Surprisingly, we don’t appear to have a thread singularly devoted to her campaign.

I’ve been on the record with my opinion that she’s a bit of a light weight and lacking the charisma I imagined would be needed to mount a more formidable challenge to Abbott.

That said, either out of her own attributes or because of the political winds, she appears to be within a margin of error’s reach of a polling advantage and Abbott is moving toward the middle and taking her candidacy seriously. That’s a signal, to me, that it was time to help.

This morning I made a donation to her campaign-this isn’t a “look at me post” or proverbial shaggy/surly humble brag, but it was a big check and I mention that purely as a testament to my personal belief that she’s earned it (and that the donation isn’t going to be spent in a flailing MJ Hegar-like misread of the electorate).

I also hope it inspires any of you on the fence to also contribute. I think the Governors race is starved of resources (compared to the Talarico campaign), and there’s a good chance that boosting her visibility helps Talarico more than additional money spent on his (she’s just a better draw to pull in another couple of percentage points in Hispanic areas and help bolster down ballot races). To the extent I’m available I’ll also be block walking over the next few weeks.

I know Surly is a great place for many of you (and me) to vent your frustrations. I promise you, it’ll feel better to actually do something besides post another argument on the internet.

I'm glad you did.

I know her husband and he’s got the best head of hair I’ve ever seen.

Just now, Bozo_Casanova said:

I know her husband and he’s got the best head of hair I’ve ever seen.

She’s giving Abbott the biggest scare of his political career

If she pulls it off, it’ll be because of a massive blue wave and Talarico dragging her across the finish line. Not unheard of.

She was my rep for years and I thought she did a good job. But I don’t make political donations after 2024.

Bbut she voted to increase Texas FORTY TIMES!!!!

Though that hit ad only briefly lists different vote records of house bill 2, so maybe she voted for different versions of the same thing. But would MAGA Inc use such deceptive practices?

11 minutes ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

I know her husband and he’s got the best head of hair I’ve ever seen.

I hate him.

I'd like to meet his tailor.

11 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Bbut she voted to increase Texas FORTY TIMES!!!!

Though that hit ad only briefly lists different vote records of house bill 2, so maybe she voted for different versions of the same thing. But would MAGA Inc use such deceptive practices?

Yeah, I've never seen an ad for her, but I have seen 56 a day saying she wants to raise property taxes. I'm sure that'll work out well with our informed electorate.

I would also encourage you guys to give to close races in other states. Maine looks like a good ROI

15 minutes ago, RomaVicta said:

I'd like to meet his tailor.

Draw blood

6 minutes ago, SimonBolivar said:

Yeah, I've never seen an ad for her, but I have seen 56 a day saying she wants to raise property taxes. I'm sure that'll work out well with our informed electorate.

I expect if they were on here the Hinojosa campaign staff would say they’ve done about all they can to create virality in online ads but they are getting wildly outspent and drowned out.

I’d love for to see if one big push before Election Day can move the needle, because I think all of the Democrats have the wind at their back and just need to close well with the “I hate both options” voters.

54 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Bbut she voted to increase Texas FORTY TIMES!!!!

Though that hit ad only briefly lists different vote records of house bill 2, so maybe she voted for different versions of the same thing. But would MAGA Inc use such deceptive practices?

Wasn't house bill 2 the school finance bill that Abbott signed, and passed 145 to 5?

Edited October 3Oct 3 by Ghost of NMAS

They could save a lot of money and just buy 5 second clips that say “hot lady vs hot wheels.”

Watch her Politico interview. She might not have the energy many are expecting but she did a fantastic job of staying on message.

And those of you complaining about her lack of resources should send her 20 bucks.

1 hour ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

I know her husband and he’s got the best head of hair I’ve ever seen.

She’s married to Anson Mount????

1 hour ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

I know her husband

In the Biblical sense?

7 minutes ago, HenryJames said:

In the Biblical sense?

Biblically enough to comment on his head game

Thank god, I thought she was dead.

2 hours ago, RomaVicta said:

I'd like to meet his tailor.

Better not let him in…

• for years I thought the lyric was I’d like to meet Liz Taylor. I’m a dumBass.

