I woke on Nov. 3, 2026, with Gina Hinojosa on my mind. As a Mexican American woman, history professor and—most importantly—mother, the stakes were high, not only for me but also for my toddler daughter’s future. I had followed Hinojosa’s run for Texas governor since she launched her campaign in 2025. I watched as she drew on the political potential of motherhood and Mexican culture, using them to build a base of support by speaking to issues that directly affected her future constituents.
Through lived experience, I know motherhood is political. How we exist and raise our children is deeply intertwined with the decisions politicians make that shape our everyday lives. Access to quality education, affordable childcare and healthcare, clean air and water, living wages—these are the issues that matter to mothers.
I also know from experience that these issues matter to Latinos; they provide opportunities for upward mobility and open up possibilities for future generations.
These issues matter to Gina Hinojosa too.