Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa visited the University on Oct. 22 to motivate students to vote in the upcoming midterm elections.
During her address at Butler Plaza, Hinojosa said that Gen Z and millennial voters have the power to make change and decide who wins the 2026 Texas gubernatorial election.
“We need everybody to vote,” Hinojosa said. “This is the first election that will be decided by majority millennial and Gen Z voters. That’s exciting, but that means that everybody needs to exercise their power, their voice and vote. We need to forge a new way forward, a future that is positive and full of opportunity.”
Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke accompanied Hinojosa during her visit. They both delivered speeches to the student attendees.
During his speech, O’Rourke said that Democratic students’ votes are particularly powerful this year, noting that for the first time in modern Texas history, Democrats are running candidates for every position on the ballot.
“When you vote, make sure that you share it on your social media feeds, in the chats, with your roommates, with your friends and with your family,” O’Rourke said. “It is a social habit. When your friends see that you’re voting, they are more likely to vote as well. So let’s make sure that we turn out in record numbers.”
Campaign promises
If she wins the 2026 Texas gubernatorial race, she could restore the American dream and fight against economic instability in Texas, Hinojosa said.
Hinojosa said that she plans to do so by fulfilling some of her major campaign promises:
- Saving Texas public schools and ensuring every child has access to quality healthcare.
- Distributing a $1500 refund check to every Texas household to offset what she terms the “Greg Abbott Corruption Tax.”
- Freezing electricity rates and making data centers in corporations pay their fair share.
“The political system is broken, and I’m afraid to say, so is our government,” Hinojosa said. “There is no trust. I don’t trust our government. We have to build that trust. My plan is to secure the American dream.”
Event organizer and UH Democrats President Jonathan Alvarenga said that the organization reached out to Hinojosa’s campaign to invite her to campus.
Alvarenga cited Hinojosa’s plan to address rising prices for groceries, gas, universities and healthcare as the reason he wanted to hear from her.
“She is a real fighter, despite the odds, despite being in the minority in the state House, she has still been an effective legislator,” Alvarenga said. “Whether it has to do with lowering health care prices, or helping fight for public schools, or just defending our democracy, she was one of the brave legislators who broke quorum and fled the state in an attempt to end Abbott and President Donald Trump’s redistricting scheme.”
During the event, the organization’s members informed students about voting and distributed donuts, posters and merch to students.
Students who attended the event said they appreciated that Hinojosa met with each individual student rather than just delivering speeches.
“I’m really grateful she made the time to come out,” said political science sophomore Magen Ali. “I know campus campaigning time is really busy for a lot of politicians, so for her to be able to come out and see students one-on-one and take pictures, it shows her dedication and her care, and like that she’s actually going to fight for the people.“
Students believe that Republican candidates do not focus their campaigning efforts on students as much as Hinojosa and other Democratic nominees do, said political science sophomore Tristyn Chase.
“A lot of Republicans, just as a general, think that they are a shoo-in in Texas, and this election is going to show them that we are not silent voters,” Chase said. “We are the youth, and in order to win this state, you need to have our vote as well.”
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