Governor: who gets your vote?
What this role does
The governor makes sure state laws are carried out and picks many leaders of state agencies. The governor plans a state budget, but lawmakers, not the governor, pass the budget and state laws. The governor can say no to a bill, but lawmakers can vote to pass it anyway. The governor also leads the state's response to emergencies, and the exact powers differ by state.
This job helps shape the state budget and how state services work.
- Carrying out state laws
- State budget plans
- Emergency response
Read about them. Then tap a button to pick one. You can change it later.
Data last updated: Oct 31, 2026 (state and local ballot sources). Verify approaching elections with your state election office.
Our reading of the duties, not an official requirement. Doesn't rank or recommend anyone.
Office role sources
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GREG ABBOTT
Running for Governor · Texas
StateRepublican Party / Partido Republicano
GINA HINOJOSA
Running for Governor · Texas
StateDemocratic Party / Partido Demócrata
Job fit
GREG ABBOTT
- Abbott was first elected Texas governor in 2014 and reelected to a third term in 2022. He previously served as Texas attorney general, a Texas Supreme Court justice and a Harris County district judge. 1
- In 2025, Abbott signed legislation giving participating families around $10,000 for tuition and other school expenses, according to the retained Wikipedia account. 3
GINA HINOJOSA
- Her House biography says Hinojosa graduated from George Washington National Law Center and worked as a civil rights and labor lawyer representing union members, including CWA members. 4
- Her campaign says Hinojosa won an Austin ISD school board seat, kept district schools open, and was appointed board president by fellow trustees in 2015. 5
- Her campaign says Hinojosa helped win an investment of more than $11 billion in Texas public schools in 2019. 5
Top issues
Picked for this office
GREG ABBOTT
- Abbott’s governor’s office describes his policy goals as more jobs and economic opportunity, education, individual liberties, parental rights in education and southern border security. 1
GINA HINOJOSA
- Her stated early priorities as governor include a new-data-center moratorium, $1,500 checks from state savings, higher teacher pay, replacing education commissioner Mike Morath, and ending private school vouchers, the Tribune reported. 6
- In a statement quoted by the Tribune, Hinojosa promised, within an hour of taking office, a high-cost emergency declaration and an emergency executive order suspending gas and diesel taxes and freezing electricity rates. 6
Record in office
GREG ABBOTT
As State Preservation Board chair, Abbott joined a unanimous vote to remove a Children of the Confederacy plaque from the Texas State Capitol, according to the retained Wikipedia account. 3
Abbott’s governor’s office credits him with allocating $10 billion to expand Texas’s energy grid. 1
Says who: Governor’s office credits this action · Date: not given
GINA HINOJOSA
Her House biography credits Hinojosa with passing HB 3488 (85R), creating Texas public benefit corporations, and sponsoring SB 1350 (86R), funding indigent health care in Travis County. 4
Says who: Texas House biography credits this legislative work · Date: not given
Who pays them
GREG ABBOTT
What the source says
The Houston Chronicle reports Abbott raised $117.6 million from the beginning of 2025 through October 24, 2026.
What the source says
The Houston Chronicle lists Elon Musk as Abbott’s largest donor, with $5.5 million in contributions.
GINA HINOJOSA
Nothing found for this candidate yet.
Checks
No checks have run for either candidate yet.
Based on current data. May change in a future update.
Sources
- Office of the Texas Governor | Greg Abbott · checked 2026-10-31 used in: Experience, Top issues, Record in office
- National Governors Association: Governors' Powers & Authority · checked 2026-10-13 used in: Experience
- Greg Abbott · checked 2026-10-31 used in: Experience, Record in office
- Rep. Gina Hinojosa - Texas House of Representatives · checked 2026-10-31 used in: Experience, Record in office
- Gina Hinojosa for Texas Governor · checked 2026-10-31 used in: Experience
- What divided government could look like if Gina Hinojosa ... · checked 2026-10-31 used in: Top issues
- Reported source · checked 2026-10-31 used in: Money
Show 1 more running
0/2 selected
View comparison ↑Pick any two candidates below. Your second selection updates the comparison automatically. “Shown above” marks the current cards, not a selection. Comparison selections do not change your pick.
GREG ABBOTT
Republican Party / Partido RepublicanoShown aboveAbbott was first elected Texas governor in 2014 and reelected to a third term in 2022. He previously served as Texas attorney general, a Texas Supreme Court justice and a Harris County district judge. 1
In 2025, Abbott signed legislation giving participating families around $10,000 for tuition and other school expenses, according to the retained Wikipedia account. 2
The Houston Chronicle reports Abbott raised $117.6 million from the beginning of 2025 through October 24, 2026. 3
As State Preservation Board chair, Abbott joined a unanimous vote to remove a Children of the Confederacy plaque from the Texas State Capitol, according to the… 4
Abbott’s governor’s office describes his policy goals as more jobs and economic opportunity, education, individual liberties, parental rights in education and… 5
Sources
1 Background: gov.texas.gov · checked Oct 31
2 Background: en.wikipedia.org · checked Oct 31
3 Money: houstonchronicle.com · checked Oct 31
4 Votes: en.wikipedia.org · checked Oct 31
5 Positions: gov.texas.gov · saved source
GINA HINOJOSA
Democratic Party / Partido DemócrataShown aboveHer House biography says Hinojosa graduated from George Washington National Law Center and worked as a civil rights and labor lawyer representing union members, including CWA members. 1
Her campaign says Hinojosa won an Austin ISD school board seat, kept district schools open, and was appointed board president by fellow trustees in 2015. 2
Her campaign says Hinojosa helped win an investment of more than $11 billion in Texas public schools in 2019. 3
We haven’t finished researching campaign money.
We haven’t finished researching voting records.
Her stated early priorities as governor include a new-data-center moratorium, $1,500 checks from state savings, higher teacher pay, replacing education… 4
Sources
1 Background: house.texas.gov · checked Oct 31
2 Background: ginafortexas.com · checked Oct 31
3 Background: ginafortexas.com · checked Oct 31
4 Positions: texastribune.org · saved source
PAT DIXON
Libertarian Party / Partido LibertarioDixon’s reported experience includes owning and operating Dixon Process Automation Services Inc. in Lago Vista, two city council terms, 10 years chairing Texas’s Libertarian Party, and two Libertarian National Committee terms. 1
Dixon’s campaign reportedly raised $15,138 from January 1 through September 24, 2026, and had $2,369 cash on hand as of September 24. 2
We haven’t finished researching voting records.
Dixon opposes business tax incentives, including for data centers, and proposes cutting spending, business tax breaks, programs such as state inspections of… 3
Sources
1 Background: news-journal.com · checked Oct 31
2 Money: news-journal.com · checked Oct 31
3 Positions: news-journal.com · saved source