Education and Taxes Take Center Stage in Texas Campaign's Final Stretch

October 26, 2026 - 22:15

As the Texas campaign season enters its final weeks, public education and property taxes have emerged as the central issues dividing the candidates. Democrat Gina Hinojosa has built her message around what she calls saving public schools, warning that voucher programs and state intervention could drain resources from neighborhood campuses. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, meanwhile, has put property tax relief at the front of his closing argument, pitching cuts as the answer to rising costs squeezing Texas families.

The two themes reflect a broader debate over how the state should support its schools. Hinojosa argues that diverting public money toward private school vouchers would weaken a system that serves the vast majority of Texas children, and she has criticized state takeovers of local districts as an overreach that silences parents and educators. Abbott counters that taxpayers deserve relief and that families should have more choices in where their children learn.

With early voting underway, both sides are working to energize their bases. Education advocates have rallied behind Hinojosa, while the governor's allies say tax cuts remain the most persuasive message for suburban and rural voters. The outcome could shape not only the governor's race but also the direction of school funding and voucher legislation in the next legislative session.