After a crushing defeat in Tuesday’s elections, Gilberto Hinojosa announced his resignation as Chair of the Texas Democratic Party (TDP), a post he has held for over a decade. The move comes after criticism from within the party regarding his leadership and a controversial message about the party’s stance on social issues.
In a statement made on Wednesday, Hinojosa attributed the Democratic Party's poor performance in both Texas and nationwide to a disconnect with voters, particularly on issues related to the economy. “On Tuesday, the Democratic Party suffered devastating defeats up and down the ballot in Texas and across the country. Voters sent a clear message to our party and our country that they want our leaders to talk to them about issues that they care about most, including the economy,” Hinojosa said, acknowledging the party's inability to make significant gains despite hopes of unseating Republican incumbents like Sen. Ted Cruz and making inroads in the state legislature.
The election results were a blow to Texas Democrats, who had hoped to capitalize on dissatisfaction with GOP leadership. Instead, the state saw a landslide victory for former President Donald Trump and Sen. Cruz, continuing a 15-year drought of statewide Democratic victories. The party also suffered a net loss of three seats in the Texas legislature and saw a wave of GOP victories in appellate court races.
In his resignation speech, Hinojosa noted that the party’s messaging on key issues, such as transgender rights and immigration, might have alienated some voters. “We can respect people's right to say, ‘we don't want my taxpayer money to be used for that,’ and at the same time support transgender rights,” he said in an interview with KUT. “But when those votes happen, we need to recognize that there are going to be long-term political consequences when we do that.”
Hinojosa’s comments, particularly regarding transgender rights and the party’s stance on immigration, sparked backlash from progressives within the TDP. Kolby Duhan, a member of the State Democratic Executive Committee, sharply criticized Hinojosa’s remarks. “I can tell you now, as Messaging Chair of our State Party, the Chairman is dead wrong,” Duhan said in response. “If the lesson learned from this election by TDP leadership is to tack further right and throw trans kids under the bus in the process, I'll happily tender my resignation.”
The growing dissent eventually pushed Hinojosa to announce his departure, with his resignation set to take effect at the next State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC) meeting in March 2025. In his statement, Hinojosa expressed hope that his decision would pave the way for new leadership within the party. “It is imperative that our Democratic leaders across the country reevaluate what is best for our party and embrace the next generation of leaders to take us through the next four years of Trump and win back seats up and down the ballot,” he said.
Hinojosa, who has led the TDP since 2012, has faced internal party criticism before, especially in 2022, when he was re-elected to a third term despite challenges from within the party. However, his resignation marks the culmination of growing dissatisfaction within the party’s ranks, especially after what many saw as missed opportunities during the 2024 election cycle.
The resignation of Hinojosa leaves the TDP at a crossroads, with party leaders now tasked with finding a new chair to steer the party through a challenging political landscape. With Republicans solidifying their dominance in Texas, the next chair will need to navigate a fractured party, balancing progressive priorities with the need to broaden appeal to more moderate voters.
