AUSTIN
Democratic State Representative Gina Hinojosa accused former President Joe Biden of failing to lead on immigration, saying his silence on the issue damaged her party's performance in the 2024 election.
"He didn't lead on immigration," Hinojosa said in an interview. "He was silent mostly and hid from it."
Hinojosa is the Democratic nominee for Texas governor, challenging three-term Republican incumbent Greg Abbott. Abbott has made immigration enforcement central to his political brand and has been a steadfast supporter of President Donald Trump's border security agenda.
In April 2022, Abbott launched his own border protest, busing migrants from Texas to Washington and other sanctuary cities. The move won him backing from conservatives across the state.
Hinojosa has spent her campaign distancing herself from national Democratic positions on several issues. She released an advertisement listing her pronouns as "Mom, Texan, and soon to be: Governor." She also backed Trump's proposal for a $5,000 dividend check.
On immigration specifically, Hinojosa said Democrats need "leaders who will do the hard work, roll up their sleeves to figure out solutions." She expressed support for equipping police with body cameras and dash cameras.
When asked about calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Hinojosa said she has not "considered" the idea, noting that a governor has no authority over a federal agency. Still, she described ICE's conduct under the Trump administration as "unacceptable" and "wrong," and called for a "path to legality" for unauthorized immigrants who have lived in the country for years.
Abbott's campaign quickly pounced, pointing to a 2021 Hinojosa social media post praising Biden's border policies for "restoring order humanity." The campaign accused her of flip-flopping to win office.
"Gina is running from her record as the most far-left member of the Texas House," the campaign wrote. "She praised Joe Biden and claimed he restored 'order humanity' at the border. Plain and simple, she is lying to get elected."
The Cook Political Report rates the race "likely Republican." Trump won Texas by nearly 14 percentage points in 2024.
Polling on the governor's race shows Abbott holding a narrow lead, though some surveys give Hinojosa an edge of three to four points.
Hinojosa's campaign believes demographic shifts could work in her favor. If she captures the same share of Latino voters that Beto O'Rourke won in 2018 while holding support among other groups, population growth could push her over the finish line.
