Texas Governor Race: Abbott Seeks Fourth Term as Hinojosa Emerges as Top Democratic Contender
texas governor race lines are sharpening as Texans head toward the 2026 election to decide whether Gov. Greg Abbott stays in office or the state chooses a new governor. Abbott is seeking a fourth term, setting up a high-stakes contest as primary campaigns intensify across both parties. As of 3: 00 PM ET on March 4, 2026, new polling and candidate positioning are giving voters an early snapshot of where the field stands.
Front of the field: Abbott runs again as Democrats sort a crowded primary
Texans will decide in 2026 whether to return Abbott to office or chart a new direction, with the governor now pursuing a fourth term. On the Democratic side, the primary field is large: nine candidates are running, but only three are polling above 5%.
A recent poll from the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs shows State Rep. Gina Hinojosa leading at 37%, putting her roughly 30 points ahead of the next candidate in the Democratic primary. The same Hobby School polling also tested the general election picture and found Hinojosa seven points behind in that matchup measurement.
Texas Governor Race polling: Hinojosa’s lead, profile, and message
In the Texas Governor Race Democratic primary, Hinojosa’s advantage is built on both name recognition and a defined message. Hinojosa is a five-term Democratic state representative from House District 49, a district spanning central Austin and including the University of Texas at Austin. She represents a significant portion of Austin and Travis County.
At the Capitol, Hinojosa sits on the House Public Education and Business & Industry committees. She has also chaired the Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee. Her campaign pitch is described as “kitchen-table, ” focusing on public schools, health care costs, and day-to-day affordability. On her policy page, she argues Texas should crack down on “profit-over-patients” practices, including private equity ownership in health care, while taking direct aim at insurance and drug costs.
Hinojosa has tried to frame her candidacy as the best-positioned Democratic challenge to Abbott, pointing to a mix of endorsements and fundraising claims as part of that argument.
Other Democratic contenders: Bell leans anti-corruption; Cole makes a rural working-class pitch
Two other candidates highlighted in the Democratic field are running distinct lanes.
Chris Bell previously served on the Houston City Council and later won a term in Congress from 2003–2005. He became the Democratic nominee for governor in 2006. In this cycle, Bell is running on an anti-corruption message, casting Abbott-era politics as pay-to-play and focusing on “cleaning up” state government while also boosting public education and tackling rising costs. His campaign biography emphasizes his background as a University of Texas journalism alumnus who worked in broadcast news before becoming an attorney.
Bobby Cole, a retired firefighter, cattleman, and poultry producer, is presenting himself as an East Texas-rooted candidate making a working-class appeal. Cole is emphasizing property taxes and public education, aiming to reach rural and small-town voters who feel priced out or overlooked. His issues page includes proposals such as raising the minimum wage, strengthening workers’ ability to organize, and legalizing marijuana.
Quick context and what’s next
Texas has not elected a Democratic governor since Ann Richards, whose term lasted from 1991 to 1995. That history hangs over the 2026 contest as both parties move into primary season.
Next, the texas governor race will turn on whether primary polling holds as campaigns broaden outreach and define contrasts ahead of the nomination fights. Watch for additional polling from the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs and for candidates to sharpen their core themes—affordability, public education, and the direction of state government—as the primary field continues to take shape.
