In a historic win for Texas Democrats, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday. Hinojosa will be the first Democrat to lead the state since Ann Richards left office in 1995 and she will be the third woman to ever hold the office. She will also be Texas’ first Latina governor.
Hinojosa captured urban centers and counties along the Mexican border, winning by large margins in El Paso and Webb counties. She also won several rural counties in South Texas. Abbott held onto wins in much of West Texas, East Texas and the Panhandle.
In Harris County, Hinojosa defeated Abbott by a double-digit margin. She dominated much of the Inner Loop and central Harris County. Pockets of suburban Harris County and of the Houston “arrow” –– a wealthy corridor that begins west near the Addicks and Barker reservoirs and points east –– voted for Abbott, with the largest margins in northeastern Harris County and parts of southeastern Harris County…