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The Blast - July 2, 2025 [1]
['The Texas Tribune']
Date: 2025-07
GINA HINOJOSA WEIGHS COMPTROLLER BID, PLUS DEM FINANCES
State Rep. Gina Hinojosa tells The Blast she is considering running for comptroller, making her the latest Democrat to weigh a statewide run in 2026.
Hinojosa is a former Austin ISD board president who has made public education her top priority since she joined the Lege in 2017. Beginning next school year, the comptroller will oversee the state’s new voucher program, which Hinojosa and Democrats have fought since Gov. Greg Abbott made it his top policy fight.
“We need an independent, outside voice holding Abbott and the Legislature accountable for wasteful spending and sweetheart deals,” she said in a statement to The Blast. “Now that the Comptroller is in charge of the taxpayer-funded voucher program, the opportunity for grift at the expense of our kids and schools is truly concerning and we need a strong, pro-public schools leader in that role.”
The Democratic nominee will face the winner of the Republican primary, which has attracted three high-profile candidates after longtime incumbent Glenn Hegar gave up the seat to become chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. Whoever emerges from the GOP primary would have significant financial backing in the general, likely making the contest an uphill climb for any Democrat with hopes of breaking their party’s three-decade losing streak. Acting Comptroller and former state Sen. Kelly Hancock has Abbott’s support, former state Sen. Don Huffines has U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s backing and Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick had $1.6 million cash on hand at the end of 2024.
The makings of Democrats’ statewide lineup is starting to come into focus with Hinojosa’s potential comptroller run, former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred’s recent campaign launch for U.S. Senate and the possibility that state Sen. Nathan Johnson of Dallas will announce for attorney general. We’ll have updated fundraising numbers in a couple weeks, but here’s a rundown of where some announced and potential Democratic statewide candidates stood at the end of their latest fundraising reports:
Allred of Dallas: $144,000 cash on hand (announced)
State Rep. Vikki Goodwin of Austin: $151,000 (announced for lieutenant governor)
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio: $147,000 cash on hand
State Rep. James Talarico of Austin: $639,000 cash on hand
Johnson: $504,000 cash on hand
Hinojosa: $72,000 cash on hand
In their recent statewide losses, Democrats like Allred and former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, who is also in the mix for a possible statewide run, have had little trouble raising gargantuan sums, allowing them to compete financially with fundraising juggernauts like Abbott and Cruz. Still, initial campaign finance numbers from statewide GOP candidates suggest Democrats may have to play catchup — assuming Republicans don’t end up depleting their war chests against each other.
For one, Republican attorney general candidate Aaron Reitz says he raised $2 million since launching his campaign on June 12. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says he raised $5 million and will report $38 million cash on hand.
In the U.S. Senate primary, a PAC supporting GOP incumbent John Cornyn, Texans for a Conservative Majority, raised $10.9 million in Q2, outpacing its previous high water mark of $7.6 million — for Cornyn’s entire 2020 reelection cycle.
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