The Texas Showdown: Beshear Under Fire as Latino Leaders Demand More for Hinojosa

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is facing a heated backlash from within his own party, with national Democrats and prominent Latino leaders accusing him of putting his political future ahead of a key race in Texas.

As the chair of the Democratic Governors Association (DGA), Beshear is expected to help funnel money to critical gubernatorial races. But Texas Democratic nominee Gina Hinojosa, who is running against Republican Governor Greg Abbott, has struggled to secure the massive funding needed to stay competitive. Hinojosa’s team initially asked the DGA for $10 million, eventually scaling back to a request for $3 million. The organization recently agreed to put $1 million into the race, with no guarantees of more.

This slow response has frustrated Texas Democrats, who argue that Beshear is failing to treat the Latino vote as a priority. Texas Representative Sylvia Garcia told CNN that Beshear is not taking Latinos seriously as a voting bloc, warning that he will face a “Latino problem” in 2028 if he runs for president.

Beshear’s aides push back, pointing to internal polling that showed Hinojosa trailing by five points, though her campaign says she is within the margin of error. They argue that limited funds should go to races that are cheaper and closer. However, the tension spilled into the open during a virtual meeting with DGA officials and Latino advocacy groups. Jess Morales Rocketto, president of the group Maremoto, sharply criticized the DGA’s handling of the situation, calling it a “complete mishandling.”

Others, like Juan Proaño of the League of United Latin American Citizens, urged a more patient approach, saying Beshear is doing his best within tight budget limits. Beshear’s team points to his own political contributions and efforts to attract donor support, including a phone call with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. Pritzker ultimately committed $1 million to the DGA and donated $1.2 million directly to Hinojosa, saying the race is winnable.

With early voting about to begin, the focus is now on whether this last-minute push of cash and support can help Hinojosa pull off an upset in a state that has long been a Republican stronghold.