This past weekend, Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee for governor who will face Greg Abbott on the ballot this November, was in Houston. We caught up with Hinojosa during a small gathering put on by Run Sister Run  and Pretty Petty Politics at Gatlin’s BBQ. 

This stop was important for several reasons. First and foremost, it was held at a local business, reflecting a key priority of Gina Hinojosa’s campaign: a renewed focus on supporting Texas’ small businesses.  Second, it was a Black-owned business. For many Black voters in Harris County, authentic grassroots outreach matters. Visiting locally owned establishments and investing in Black-owned businesses while seeking Black voter support is important. It shows a candidate is not just talking the talk.  

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa with elected officials and community organizers

While a larger block party featuring Hinojosa and local candidates took place Saturday, this gathering provided an intimate listening session with time for questions and answers. Harris County Democratic Party Chair Traci Gibson introduced Hinojosa, who acknowledged that winning Texas depends on Harris County “in a big, big way.”

Hinojosa discussed a range of issues impacting Texans, including public education, high electricity bills, grocery costs, and gas prices. She criticized Abbott’s refusal to expand Medicaid, noting that Texans contribute federal tax dollars that help fund the program but do not receive the full benefits available through expansion. She also spoke extensively about insurance companies denying claims for patients seeking surgeries, chemotherapy treatments, and other necessary medical care. Hinojosa said some of those denials reflect bad-faith insurance practices and said the governor oversees the agencies responsible for regulating the insurance industry. Did you know that?

Hinojosa also touched on rethinking economic development in Texas, with a greater focus on supporting small businesses. She said large corporations often receive substantial tax incentives, the cost of which is ultimately borne by taxpayers. At the same time, she said, many of the highest-paying jobs created by those companies go to workers relocating from outside Texas, while many Texans are left with lower-paying positions that offer few benefits or worker protections. “Our small businesses embody our ambition as Texans,” Hinojosa said. “They give back to the community, and we should be helping to boost our small businesses that are barely holding on right now.”

Public education was another major focus of the discussion. Hinojosa said one of the primary reasons she entered public office was the closure of a school her son attended. Her successful run for school board later led to her election to the Texas House (District 49). She noted that taxpayer dollars are increasingly being directed to private vendors rather than classrooms. While Texas needs strong teachers in every classroom, she said the current system is not prioritizing educators. Teachers are facing increasing stress, stagnant pay, and rising economic pressures, leading many to leave the profession altogether.

If elected governor, she said she would review and eliminate what she considers corrupt vendor contracts, redirect funding back into classrooms, and work to make Texas teachers among the highest-paid educators in the nation.

In regard to the attack on the Voting Rights Act, Gina stated, “First and foremost, this should not only be Black elected leaders talking about this. We all need to do something because all of us are about to be impacted. We see and talk about the rigged maps. That is what is coming next year. Republicans have already said they are coming back next year to redraw those maps in an effort to block Democratic control of Congress for a generation.”

Gina Hinojosa’s Houston stop offered a closer look at the priorities driving her campaign, from public education and economic opportunity to healthcare access and voting rights, as she continues to build support across Texas.

To learn more about Gina Hinojosa, visit www.ginafortexas.com. You can also sign up for her newsletter to receive updates on upcoming campaign stops as she continues her statewide run.