Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa Pledges to End Texas Voucher Program

Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa pledged to reverse the education agenda of outgoing Governor Greg Abbott, specifically targeting the state's $1 billion school voucher program. Following a Democratic sweep of nearly every state office on November 4, 2026, Hinojosa vowed to end public school takeovers and fire Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath.

While eliminating the voucher program requires legislative action, Democrats have regained control of the Texas House for the first time in 24 years. State Representative Diego Bernal, vice chair of the House education committee, stated the program would likely be unrecognizable or extinct. Incoming State Comptroller Sarah Eckhardt plans to implement rigorous audits and increase transparency regarding taxpayer funding for private schools to determine if the investment is panning out.

Republicans retain a majority in the Texas Senate. Senator Paul Bettencourt, who led the effort to approve vouchers, is advocating for a fact-based review of the program's first cohort before any changes are made. The political shift follows significant Republican losses in rural and suburban districts, where voters expressed concern that vouchers divert essential funds from public schools.