Hinojosa, a Democratic state representative from Austin, defeated the three-term incumbent and will become Texas’ first Democratic governor since Ann Richards.
Her victory immediately raises questions about the future of Abbott’s signature border initiative, which has made Texas a leading state partner in immigration enforcement.
Operation Lone Star has cost Texas more than $11 billion since Abbott launched the program in 2021 during former President Joe Biden’s administration.
Texas has constructed sections of its own border barrier and deployed more than 10,000 National Guard members through the initiative.
Hinojosa has repeatedly criticized Abbott’s handling of the program and voted against its initial funding, but she has not promised to eliminate it.
“As governor, I’ll put in the work to secure the border, not waste working Texans’ money on political theater,” Hinojosa said.
During another recent interview, Hinojosa declined to identify specific border-security spending she would eliminate after taking office.
Instead, she argued that billions had been spent prosecuting migrants for trespassing while taxpayers also financed their legal representation.
“Public safety shouldn’t be a political stunt,” Hinojosa said while discussing her approach to the border.
“I will spend the money it takes to keep our community safe, not for political theater,” she added.
Those comments leave open the possibility that portions of Operation Lone Star could survive under Hinojosa while other elements are dismantled or redirected.
Hinojosa has been particularly clear in opposing additional border-wall construction in the Big Bend region, arguing that such barriers are unnecessary there.
She has also sharply criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Texas cooperation with certain federal immigration operations.
Hinojosa previously accused Abbott of turning Texas into a “staging ground” for federal enforcement operations she said harmed families and benefited political donors.
At the same time, Hinojosa has acknowledged that Trump administration immigration policies have substantially reduced illegal crossings, NewsNation reported.
She specifically praised President Donald Trump for policies that contributed to declining illegal border crossings, creating a more complicated immigration position than her criticism of Abbott suggests.
The changing conditions at the southern border could give Hinojosa additional flexibility when determining how much of Operation Lone Star remains necessary.
Illegal crossings have fallen substantially under Trump, reducing the pressure Texas faced during the Biden administration when encounters repeatedly reached record levels.
Hinojosa has argued that cooperation with Mexico and federal authorities can produce better results than some of Abbott’s state-directed enforcement efforts.
She has cited an earlier episode involving an international bridge closure in which she contacted the Biden administration and federal officials subsequently negotiated with Mexico.
Her victory could nevertheless dramatically change Texas’ relationship with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement.
Abbott emerged as one of the nation’s most aggressive Republican governors on border security during Biden’s presidency.
His administration deployed state personnel, installed razor wire, constructed border barriers and transported migrants to Democratic-led cities across the country.
Hinojosa’s election could mean Texas is less willing to provide the same level of state assistance for federal immigration enforcement.
That possibility is particularly significant because Texas shares approximately 1,250 miles of international border with Mexico, more than any other state.
Hinojosa’s victory also came despite Abbott dramatically outspending her during the campaign.
The Democrat ran heavily on affordability, public education and opposition to what she characterized as excessive corporate influence in state government.
She has proposed using Texas’ enormous budget reserves to provide households with one-time $1,500 payments while also pushing for Medicaid expansion.
Immigration, however, could produce some of her earliest and most consequential decisions after taking office.
Republicans retain control of the Texas Senate, potentially limiting portions of Hinojosa’s legislative agenda and forcing negotiations over future border appropriations.
Operation Lone Star’s future will ultimately depend on those budget battles and the executive decisions Hinojosa makes after succeeding Abbott in January.
