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Latin Times
Latin Times
Politics
Mateo Moreno

Abbott Refused to Debate — So Gina Hinojosa Brought the Podium to His Door

Greg Abbott Gina Hinojosa Texas Republican
AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 15: Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa speaks during a campaign event at Wooldridge Square on October 15, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Hinojosa invited the current Governor, Greg Abbott to debate but he did not show up. (Credit: Photo by Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images)

AUSTIN, Texas — The defining moment of the 2026 Texas governor's race came not inside a debate hall but on a public sidewalk a few feet from the Governor's Mansion's wrought-iron fence. Democratic nominee Gina Hinojosa had two lecterns hauled to that fence Thursday morning, an independent moderator at her side, with one podium waiting for a governor who was roughly 185 miles away and had no intention of showing up.

The Setup: A Debate Without the Incumbent

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