Texas Democrat says if Greg Abbott 'not man enough to debate me, he shouldn't be governor of Texas'

Texas state Representative Gina Hinojosa, a Democrat, says Republican Governor Greg Abbott should not hold the office if he will not face her on a debate stage. In an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press NOW on October 1, 2026, she said that if he is "not man enough to debate me, he shouldn't be governor of Texas.", according to NBC News.

Hinojosa discussed what the program describes as a tightening race for governor. A win would give Democrats a statewide office in Texas for the first time in more than 30 years.

The broadcast's related segments include one on Ken Paxton, in which a guest says he is dragging down the entire Republican ticket as an election forecaster moves Texas away from the GOP. Another covers backlash from Texas cattle ranchers over President Donald Trump's beef imports. Beyond those, the page offers only headlines and does not give further detail from the interview, such as the debate terms or polling figures.

Summarized by PolitiKool from NBC News’s reporting. Read the full story at NBC News →