State Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D-Austin), this year’s Democratic nominee for governor, presented a fiscally focused message at a rally in Fort Worth on Tuesday night, mirroring the strategy of other statewide candidates.

“My agenda will be to secure the American dream. We do that by saving Texas schools and putting money in your pocket,” she said.

Hinojosa focused on property taxes and the cost of living in her stump speech, eschewing social issues in an effort to outflank incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott on affordability. In addition, Hinojosa — once ranked among the most liberal members of the Texas House — appealed to Republican voters and spoke optimistically about flipping Republican areas such as Tarrant County.

Describing a recent stop in Hood County where she spoke to self-identified former Abbott voters, Hinojosa invited “hardcore MAGA” Republicans to support Texas Democratic campaigns.

“We need them. We need everybody in this fight. That’s how we win in 2026,” she said.

Hinojosa criticized Abbott for no-bid state contracts, accused him of inaction on data centers and “skyrocketing” property taxes, and blamed his administration for high average electricity bills.

When asked about her plan for property tax relief, Hinojosa called on the state to “do away with all these tax breaks that we’re giving to global corporations to come here.”

Hinojosa isn’t the only statewide candidate focusing on Tarrant County. 

State Rep. James Talarico (D-Austin), who is running for U.S. Senate against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, appeared alongside U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX-33), Tarrant County District Attorney and Democratic nominee Tiffany Burks, former Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, and Arlington Mayor Jim Ross at the kickoff event for his “New American Dream” tour earlier this month. 

State Rep. Vikki Goodwin (D-Austin), the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, and state Sen. Nathan Johnson (D-Dallas), the Democratic nominee for attorney general, both made public appearances at a heated Tarrant County Commissioners Court meeting on August 4.

On the Republican side, Abbott held a press event with the Republican members of the Tarrant County Commissioners Court last week. He also presented an insurance reform plan in Fort Worth last month.

Tarrant County is rated R-54% on The Texan’s Texas Partisan Index, a calculation based on the ratio of Republican to Democratic votes in previous elections.