Hinojosa on the campaign trail and more stories from the Rio Grande Valley

Rio Grande Valley native and Democratic State Rep. Gina Hinojosa is going after Abbott's mega donor network

“Once you see it, you can’t unsee it,” Rep. Gina Hinojosa, who is running for Texas governor, told NBC-DFW this week, discussing the $6 million donation Abbott accepted from pro-voucher Republican mega donor Jeff Yass before pushing a plan to use public money for private school tuition. 

If elected governor, Hinojosa would be the first Latina and the first person from the Rio Grande Valley to hold the office. She referred to the region as “the community that raised me and made me the woman I am today” at her campaign kickoff in Brownsville.

Hinojosa also discussed the $950 million in state contracts that Abbott was able to award without bids through emergency declarations, including for Operation Lone Star. Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, was able to identify at least eight Abbott donors who received no-bid contracts this way.

“Every single issue we have in Texas, there is that connection,” Hinojosa said about Abbott’s billionaire donor network.

Hinojosa is scheduled to host a town hall in Fort Worth this Saturday.

Who are the candidates in the Democratic primary race for Texas Governor so far?

The 2026 election presents a high-stakes opportunity: can a Democratic candidate break a nearly 30-year Republican stronghold?

Gina Hinojosa, a Latina state Rep. from the Rio Grande Valley, is fighting “against the billionaires,” focusing on jobs, education and affordable health care.

Andrew White, a Houston businessman and son of 1980s Texas Gov. Mark White, calls himself “an independent Democrat willing to work with both sides.”

Bobby Cole, a retired firefighter and farmer, is running as a “traditional Democrat,” focusing on making life more affordable for families.

Incumbent

Gov. Greg Abbott, the state’s longest-serving Republican leader, is seeking a fourth term.

Connecting the regional food system to feed our own people

I recently spoke with the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley’s Dr. Alexis Racelis for The Border Chronicle. Racelis is the director of Agroecology and Resilient Food Systems program at the university. We talked about why and how the Rio Grande Valley is an agricultural powerhouse, yet many people in the region struggle with food insecurity and illnesses related to poor access to nutritious food. Racelis is helping connect people across the region to find solutions.

They Grow the Food. So Why Are So Many Going Hungry?

In the Rio Grande Valley, a coalition of farmers, educators, and advocates is reimagining a food system built on justice, not scarcity.

The Border ChroniclePablo De La Rosa

Preparations are being made for cuts to SNAP, food banks in the Rio Grande Valley are asking for help

I took a local look at a national crisis on Across The Americas yesterday as over 300,000 in the Rio Grande Valley may go without food assistance in November.

Over 300,000 people in the Rio Grande Valley face losing SNAP in November

Democrats, including Rep. Henry Cuellar and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, sent a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins calling for the use of emergency funds.

Across The AmericasPablo De La Rosa

Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley is preparing for an increase in those needing food assistance as the government shutdown continues and SNAP benefits do not arrive. The organization told MyRGV that it needs to "start collecting food from the community, either through food drives, monetary donations and volunteerism." Limitless Church in Harlingen is also partnering with Border Missions in Hidalgo to host a food pantry every week.

I'll be providing more updates on cuts to SNAP in the Rio Grande Valley in the days ahead. If you'd like to publish an update related to food availability, donations, volunteer opportunities or mutual aid get in touch.
newsroom@acrosstheamericas.com

International

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemns U.S. airstrikes

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the U.S. airstrikes that killed 14 alleged drug traffickers off Mexico’s Pacific coast, calling them a violation of international law and national sovereignty. Sheinbaum said her government would demand explanations from Washington after the Pentagon confirmed the attacks took place in international waters. The strikes, part of President Trump’s expanding campaign against Latin American “narco terrorists,” have drawn sharp criticism across the region.