Democratic gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa stood outside the Texas Governor's Mansion in Austin on Thursday morning, October 15, beside two podiums she had set up for a debate with Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, with Election Day just weeks away. Only one of the podiums would be used. Abbott, who never agreed to take part, was more than 200 miles away in Tyler.
Hinojosa's campaign had sent the Abbott campaign proposed terms for a moderated debate at 10 a.m. in front of the mansion at 1010 Colorado St., asking for a reply by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. The deadline passed without Abbott accepting. The memo said Hinojosa had accepted four separate debate invitations this cycle and that Abbott had not accepted any of them. It also said she would be at the mansion "prepared and ready to debate" whether or not he came.
Speaking from one of the podiums before supporters and dozens of reporters, Hinojosa accused the governor of hiding from voters. "I am happy to answer questions. The governor is hiding."
Partway through the event, independent write-in candidate Jenn Mack, whose full name is Jenn Mack Raphoon, walked up to the second lectern, according to video posted by FOX 7 Austin reporter Chris Walker. "You came to debate Abbott on his record, and I came to debate both of you on your record."
The crowd booed, and Mack was later escorted away from the podium by an officer and another man, The Hill reported. Mack is one of several write-in candidates for governor; her name will not appear on the ballot.
While Hinojosa staged her event, Abbott spent the day at a roundtable in Tyler with sheriffs, law enforcement officials and state lawmakers about his public safety agenda. Asked at a press conference afterward whether he would debate Hinojosa, he said he preferred to talk directly to voters in their communities. "When I go to each of those communities, I learn something new. I am a better governor, I am a better governor candidate by talking to those people."
Abbott's campaign said the event was not a sincere attempt to debate. It noted that the empty lectern was a standing podium reachable only by stairs, which Abbott, who uses a wheelchair, could not have used, The Hill reported. The campaign also shared video of Mack being removed. A campaign bus with two large screens parked near the mansion played an ad calling Hinojosa too radical and too dangerous for Texas, according to the EFE news agency.
After the event, Hinojosa posted on X: "I showed up to the Governor's Mansion this morning, ready to debate. Greg Abbott was a no-show. If Greg Abbott isn't man enough to face me and defend his record, he doesn't deserve to be governor of Texas." The post put the blame squarely on the governor.
The race has tightened. A Marist poll released October 14 showed Abbott ahead 49% to 45% among likely voters, within the margin of error, while a University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll released October 13 had Hinojosa at 49% to Abbott's 48%. Both surveys put the contest within a few points. Abbott is seeking a fourth term.
Early voting in Texas runs from Monday, October 19, through October 30. Election Day is November 3.
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