Texas Gubernatorial Candidate Proposes $1,500 “Corruption Tax Refund” Checks

Democratic nominee Gina Hinojosa announced at a campaign rally in Longview that, if elected governor, she would issue a one-time $1,500 payment to each Texas household. She frames the payment as a “corruption tax refund,” linking it to her criticism of incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott’s handling of state surplus funds.

Newsweek

Hinojosa says the money would come from the Texas Economic Stabilization Fund—commonly called the Rainy Day Fund. The fund currently holds about $27 billion; Hinojosa argues it should be reduced to $10 billion to be fiscally responsible. She proposes distributing the remaining $17 billion directly to Texas families. Abbott, by contrast, plans to return money to residents through property-tax relief, aiming to eliminate school property taxes for homeowners and cap property-tax growth, a move his team estimates could save homeowners roughly $3,000 per year.

Newsweek

Hinojosa’s plan echoes a broader trend of politicians using direct payments to voters, a practice that gained prominence after the COVID-19 stimulus checks. Republican governors such as Georgia’s Brian Kemp and Democratic governors like California’s Gavin Newsom have backed similar payments funded by state budget surpluses. Hinojosa also referenced former President Donald Trump’s promise of a $5,000 “dividend” to every adult American if Republicans retain control of Congress, noting that Trump’s proposal lacks a clear financing source. Estimates suggest Trump’s scheme could cost the federal government more than $1 trillion.

Newsweek

According to poll aggregator RealClearPolling, recent surveys show Abbott leading Hinojosa by an average of 2.3 percentage points, a narrower margin than earlier in the year when Abbott held a larger advantage. Hinojosa’s emphasis on affordability and a populist economic message aims to close that gap as the November gubernatorial election approaches.

Newsweek