Democrat Gina Hinojosa won the election Tuesday as the governor of Texas, defeating Republican incumbent Greg Abbott. In a stunning political upset, Hinojosa ended Abbott's bid for an unprecedented fourth term, shattering the Republican grip on the state's highest and most powerful executive office.
Hinojosa, an Austin state representative, will become the state's first Latina and first Hispanic governor. She will also be the first Democrat to lead Texas in more than three decades, marking the first Democratic governor since 1995.
Hinojosa emerged as an unexpected competitor to one of the country's most prominent, best-known, and best-funded Republican governors. Her victory represents the most consequential win for Democrats in the state in a generation, ending decades of GOP dominance.
As governor, Hinojosa will serve a four-year term overseeing the state's executive branch, where she will be responsible for implementing laws and shaping policies.