Boring and smart is exactly what we need right now. Which means we won't get it.

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DdEoNFMvUkA/

She's got a pretty good messaging team behind her, and she's been on the trail hard.

This slate for the first time is really complimentary of each other. Gina is bringing the Hispanics in, Talarico the Paxton haters and undecideds, and Clayton Tucker is really winning over a lot of Republican rural women. So our hope is just saying fuck it and voting the whole ballot. If any of you legal guys want to talk to Holly Taylor, I'll give you her number. And thanks LC for pitching in!

2 hours ago, Underdog said:

• for years I thought the lyric was I’d like to meet Liz Taylor. I’m a dumBass.

Don’t bring me down, Bruce.

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2026/10/03/democrats-have-a-money-problem-in-the-races-that-matter-the-most-01105500

Basically this article is mentioning a lot of the issues Gina has here.

Would suck to lose FL , GA, TX, Ohio / Wi because of Republican money, but it looks like a possibility.

She's my aunt's cousin, so we're practically family.

Tia Gina for Governor!

I will say that Gina goes on MSNBC and other channels / podcasts very frequently. She does a good job of hitting Abbott while staying on message and not coming across as some crazy AOC type liberal that would alienate people in Texas.

8 minutes ago, Voldemort86 said:

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2026/10/03/democrats-have-a-money-problem-in-the-races-that-matter-the-most-01105500

Basically this article is mentioning a lot of the issues Gina has here.

Would suck to lose FL , GA, TX, Ohio / Wi because of Republican money, but it looks like a possibility.

Reading that article this morning is what prompted the thread.

5 minutes ago, Voldemort86 said:

I will say that Gina goes on MSNBC and other channels / podcasts very frequently. She does a good job of hitting Abbott while staying on message and not coming across as some crazy AOC type liberal that would alienate people in Texas.

Normally I’m dismissive of a candidate using their finite time in “safe” spaces, but her main problem here in the last mile is pulling in any eyeballs she can and she needs money (national money) to do it.

I also think the business use case of campaign spending is pretty established at this point-she’s got the right message for this race against this opponent. Now it’s just a matter of getting it in front of voters.

15 minutes ago, Voldemort86 said:

some crazy AOC type liberal

AOC isn't even that. Citizens United is the single biggest factor in the USA destroying itself. The rich now just buy the brainwashing of the masses full flow.

23 minutes ago, Voldemort86 said:

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2026/10/03/democrats-have-a-money-problem-in-the-races-that-matter-the-most-01105500

Basically this article is mentioning a lot of the issues Gina has here.

Would suck to lose FL , GA, TX, Ohio / Wi because of Republican money, but it looks like a possibility.

Money probably won't matter too much when people are as motivated to vote against Republicans as they are in this election.

They have a discussion every Tuesday evening on How to Talk about Gina. You really only need to attend once. Following is a link to her site and the Mobilize scheduler they use. There's a bunch of block walking and other events, but the one I suggest is on the second page, 3rd from the bottom.

Talk about Gina Link

Gina was in Longview today. You can find her speech on YouTube if you want to look for it

I don’t think she’s a dynamic candidate and I don’t think she has a very good chance of winning even in the most favorable political environment for it in the last 30 years. I really wish someone more charismatic and likable had gone for that Dem nom for governor. The way she has run her campaign has been a mild pleasant surprise. I will enthusiastically vote for her over Abbott, but I don’t think she will make a great governor, and I’m not going to donate money or volunteer time to someone I don’t think will be great or someone I don’t think can win.

I have only given money to 2 political candidates in my life. The first was a donation in 2016 to just make myself feel like I was doing something to document my opposition to Trump. The other was to Talarico this cycle because I really believe he is a great candidate who will have a big impact if he is able to win, and I think he actually has a chance to win.

Too often I have been on the verge of actually taking action (outside of just voting) to support a politician only to find out they were a shitbird. I really liked Graham Platner’s message and was very close to donating money to him, thank god I held off on that.

Since there’s not a thread on her as far as I can see, I really like Vicky Goodwin and I actually think she would make a very good Lt Gov, but I don’t think she can win and I don’t think she is campaigning hard enough or effectively enough. I am really sad she didn’t stay in her rep role.

