Property taxes are already a painful expense for many Texas homeowners, so a claim that a candidate repeatedly voted to make them even higher is bound to get people’s attention. That’s exactly the message Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaign is sending in a new statewide ad, which claims Democratic gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa voted 40 times to raise property taxes. However, the eye-catching accusation is now facing scrutiny over what those votes actually involved, leaving some Texans questioning whether the ad tells the whole story.
According to the Houston Chronicle, however, the reality behind those 40 votes is more complicated. Its fact-check found that Hinojosa did not directly vote 40 times to raise Texans’ property taxes, noting that property taxes are levied by local governments and school districts rather than the state Legislature. Instead, many of the votes cited by Abbott’s campaign involved Hinojosa opposing Republican-backed measures designed to restrict how much property-tax revenue local governments could collect.
Abbott’s campaign, however, stands by the accusation, arguing that Hinojosa’s votes would have given local governments greater freedom to raise taxes. Hinojosa has pushed back, saying she never voted to raise property taxes and instead voted to protect local control, particularly during emergencies. She also supported legislation last year that increased the homestead exemption to $140,000 for most Texas homeowners, providing additional property-tax relief.
Interestingly, the accusation has also drawn attention because Abbott is currently running another TV ad that makes a very different point about property taxes. In that spot, the governor explicitly tells Texans that the state itself does not impose property taxes, saying that only local governments do. With both ads now appearing during the same campaign, it didn’t take long for residents to notice the apparent tension between the two messages.
Texas Residents Challenge Abbott’s Property Tax Claim
Texas residents quickly began picking apart the claim on Reddit, with several pointing to the state’s long history of Republican control. One commenter wrote, “Bro what. Texas has been Republican led for the past 30+ years and has some of the highest property taxes in the country. He can’t seriously be blaming democrats for that…” Another focused on Abbott’s other advertisement, adding, “Yeah, the other Abbott ad makes sure to blame locals for property taxes. Two ads cancelling each other out is a choice.”
Others noticed the same apparent tension. “The [expletive] even has an ad saying that local municipalities set property tax rates, not him and/or TX gov’t. He can’t even get the continuity of his messaging straight,” one person argued. Another put it even more bluntly: “GOP: She’ll raise your property taxes as governor! Too Radical! GOP Greg Abbott: I have no control over property taxes! It’s all the locals! Which is it? I hope we all aren’t as dumb as they think we are.”
The discussion also turned to Abbott’s own record on the issue. One commenter claimed, “Greg abbot has been telling us since 2016 that he was going to lower property taxes. Now he is saying he will for sure do it this time….” Another shared their personal experience, writing, “Dawg, my taxes have gone up every year Abbott has been in power!”
For Texas homeowners, the debate ultimately goes far beyond one campaign ad. Property taxes can take a significant bite out of a family’s budget, which makes it especially important that residents understand exactly what candidates have — and haven’t — voted for. With both sides likely to keep talking about property tax relief as the election approaches, Texans will no doubt be paying close attention to the details behind those promises and claims.
