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Gina Hinojosa Believes She’s the One Who Can Finally Flip Texas

Oct 24, 2026 · 41m

Summary

In this episode of The Daily, Lulu Garcia-Phillips interviews Democratic Texas gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa, who is in a dead heat with incumbent Greg Abbott. Hinojosa discusses her populist strategy to unite diverse voters by focusing on economic issues like data centers and public schools rather than culture wars. She also addresses her personal history, her stance on immigration and abortion, and the high stakes of the race for national Democratic control of the Senate.

Topics discussed

Introduction and context for the Texas gubernatorial race Early voting vibes and Hinojosa's path to running for governor Addressing the 'sacrificial lamb' narrative and rising name recognition Strategy to win rural voters and the impact of data centers Engaging with MAGA voters and moving beyond culture wars Personal background and growing up on the US-Mexico border Shifting political dynamics in the Rio Grande Valley Immigration policy, SB4, and the role of ICE in Texas Criticism of Elon Musk and corporate influence in Texas Economic disparities and the cost of living in Texas Defining 'economic populism' vs. progressive labels Personal story on abortion and views on reproductive rights Latino voter support and the need for national Democratic investment Reflections on potential victory and closing remarks
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