Quality of dem candidates is improving so that’s a good sign but yeah Goodwin (what a great last name) and Hinojosa have no chance.

1 hour ago, Snake Diggity said:

I don’t think she’s a dynamic candidate and I don’t think she has a very good chance of winning even in the most favorable political environment for it in the last 30 years

Gina has no rizz but Vicki Goodwin does is a bold claim.

If it helps, you don’t need to love a candidate (or their chances) to justify doing more than cast a vote.

Sometimes it’s purely to push against the illiberal provocations from the other side, or out of a concern that the Texas economy is under threat when we are unwelcoming (whether that’s to immigrants, women’s rights, LGBTQ, whatever).

Maybe it’s because you understand that you’d pay half as much in state taxes as you would in Colorado, and you’re tired of GOP proclamations that we’re the low tax state. Maybe it’s the threat against public schools, including at The University, and a general disdain for competence and expertise in all things when it’s inconvenient to a select few donors.

Truly, we can make a list of reasons 100 deep and we’d still not exhaust ourselves of corrections, indignities small and large, and buffoonery for which we are responsible for by our inaction.

• 
• Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 @PollTracker2024

#TexasGovernor

NYT: Mark Rios, a 38-year-old Republican from Dallas, said he is supporting Ms. Hinojosa because he wants a fresh pair of eyes in office.

He said he supported Trump in three elections but has seen higher gasoline prices since the president took office. The

• 1:10 PM · Oct 4, 2026

• 
• Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 @PollTracker2024 · Oct 3, 2026

NYT/Siena poll | 9/21-9/30 LV

Texas Governor 2026

🟦Gina Hinojosa 49%

🟥Greg Abbott 46% (incumbent)

Is she the best? Maybe not, but she’s not giving Abbott much to work with (which is good - let Talarico carry the burden of soaking up GOP money and attacks), and she’s running on a ballot with Paxton (and by proxy Trump, his tariffs, and Iran).

4 hours ago, scramblyn said:

Quality of dem candidates is improving so that’s a good sign but yeah Goodwin (what a great last name) and Hinojosa have no chance.

Hinojosa has a real chance of pulling the upset.

3 minutes ago, atomheartbevo said:

Is she the best? Maybe not, but she’s not giving Abbott much to work with (which is good - let Talarico carry the burden of soaking up GOP money and attacks), and she’s running on a ballot with Paxton (and by proxy Trump, his tariffs, and Iran).

the thought that we have to elect someone exceptional is probably why we're where we are. very few people who came before fit that standard, and we managed to produce one of the best (but still highly flawed) societies the world has ever seen. we don't need exceptional, we need not maliciously self-serving or outright evil. flawed candidates are ok, as long as they acknowledge themselves as such and govern accordingly

Just donated to her campaign again

26 minutes ago, David Dennison said:

Hinojosa has a real chance of pulling the upset.

I don’t see it. Close but Abbott by 3-5%.

Edited October 4Oct 4 by scramblyn

56 minutes ago, BurntOrange&White said:

• 
• Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 @PollTracker2024

#TexasGovernor

NYT: Mark Rios, a 38-year-old Republican from Dallas, said he is supporting Ms. Hinojosa because he wants a fresh pair of eyes in office.

He said he supported Trump in three elections but has seen higher gasoline prices since the president took office. The

• 1:10 PM · Oct 4, 2026

• 
• Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 @PollTracker2024 · Oct 3, 2026

NYT/Siena poll | 9/21-9/30 LV

Texas Governor 2026

🟦Gina Hinojosa 49%

🟥Greg Abbott 46% (incumbent)

3 hours ago, LCHorn said:

Gina has no rizz but Vicki Goodwin does is a bold claim.

If it helps, you don’t need to love a candidate (or their chances) to justify doing more than cast a vote.

Sometimes it’s purely to push against the illiberal provocations from the other side, or out of a concern that the Texas economy is under threat when we are unwelcoming (whether that’s to immigrants, women’s rights, LGBTQ, whatever).

Maybe it’s because you understand that you’d pay half as much in state taxes as you would in Colorado, and you’re tired of GOP proclamations that we’re the low tax state. Maybe it’s the threat against public schools, including at The University, and a general disdain for competence and expertise in all things when it’s inconvenient to a select few donors.

