Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Greg Abbott in the Texas governor's race on Tuesday, Nov. 3, the Associated Press declared. Hinojosa will be the state's first Latina governor and the first Democrat to hold the office since 1990.

The AP called the race at 11:17 p.m. EST, PBS NewsHour reported. Abbott conceded at 10 p.m., according to the Texas Tribune.

The result marks an upset. Abbott had served as governor since 2015 and was seeking a fourth term. He won re-election by more than 10 points four years ago, Time reported.

Prosper and Celina residents who cast ballots Nov. 3 also faced a Collin County question closer to home. Voters appeared to oppose an $817.5 million bond package for roads, jail facilities, parks and a new elections building, the Dallas Morning News reported. The road and park measures were failing by narrow margins, while proposals for a jail expansion and elections facility drew stronger opposition.

What the governor's race means

Hinojosa, a five-term state representative from Austin's House District 49, won the Democratic primary on March 3, according to the Austin American-Statesman. She previously served on the Austin Independent School District board and has represented her Central Austin district in the Texas House since 2017, according to KSAT.

The candidates offered different approaches on education, taxes and household costs. Abbott campaigned on property tax relief, border security and expanding school choice, according to KSAT. He championed the state's education savings account program, which allows eligible families to use public money for private school or homeschool expenses.

Hinojosa centered her campaign on public school funding, affordability and government accountability. She proposed a $1,500 payment to every Texas household, which she called a "corruption tax refund," and called for suspending the state gas tax, according to the Statesman.

School vouchers became a flashpoint. Hinojosa opposed the program and capitalized on opposition in rural areas where public schools serve as community anchors and private options are scarce, the Texas Tribune reported.

What comes next

Hinojosa will serve a four-year term beginning in January 2027, according to KPRC. Major changes to education funding, taxes and other laws would require cooperation from the Republican-controlled Legislature, KSAT reported.

Libertarian Pat Dixon, an engineer and musician who also served on the Lago Vista City Council, also appeared on the ballot, according to the Statesman.

Texas Secretary of State Robert Howden announced a record 19,041,684 registered voters ahead of the election, a 2.2% increase from the November 2024 general election. Votes in other statewide contests and local races across North Texas were still being counted, NBC DFW reported.