Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa outlines education priorities, vows to review school voucher program

Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa outlined her education priorities Thursday in her first public appearance since winning the race for Texas governor, signaling major changes ahead for the state’s public school system.

Hinojosa, who will become the first Democrat to serve as Texas governor since 1995, said her transition into office begins now and will include members of both parties.

“The people of Texas have spoken, and I think it’s important that as elected leaders we respect what the people of Texas have said — they want change,” Hinojosa said. “I would hope that elected leaders from both parties don’t get in the way of the progress we can make together to deliver for working Texans. That is our obligation as leaders in this state.”

Texas voters also chose new members of the State Board of Education, the group that helps decide what students learn in public schools.

Texas Tribune reporter Jaden Edison, who has been writing about the state’s voucher program, told KSAT that the office overseeing it is now also under Democratic control.

“The office that oversees the voucher program, the state comptroller’s office, the chief financial officer, is also now under Democratic credit control,” Edison said. “The comptroller, and Sarah Eckhart, who has opposed this program since its inception, has vowed to conduct a comprehensive internal audit of the program.”

Hinojosa has said she wants to take a closer look at the Texas school voucher program and possibly end it. More than 110,000 Texas students are in the program.

She has also vowed to remove Education Commissioner Mike Morath and end state takeovers of schools. Education changes will not happen overnight, and some may require legislative approval.

Hinojosa is set to be sworn in to office in January 2027.

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• Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa names first transition team, pledges bipartisan administration