More than 70 Latino Democratic leaders are urging the Democratic Governors Association to invest $10 million in the Texas gubernatorial race after a New York Times/Siena College poll showed Democrat Gina Hinojosa leading Republican Governor Greg Abbott by three percentage points. Despite the narrow lead, Hinojosa faces a massive 10-to-1 spending disadvantage against Abbott, who entered the year with over $100 million. National Democrats remain constrained by commitments to defend their own incumbents.
Urging national Democratic investment
- ▪Former San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro publicly called on the Democratic Governors Association and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear to support Gina Hinojosa following the release of the New York Times/Siena College poll.
- ▪More than 70 Latino Democratic leaders sent a letter urging the Democratic Governors Association and its chair, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, to invest $10 million in the Texas gubernatorial race.
Democratic Governors Association spending constraints
- ▪Democratic Governors Association Chair Andy Beshear has faced constraints in funding new races due to commitments to protect incumbent Democratic governors seeking reelection.
- ▪The Democratic Governors Association is not running television advertisements in Texas or Florida as of October 3, 2026, one month before the election.
New York Times/Siena College poll
- ▪The New York Times/Siena College poll conducted between September 22 and October 1, 2026, surveyed approximately 600 voters in Texas and had a margin of error between 4.5 and 5.5 percentage points.
- ▪A New York Times/Siena College poll released on October 3, 2026, showed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa leading Republican Governor Greg Abbott by three percentage points in Texas.
Republican financial advantage in Texas
- ▪Texas Governor Greg Abbott entered the 2026 election year with more than $100 million in campaign funds on hand.
- ▪Republican Governor Greg Abbott and his allies are outspending Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa by a ratio of approximately 10-to-1 in the Texas gubernatorial race.
- ▪Republicans are on track to outspend Democrats on television advertising by more than 3-to-1 in the Texas gubernatorial race.
Long-term impact of the 2026 elections
- ▪Democratic victories in Sun Belt gubernatorial races in 2026 would establish a stronger state-level infrastructure to help the party compete in the 2028 presidential election.
- ▪Governors elected in 2026 will hold significant influence over the 2028 presidential election process and the congressional redistricting cycles that follow.
Debatable claims
- ▪National Democratic donors' focus on congressional races harms the party's long-term state-level prospects
- ▪The Democratic Governors Association should invest in Gina Hinojosa's Texas gubernatorial campaign
- ▪Greg Abbott's massive financial advantage makes a Democratic victory in Texas unlikely
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