Overview

• State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, a five-term Austin lawmaker and Rio Grande Valley native, announced her candidacy Wednesday and is set to kick off at a Brownsville rally.
• She has been a leading critic of Gov. Greg Abbott’s private-school voucher push and highlighted his $10 million in donations from voucher advocate Jeff Yass.
• The Democratic primary field already includes Andrew White, Bobby Cole and Benjamin Flores, setting up a competitive intraparty contest.
• Abbott seeks a fourth term with more than $87 million on hand and three prior double-digit wins, underscoring Democrats’ uphill odds in a state they have not carried statewide since 1994.
• Hinojosa spotlights a record on education and health care, citing work to reduce standardized testing, raise teacher pay and bring nearly $1 billion in federal funds for indigent care in Travis County.