The Texas Democrat Party Chairman, Gilberto Hinojosa, has announced his resignation after a significant statewide electoral defeat in Tuesday’s election.
Hinojosa, a South Texas lawyer first elected to the role in 2012, has overseen a period marked by Democrat losses, particularly among Hispanic voters and in border counties.
Despite ongoing claims that Texas was on the verge of “turning blue” for over a decade, Democrats have failed to secure a statewide victory in 30 years. In Tuesday’s election, President Donald Trump won Texas by more than 13 points, including victories in 12 of the state’s 14 border counties. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz also defeated his Democrat opponent by approximately nine points.
Speaking to KUT News on Wednesday, Hinojosa attributed the party’s loss partially to its focus on radical gender ideology. For example, during the party’s convention in June, delegates were addressed by a female drag queen (a woman dressed as a man dressed as a woman). When asked about “transgender rights,” he responded, “I think what the Democratic Party has to realize is that there’s some things that we can support and some things that we cannot. And when we’re pressed upon to take votes of these kinds, we need to be mindful of the long-term consequences of these choices.”
Following backlash from Democrat supporters, Hinojosa later apologized, reaffirming his “unequivocal and unwavering support for LGBTQ+ Texans.”
For many Texas Democrats, Hinojosa’s initial comments were the final straw, leading to intensified calls for his resignation throughout the week.
Pointing to “devastating defeats up and down the ballot in Texas and across the country,” Hinojosa announced Friday morning that he would resign at the party leadership’s upcoming meeting in March.
“In the days and weeks to come, it is crucial for our Democratic leaders to reassess what is best for our party and welcome the next generation of leaders to navigate us through the next four years of Trump and reclaim seats across the ballot,” Hinojosa stated.
Republican Party of Texas Chairman Abraham George called Hinojosa’s comments on radical transgender ideology “a moment of sanity.”
“My encouragement to Democrats: find a chairman even more radical and liberal to succeed him. In the meantime, the Republican Party of Texas will continue working with President Donald Trump, Governor Greg Abbott, and our Republican lawmakers to pass conservative policies and secure even bigger wins in 2026,” said George.
Before Hinojosa’s official announcement, Austin lawyer Adam Loewy expressed interest in the position on X, saying he would “happily serve as Chair of the Texas Democrats,” adding, “We can get back to our Stevenson/LBJ roots and start sweeping 254 counties again. The time is now. The moment is right.”
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