Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in the Texas governor's race on Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to The Associated Press.

The AP declared Hinojosa the winner at 10:17 p.m. Central time, KUT reported. At that point she held about 57% of the reported vote to Abbott's 41%, according to KUT.

Hinojosa will be Texas' first Latina governor and the first Democrat to win the office since Ann Richards in 1990, according to PBS NewsHour.

The result marks a sharp reversal in a county like Rockwall. In the 2022 governor's race, Abbott won Rockwall County with 70.47% of the vote out of 42,871 ballots cast, according to theoelections data. Rockwall County-specific returns for the Nov. 3 race were not available at publication.

Abbott concedes

Abbott, who first took office in 2015, was seeking a fourth term. He conceded on election night, according to KUT.

"There are still votes to be counted, but mathematically, we are not going to be able to win this election," Abbott said in his concession, according to KUT.

Hinojosa addressed supporters the same night. "Here's what Texas said … loud and clear: Your government belongs to you," she said in her victory speech, according to KUT. "As your governor, I will never forget it."

Abbott won re-election by more than 10 points four years ago, Time reported. Statewide, he had outspent Hinojosa nearly eight-to-one over the past year, dispensing $281 million to her $36.8 million, according to campaign finance filings reported by Houston Public Media.

What it means for Rockwall County residents

Hinojosa, a five-term state representative from Austin's House District 49, campaigned on public school funding, affordability and government accountability, according to KSAT. She opposed the state's education savings account program, which allows families to use public money for private school expenses, and called for replacing Education Commissioner Mike Morath, KSAT reported.

Abbott campaigned on property tax relief, border security and expanding school choice, according to KSAT.

Hinojosa proposed a $1,500 payment to every Texas household, which she called a "corruption tax refund," and called for suspending the state gas tax, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Major changes to education funding, taxes and other laws would require cooperation from the Republican-controlled Legislature, KSAT reported.

The winner will serve a four-year term beginning in January 2027, according to KPRC.

Record voter registration

Texas Secretary of State Robert Howden announced a record 19,041,684 registered voters ahead of the election. That figure represents a 2.2% increase from the November 2024 general election.

More than 7.4 million Texans voted during the two-week early voting period, according to KUT. Including mail ballots, more than 7.7 million votes were cast before Election Day, KUT reported.

Rockwall County voters could cast ballots at any polling location in the county under the Countywide Polling Place Program, according to WFAA. Libertarian Pat Dixon also appeared on the governor's ballot.