If Democrat Gina Hinojosa unseats Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday, she would take over an office whose reach comes less from the state constitution than from how long its holder has been in it, political scientists told The Texas Tribune in an analysis published Friday.
The governor's office and both legislative chambers were last held by opposing parties in 1995, and the state last had divided government in 2001, the Tribune noted. Hinojosa, a five-term state representative, has either led or trailed Abbott narrowly in recent public polls.
Her early agenda
Hinojosa has said she would start by halting approval of new data centers, a $1,500 payment to Texans from the state's savings, higher teacher pay, a new education commissioner in place of Mike Morath and an end to the private school voucher program.
In a statement to the Tribune, she said that within an hour of being sworn in she would declare a high-cost emergency and order the gas and diesel tax suspended and electricity rates frozen.
Abbott's campaign did not answer the Tribune's request for comment. At a stop in Abilene on Monday, Abbott warned that a Democratic win would put the state's economy at risk. "What we have in Texas is precious, but it can all be destroyed in one election," he said.
Where a governor's power runs out
Executive orders are the fastest tool, and Abbott has leaned on them, from COVID-era mask rules to September's order that the state environmental agency stop approving data center permits. University of Houston political scientist Brandon Rottinghaus said a new governor could reverse many of them quickly, since any governor can rescind a predecessor's orders.
Appointments are slower. Political appointees serve staggered terms, and removing one takes the Texas Senate's consent. Morath's four-year term ends in January, the Tribune reported, so a new governor could name his successor early, but the Senate must confirm that pick by a two-thirds vote, which in practice means support from both parties.
The Senate is expected to stay in Republican hands even if Democrat Vikki Goodwin defeats Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and much of the lieutenant governor's authority comes from rules senators adopt each session. Jim Henson of the Texas Politics Project at UT Austin said a Democratic governor alone among Republican leaders would give Republicans little reason to cooperate.
The veto would remain her strongest check. Lawmakers need two-thirds of both chambers to override one, and the last override came in 1979. Governors usually issue vetoes after a session ends, when an override is no longer possible. Abbott has vetoed 280 bills in his three terms.
Sherri Greenberg of UT's LBJ School, a legislator from 1995 to 2001, said divided government once produced bipartisan deals on electricity deregulation and water funding, and that AI, data centers and affordability could offer common ground now.
Sources
The Texas Tribune
