her husband have two sons, and she has spoken publicly about losing an infant daughter in 2003.³

In the Texas House, Hinojosa authored the 2017 legislation establishing public benefit corporations, a legal structure allowing businesses to pursue stated public benefits alongside profits.⁴ Abbott signed the measure that June.⁵

Against Republican Governor Greg Abbott, Hinojosa opposes private school vouchers, supports higher teacher pay and proposes $1,500 rebate checks from state savings.² She also wants to replace Education Commissioner Mike Morath with an educator and end state takeovers of public school districts.² Their race would determine whether the governor continues championing Abbott’s new voucher program or pushes to redirect education policy toward public schools.⁶²