Episode Details

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