Gina Hinojosa Presses Greg Abbott on School Takeovers and Vouchers in the Governor's Race Final Week
Hinojosa is using Abbott's education record — including state takeovers of Fort Worth and Beaumont ISDs — as her closing argument, and has vowed to fire the education commissioner on her first day; Abbott is centering tax cuts, border security and public safety.
Education has become the closing argument in the Texas governor's race. Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa is using Gov. Greg Abbott's education record, including state takeovers of districts such as Fort Worth ISD and Beaumont ISD, to put the incumbent on the defensive before the Nov. 3 election, the Texas Tribune reported Monday, Oct. 26. Hinojosa has vowed to fire Education Commissioner Mike Morath on her first day in office.
Abbott, seeking a fourth term two years after winning his school voucher program, is centering property tax cuts, border security and public safety instead, according to the same reporting. The contrast is the race in miniature: Hinojosa opposing the voucher program and the takeovers, Abbott running on the record that produced them.
A University of Texas poll this month found voters more focused on cost of living, the economy and corruption, and evenly split on which candidate would be better for public schools, the Tribune report noted. Early voting in Texas runs through Friday, Oct. 30, with Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
