A group of prominent Latino leaders is urging the Democratic Governors Association (D.G.A.) to increase its financial support for Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic candidate running to become the first Latina governor of Texas. The appeals come as polls indicate Hinojosa is competitive against incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who is seeking a fourth term in an election expected to take place in November 2026.

More than 70 Latino officials sent a letter to D.G.A. chairman Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, requesting a $10 million investment in Hinojosa’s campaign. They argue that Texas holds the nation’s largest Latino electorate and highlight concerns about Republican gains among Latino voters in recent election cycles. Some Latino leaders have suggested that inadequate support for Hinojosa’s campaign could affect their backing of Beshear if he pursues a 2028 presidential bid.

Despite these demands, the D.G.A. has so far prioritized other states in its 2026 strategy, allocating $650,000 to support the Democratic candidate in Alaska while directing funds to races in Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The group has not yet committed resources toward the Texas governor’s race or authorized advertising expenditures there.

Gov. Beshear acknowledged that the D.G.A. is supporting Hinojosa through staff and expense coverage and assured that additional resources would be allocated. He emphasized his focus on winning as many races as possible in 2026, stating that his decisions are not influenced by his prospective 2028 presidential ambitions. His political action committee, In This Together, has contributed $25,000 to Hinojosa’s campaign, and Beshear has made fundraising calls on her behalf. Additionally, Beshear and Hinojosa recently spoke by phone.

Support for Hinojosa also comes from figures such as New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, the nation’s only sitting Latina governor, who has been reaching out to donors to assist with fundraising and collaborating with Beshear to target Hispanic communities. Lujan Grisham expressed that supporting Hinojosa should be a collective focus.

The funding gap between the campaigns is notable: Abbott’s team has spent approximately $68 million on advertising compared to roughly $8.7 million from Hinojosa as tracked by media monitoring firms. This disparity reflects a broader challenge in Democratic politics, where donors tend to prioritize congressional and presidential races over state-level contests, particularly in states outside their own.

Texas has long been a Republican stronghold, with former President Donald Trump winning the state by 14 points in the 2024 presidential election. The last Democrat to serve as governor was Ann Richards, who lost her 1994 re-election attempt.

Some Latino political strategists argue that not investing heavily in Texas could undermine Democratic efforts in key early voting states with large Latino populations, such as Nevada and New Mexico, potentially affecting the broader party strategy heading into the 2028 presidential primaries.

Hinojosa herself welcomed the proposed $10 million support, stating it “would be great” in response to inquiries about the request.

The standoff illustrates ongoing tensions within Democratic circles about resource allocation and the strategic importance of Latino voters as the party prepares for the 2026 midterm elections and beyond.