Abbott: Hinojosa ‘makes Talarico look almost conservative’

On election day in Texas, Republican governor Greg Abbott described his Democratic challenger, state representative Gina Hinojosa, as the most radical left-wing member of the state House. He said she was further left than James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for the US Senate, and “makes Talarico look almost conservative”. The remarks were a closing campaign attack, rather than an objective assessment of either candidate’s positions. Abbott had made a similar comparison at a campaign stop in late October, where he also warned that Hinojosa would raise taxes and change the state’s approach to border security.

Hinojosa has centred her campaign on public school funding, household costs and criticism of Abbott’s ties to wealthy donors. A former school board president, she has opposed his school voucher programme and proposed payments to Texas households. Abbott’s comparison with Talarico links the governor’s race to the higher-profile Senate contest as voters decide both seats. The comments underline a sharp disagreement over Hinojosa’s record and priorities, but the description of her as ‘radical’ is Abbott’s campaign characterisation.