WESLACO, Texas — Riding a wave of fresh momentum into the final stretch of the 2026 Texas gubernatorial campaign, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa brought her message of systemic reform and public investment home to the Rio Grande Valley during a packed “Breakfast with Gina” rally in Weslaco.
Addressing a crowd of more than 500 grassroots organizers, local community members, and Democratic party stalwarts, the Austin-based lawmaker and Valley native declared that recent polling shows her closing the distance with incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.
The enthusiastic turnout showcased strong local backing for Hinojosa’s bid to make history as the first Latina and the first Rio Grande Valley native elected Governor of Texas.
Event organizer Luciano "Chano" Garza, a Weslaco Democratic Party National Delegate and close friend of the Hinojosa family, highlighted the depth of community engagement seen at the morning gathering.
"Weslaco loves Gina Hinojosa, our next Texas Governor," Garza said following the event. "We had an awesome 'Breakfast with Gina' this morning. Over 500 supporters came out to meet and greet our soon-to-be first Latina Governor ever, and the first from the RGV."
Garza noted that the breakfast drew a notable gathering of Hidalgo County Democratic figures, including Hinojosa's father, former Texas Democratic Party Chairman Judge Gilberto Hinojosa; Weslaco Presiding Judge and former Precinct 1 Commissioner Sam V. Sanchez; Judge Fernando Mancias; Arturo Guajardo; Judge Jerry Munoz; Hidalgo County District Attorney Terry Palacios; Judge Gilberto Saenz; and Tejano music legend Roberto Pulido, whose son Bobby Pulido is running for Texas's 15th Congressional District.
Beyond the party leadership, Garza emphasized the turnout among local families as a sign of broad-based momentum.
"What really impressed me was the community support Gina has," Garza remarked. "Families I haven't seen in years came out to listen to our next Texas Governor. We are grateful to Gina's friends for taking time out of their busy schedules for a conversation and community event."
Garza reminded attendees that early voting runs from Oct. 19 through Oct. 30, leading up to Election Day on Nov. 3.
Introducing Hinojosa to the crowd, state Rep. Armando "Mando" Martinez praised his colleague’s legislative record and commitment to Texas families.
"You work with many different state representatives, and I've had the honor of working with some of the best," Martinez told the crowd. "When it comes to public education and fighting for our children, there's somebody that always steps up, and that was Gina Hinojosa."
Martinez pointed to Hinojosa’s leadership during the 2021 Texas House Democratic quorum break over voting rights legislation, recalling the sacrifices made to protect access for elderly and vulnerable voters.
"When we talked about protecting our communities and protecting our voting rights, there was nobody that worked harder than Gina," Martinez said. "When we broke quorum because of voting rights, it really meant something. We were in D.C. for over three months, and we kept the Republicans off ballots because they couldn't pass a voter restriction bill that would hurt each and every one of us."
Martinez shared a personal account of his late father, Alfredo Martinez Sr., who faced potential disenfranchisement due to minor clerical discrepancies between his driver’s license and Social Security card—hurdles that required curbside assistance to overcome.
Drawing a sharp contrast in state leadership, Martinez cited a story shared earlier by Judge Gilberto Hinojosa regarding gubernatorial access.
"When somebody wanted to meet with Governor Ann Richards, it was 'what time?' Right now, if you want to meet with Governor Abbott, it's 'how much have you put in the bank for me?'" Martinez said. "We don't need that. We need somebody with integrity. We need somebody who's honest, somebody who's going to continue to fight for us."
Taking the podium to warm applause, Hinojosa framed her campaign as a generational opportunity to reset state priorities.
"It is so good to be home. This is really incredible," Hinojosa said. "We are in the final stretch of this race. There are 49 days left until Election Day, and I will tell you, we have eliminated Greg Abbott's lead in this race. We have gained momentum."
Hinojosa told the audience that her campaign message is resonating across political lines, including among conservative voters frustrated by state incentives for global corporations, grid pressures from data centers, and rising local costs.
"We are running to secure the American dream," Hinojosa declared. "Because in 2026, all people want to know from their leaders is, 'Are you going to work for me? Are you going to work to try to make my life easier?' That's it. People are struggling in a big, big way—in a way that I have never seen before."
Key proposals highlighted in Hinojosa’s address included:
Closing her address, Hinojosa urged Valley residents to maximize turnout during the early voting period.
"We gotta run up the score in the Valley," Hinojosa urged supporters. "If you are all in, if you are putting in the work, we can make this happen."
