Gina Hinojosa, a Texas state representative and Democratic candidate for governor, joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss how the school choice debate has created unexpected opportunities for Democrats in traditionally red states. Hinojosa, who entered politics through school board advocacy to save her son's school, argues that corruption—not ideology—is the biggest driver of Texas politics. She accuses Governor Greg Abbott of holding school funding hostage to push through a voucher program, forcing closures across the state while Texas ranks in the bottom three nationally for education funding. Hinojosa contends that vouchers lack transparency and accountability, and notes that even Trump-voting Texas women have joined the fight against them. She criticizes charter schools for cherry-picking students while taking public resources, and highlights how special education funding has been systematically cut, leaving expensive and crucial services unmet.
Beyond education, Hinojosa paints a broader picture of dysfunction in Texas, claiming Abbott has awarded $1 billion in no-bid contracts to donors—what she calls the "Greg Abbott corruption tax"—and pointing to failures in the state's deregulated electric grid, border policy, and treatment of vulnerable communities. She argues that Texas operates as a three-party state, with two Republican wings and Democrats, and describes how Abbott used millions to primary moderate "Bush Republicans," successfully defeating nine incumbents who wouldn't toe the line. While acknowledging challenges like the border security issue that flipped the Rio Grande Valley toward Trump and ICE enforcement she describes as "terrorizing communities," Hinojosa sees opportunities in growing business community frustration over tariffs and deportations. She emphasizes that despite Texas's economic power and population growth—which will add 4-5 congressional districts—ordinary Texans aren't benefiting, with small business owners earning less than the national average and electric bills skyrocketing due to data center demand and grid mismanagement.
Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.
Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life!
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Gina Hinojosa joins the Chuck ToddCast
01:00 School choice issue has opened the door for Dems in red states
02:30 Gina’s background in education & school board politics
04:00 Ran for school board to save her son’s school
04:30 Greg Abbott is reallocating money, forcing school closures
05:15 Corruption is biggest driver of politics in Texas
06:00 Consultants & vendors use part time legislators to make money
06:45 Schools closing all over Texas due to budget cuts & vouchers
08:00 Abbott held school funding hostage trying to pass voucher program
08:30 Texas is bottom 3 in the country for school funding
10:00 Texas women who voted Trump joined fight against vouchers
11:15 Vouchers have no transparency or accountability
12:30 The school funding model hasn’t changed since industrial age
13:45 Do you support Texas’s “recapture” funding model?
15:00 The recaptured money is being wasted
16:30 Student testing and NAEP scores are decreasing overall
17:45 Teachers deserve to be treated and paid like professional
18:30 Special needs students can attend private school funded by state
19:30 Special education is very expensive & requests go unmet
20:45 State cut corners to avoid paying for special ed students
22:15 Charter schools take public resources but not all kids
23:15 Charter schools deny admission to kids with disciplinary records
24:45 Education paid for by Texas property taxes which have skyrocketed
25:15 Texans pay the “Greg Abbott corruption tax”
26:00 Abbott has given $1 billion dollars in no-bid contracts to donors
27:45 The corruption issue is ripe but the electorate is cynical on both sides
29:15 Abbott’s corruption is the #1 talking point in the Republican primary
30:30 Gas companies let Texans freeze until prices spiked high enough
32:30 Border security issue led to Rio Grande valley voting for Trump
34:00 Biden was able to fix border issues, just took too long to do it
34:30 Deportations flipped political sentiment in Rio Grande valley
36:00 ICE is terrorizing communities
36:45 Masked law enforcement should be illegal
37:45 Texas is a three party state: Two GOP wings & Democrats
38:30 How can you grow the Democratic party in Texas?
39:45 The “Bush Republicans” in TX can’t vote their districts or conscience
40:15 Abbott used millions to primary Bush Republicans & 9 lost their race
41:30 Is the GOP nationalizing the race your biggest challenge?
42:30 Texas will gain 4-5 congressional districts due to growth
44:45 The business community in TX is mad at tariffs & deportations
45:30 People of Texas aren’t benefiting from their economic power
47:15 Small business owners make less than average nationally
47:45 Texas’s electric grid is a ticking time bomb
48:15 Deregulation & corruption have exacerbated issues with grid
49:00 Electric bills skyrocketing due to data centers
50:30 Thoughts on nuclear to address energy problems?
52:00 Favorite food on the campaign trail?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Chuck ToddCast 