Health Care · Report · File No. 261107-751
Texas Democrats swept statewide races on health costs; now they face a short session
Democrats won the governor's office and other top Texas posts partly on anger over health costs. They now have about two months to plan, and Republicans still control the state Senate.
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Texas Democrats won the governor's mansion and other top state offices on Nov. 3. They also took the state House. Voter anger over health care costs and the difficulty of getting care was part of the reason, according to KFF Health News 1.
Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa beat Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. She will be the first Democrat in the governor's mansion since Ann Richards left in 1995 1. Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin defeated Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick 2. Both are scheduled to be sworn in Jan. 19 1.
A short window to act
The legislative session begins Jan. 12 and runs 140 days. That leaves the new leaders about two months to settle on a plan 1. After the session ends in late May, the schedule calls for no regular session until 2029 1.
Republicans kept the state Senate majority 2. Republican state Sen. Charles Schwertner, who chairs the Senate Business and Commerce Committee, said after the election that Republicans would resist 1.
From Channel GOPGina Hinojosa projected winner in Texas governor's raceGina Hinojosa · 159 plays · captioned, with the source named
Texas stands as long as the Texas Senate Republican caucus holds the line,
The stakes are high. About 5 million of Texas' nearly 32 million residents lack health coverage, including 1 million children. Texas is one of 10 states that did not expand Medicaid, the joint federal-state health program for low-income people 1.
About 1 million Texans would become newly eligible if the state expanded Medicaid. The federal government would pay 90% of the cost for those enrollees. Even so, one rural hospital leader said getting it done will be hard 1.
What Democrats have promised
Hinojosa and Goodwin said their top health priorities were expanding coverage, lowering costs and improving women's health. Goodwin has proposed a state health insurance plan paid for from the state's $24 billion "rainy day fund" 1.
Few of the health bills they filed as House members got floor votes 1. In the 2025 regular session, 3,534 of 11,503 bills filed took effect 1.
Hinojosa has said she will lead a "bipartisan" administration. Her strategy, the Texas Tribune reported, is to push popular priorities and dare Republicans to oppose them 2.
I challenge Republicans to be against any of it.
One policy expert said Democrats may do better with measures that can win wide support. His examples were price transparency, tackling health care monopolies, and drawing down more federal money without tapping the state budget 1. A bipartisan House committee on health care affordability is due to make recommendations before the session starts 1.
A voter waiting for relief
Dorcaus Robinson, 46, of Houston, has multiple sclerosis. She pays $730 a month for an Affordable Care Act plan, up from $500 a month last year. Her insurer told her after the election that the premium will rise again next year 1.
That matters because Texas voters can't see relief until lawmakers act, and any new law would take time to reach people's bills. Many older Texans buying their own coverage face this year's premiums while the new leaders get started.
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Sources
- KFF Health News, “Texas Democrats Swept Statewide Races. Now Comes the Hard Part of Solving Healthcare Angst.” (2026-11-06). kffhealthnews.org/elections/texas-democrats-state-healthcare
- The Texas Tribune, “With Democrats in control, how will Gina Hinojosa govern?” (2026-11-04). texastribune.org/2026/11/04/gina-hinojosa-texas-democrat-gov
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