Gubernatorial hopeful slams Abbott's school takeover threat in San Antonio

State Rep. Gina Hinojosa criticizes Texas governor's plan to seize control of San Antonio ISD during campaign stop.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, a Democratic candidate for Texas governor, sharply criticized Gov. Greg Abbott's threat to take over the San Antonio Independent School District during a campaign rally in the city on Sunday. Hinojosa accused Abbott of "bullying" local school districts and said the governor's plan would undermine local control and democracy.

Why it matters

The potential state takeover of the San Antonio school district has become a major political flashpoint, with critics arguing it represents an overreach of state power and a threat to community-based education. Hinojosa's comments highlight the issue as a key campaign topic in the upcoming gubernatorial race.

The details

During her remarks at a rally in San Antonio, Hinojosa slammed Abbott's plan to replace the elected San Antonio ISD school board with state-appointed managers. She accused the governor of "bullying" local districts and said the takeover would strip away local control and undermine democracy.

  • Hinojosa made the comments during a campaign rally in San Antonio on Sunday, February 23, 2026.

The players

Gina Hinojosa

A Democratic state representative from Austin who is running for Texas governor.

Greg Abbott

The current Republican governor of Texas who has threatened to take over the San Antonio Independent School District.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

Hinojosa's criticism of Abbott's school takeover plan highlights the growing political tensions over local control of education in Texas, which is likely to be a major issue in the upcoming gubernatorial race.