Overview
- The general election is set for Nov. 3, 2026, and Texas early voting begins Oct. 19, leaving months for campaigns and outside groups to influence turnout.
- Polls from late July and early August show Gov. Greg Abbott ahead by roughly one to six points, making the race competitive but consistently tilted to the incumbent.
- Abbott held about $67 million in campaign cash at the end of June compared with roughly $3 million for Democrat Gina Hinojosa, a gap that gives him far greater reach on ads and organizing.
- Both campaigns are centering on affordability and education: Abbott is pushing property-tax and electricity-cost proposals while Hinojosa is running new statewide ads and backing $1,500 household checks, firing Education Commissioner Mike Morath, and a moratorium on data-center construction.
- Demographic splits in polls show Abbott stronger with white, older and college-educated voters and Hinojosa ahead with Hispanic and Black voters, a pattern that makes suburban, independent and minority turnout decisive for November.