Truly, we can make a list of reasons 100 deep and we’d still not exhaust ourselves of corrections, indignities small and large, and buffoonery for which we are responsible for by our inaction.

I did not say Goodwin has “rizz”. I said I think she’d make a better Lt. Gov than Hinojosa would make as Gov. That’s just based on the difference between what kind of person those jobs require.

3 hours ago, LCHorn said:

Gina has no rizz but Vicki Goodwin does is a bold claim.

If it helps, you don’t need to love a candidate (or their chances) to justify doing more than cast a vote.

Sometimes it’s purely to push against the illiberal provocations from the other side, or out of a concern that the Texas economy is under threat when we are unwelcoming (whether that’s to immigrants, women’s rights, LGBTQ, whatever).

Maybe it’s because you understand that you’d pay half as much in state taxes as you would in Colorado, and you’re tired of GOP proclamations that we’re the low tax state. Maybe it’s the threat against public schools, including at The University, and a general disdain for competence and expertise in all things when it’s inconvenient to a select few donors.

Truly, we can make a list of reasons 100 deep and we’d still not exhaust ourselves of corrections, indignities small and large, and buffoonery for which we are responsible for by our inaction.

I like the way she handled the pronoun thing without making a big issue of it. Someone is doing good messaging over there. Same with Goodwin's campaign. Just not enough $$ to compete with the ads. But both of these ladies have been counting their miles by oil changes the way they have been getting out to the voters. I had Vikki on a float in my lil community for the 4th before she could officially announce.

1 hour ago, BurntOrange&White said:

• 
• Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 @PollTracker2024

#TexasGovernor

NYT: Mark Rios, a 38-year-old Republican from Dallas, said he is supporting Ms. Hinojosa because he wants a fresh pair of eyes in office.

He said he supported Trump in three elections but has seen higher gasoline prices since the president took office. The

• 1:10 PM · Oct 4, 2026

• 
• Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 @PollTracker2024 · Oct 3, 2026

NYT/Siena poll | 9/21-9/30 LV

Texas Governor 2026

🟦Gina Hinojosa 49%

🟥Greg Abbott 46% (incumbent)

There is no clearer sign of someone being a total piece of shit than a 3-time Trump voter changing his vote because of gas prices.

I donate money. I think we have better candidates up and down the ballot than we e had in decades. Both are better than what we’ve had in past years. I just don’t think we get over the hump on Lt Gov and Gov.

10 minutes ago, Snake Diggity said:

There is no clearer sign of someone being a total piece of shit than a 3-time Trump voter changing his vote because of gas prices.

Sure but do you want your side to win or do you want to feel morally superior?

58 minutes ago, scramblyn said:

I don’t see it. Close but Abbott by 3-5%.

Like I've said before, I'll laugh hysterically for a month if she wins.

1 hour ago, WBT said:

Sure but do you want your side to win or do you want to feel morally superior?

I’m not saying the stupid evil motherfuckers shouldn’t change their votes. Me wanting to win doesn’t mean I need to excuse or ignore the behavior of evil dumbfucks or avoid holding them accountable. And not to be a dick, but I don’t FEEL morally superior, I AM morally superior to any 3-time Trump voter. And I’m not even that good of a person. Thats like saying Texas fans FEEL like their football program has a superior history to Texas A&M. It’s something subjective that no reasonable person would object to unless they were mentally deficient or just trying to be a condescending douchebag.

1 minute ago, Snake Diggity said:

I’m not saying the stupid evil motherfuckers shouldn’t change their votes. Me wanting to win doesn’t mean I need to excuse or ignore the behavior of evil dumbfucks or avoid holding them accountable. And not to be a dick, but I don’t FEEL morally superior, I AM morally superior to any 3-time Trump voter. And I’m not even that good of a person. Thats like saying Texas fans FEEL like their football program has a superior history to Texas A&M. It’s something subjective that no reasonable person would object to unless they were mentally deficient or just trying to be a condescending douchebag.

MIRA: Make Intellectuals Relevant Again. LOOK!

She tried to raise your taxes thousands, consequently millions, of times.

Pass.