Democrat Gina Hinojosa Defeats Gov. Greg Abbott in Texas, Becoming First Latina Governor
Photo: Fox NewsDemocrat Gina Hinojosa, a 52-year-old state representative from Austin, defeated three-term Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in Texas on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, according to projections by CNN and the Fox News Decision Desk. She will be the state's first Latina governor and the first Democrat to win the office since Ann Richards in 1990, ending a 36-year losing streak. Abbott had sought an unprecedented fourth term. He conceded and congratulated her, saying leading Texas had been the joy of his life.
Democrat James Talarico also beat Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate seat and was projected a winner minutes before Hinojosa. He became the state's first Democratic senator in 33 years, and his win helped Democrats retake the Senate, one outlet reported. Late polling had Abbott only about three points ahead. Abbott raised $26 million between September 25 and October 24, The Texas Tribune reported, and outspent Hinojosa by tens of millions of dollars. Trump won Texas by 56 percent two years earlier.
Right-leaning outlets, Fox News and the Daily Mail, focus on the race and Abbott's fall. Fox features Hinojosa's victory-night remarks and Abbott's concession, and says Trump blamed Abbott on Truth Social for becoming a "RINO"; the Daily Mail adds polling averages, fundraising and Paxton dragging Abbott down. Left-leaning outlets, The Guardian US and The New Republic, frame the result as a historic, momentous break in Republican control. The Guardian traces Democrats' long struggle, including O'Rourke's 2022 loss, and Hinojosa's long-shot start. The New Republic's headline, "Blue Texas Is Finally Here," casts the result as a shift in the state, with Talarico and Senate control. Both sides agree on the history, the upset and Talarico's win. They differ in emphasis: the right on polling, Abbott's concession and Trump's blame, the left on Democratic significance. Alternative outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing.
How the sides differ Right sources lead with polling, Abbott's concession and Trump blaming him; left sources stress the historic win, Democrats' broader Texas gains and the Senate. Alternative sources had not covered it.
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The Guardian US and The New Republic stress the historic nature of Hinojosa's win and Democrats' breakthrough, including Talarico's Senate victory, Abbott's spending advantage and Texas's long Republican run.
Not covering this story. None of the alternative or independent outlets Crosswire tracks has reported it yet. What one side leaves out can be as telling as what the others report.
Fox News and the Daily Mail report the upset through polling, fundraising, Hinojosa's and Abbott's election-night remarks and Trump's criticism of Abbott, alongside the history-making result and Paxton's loss.