Gina Hinojosa Links Texas School Deficits to Greg Abbott's

Gina Hinojosa said Austin ISD faces an $181 million budget deficit while Round Rock, Pflugerville and Leander districts also run shortfalls. The Democratic nominee for governor blamed those gaps on Governor Greg Abbott's record since 2015 and called the situation a full crisis for the state's 5.5 million public school students. She made the statements during an April 21 interview as she campaigns for the November 2026 election.

Hinojosa Details Funding Gaps Across Districts

Hinojosa listed concrete shortfalls in major districts to show the scale of the problem. Austin ISD confronts the largest single deficit at $181 million. Neighboring districts including Round Rock, Pflugerville and Leander report similar shortfalls that force cuts to programs and staff. She tied every example to decisions made under Abbott's watch.

Texas now sits $10 billion behind 2019 per-student funding levels, Hinojosa said. Abbott signed House Bill 2 in 2025, yet that measure delivered only a $55 per-student increase. The nominee argued the tiny bump left districts unable to cover rising costs for teachers and operations.

Record Shows Closures and Teacher Losses

Hinojosa pointed to school closures and an exodus of teachers as direct results of the funding shortfall. She stated plainly that the problems amount to Abbott's record after more than a decade in office. The governor now seeks a fourth term while Hinojosa positions herself as the alternative focused on restoring public school support.

Vouchers Labeled a Drain on Public Schools

Hinojosa called school vouchers a corruption tax and a scam that pulls billions from public classrooms. She said the policy benefits private schools and wealthy donors while Abbott has received more than $10 million from an out-of-state billionaire who backs the plan. The nominee vowed to reject any expansion of vouchers if elected.

STAAR Testing Expansion Targeted for Repeal

Hinojosa criticized Abbott for expanding the STAAR standardized test from 15 exams to 51 by middle school. She pledged to end the expanded testing regime on day one of a Hinojosa administration. The change would affect every one of the 5.5 million students now required to take the additional assessments.

Both candidates continue to campaign ahead of the November 3, 2026 general election.