Abbott Raises $26 Million in Final Push as Hinojosa Closes Gap

Texas voters will see a surge in television advertising in the final days before the election, driven by a $35.8 million spending spree by Gov. Greg Abbott. This outflow, which averaged more than $1 million per day, primarily funds commercials that have crowded commercial breaks for weeks. These spots often pair Abbott’s messaging with ads supporting Senate nominee Ken Paxton, funded by a separate wave of Republican spending.

The governor’s aggressive spending follows his best fundraising period of the cycle. From September 25 to October 24, Abbott raised $26 million, the largest total in any reporting period for his 2026 bid. This sum is nearly three times the $8.8 million he raised during the same timeframe in 2022, when he defeated Beto O’Rourke by more than 11 points. Nearly one-fifth of this recent haul came from a single donor, Elon Musk, who has also provided nine figures of support for the Senate race.

Democrat Gina Hinojosa also increased her financial activity, raising $17.5 million and spending $19.1 million over the same four-week period. Both figures represent her highest totals in the current campaign. Hinojosa had operated on a limited budget for much of the race, often overshadowed by the high-profile Senate contest between Paxton and James Talarico. Recent polling has shown her gaining momentum, with several surveys placing her within striking distance of Abbott for the first time in his four gubernatorial bids.

Major donors supported both sides during this final stretch. For Hinojosa, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and the Democratic Governors Association, chaired by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, each contributed $1 million. Beshear, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, received pressure from Latino Democrats to increase his donation to $10 million. The Senate Democrats’ campaign arm also spent just under $1.5 million on canvassing and materials for Hinojosa’s campaign.

Abbott attracted numerous high-profile contributors beyond Musk. Nike co-founder Phil Knight gave $2.5 million, while investment manager Kenneth Fisher donated $2 million. The Republican Governors Association added $3 million. Four individuals, including casino magnate Miriam Adelson, Roku co-founder Anthony Wood, Houston businessman John Nau, and Fort Worth billionaire Lee Bass, each gave $500,000. Technology figures also contributed, with Anthropic co-founder Tom Brown giving $300,000 and the company’s employee PAC donating $200,000.

The financial disparity between the two campaigns is stark. Since Hinojosa launched her bid on October 15, 2025, Abbott has outspent her by a ratio of nearly eight to one. Campaign filings show Abbott has deployed $281 million, while Hinojosa has spent $36.8 million. Abbott’s total spending this cycle more than doubles his $131 million outlay in 2022.

This spending gap has influenced how each candidate communicates with voters. Abbott’s ads focus on his record and criticize Hinojosa’s voting history on taxes and cultural issues. Hinojosa, with a smaller advertising budget, has relied more heavily on social media influencers and other digital channels to reach voters. The final campaign finance reports due Monday mark the last major disclosure before Election Day, aside from daily donation reports for the final week.

The race has drawn national attention due to its competitive nature. Abbott’s decision to pour resources into the governor’s seat reflects a serious response to the threat posed by Hinojosa. The influx of money from wealthy individuals and political organizations on both sides indicates that the outcome remains uncertain until polls close.