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Education not central issue of Texas governor's race so far
The Battleground Texas team talks about Abbott's call to eliminate screentime in schools and how the issue of education has not been a big issue during this election cycle.
DALLAS - Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for the elimination of screens in schools during an event in Dallas on Friday.
What they're saying:
Abbott was speaking to the Moms for Liberty when he touted an "extraordinarily consequential" law that came out of the 2025 legislative session that banned cellphones in classrooms.
"After it got implemented, administrators, teachers, parents and students all love it, because now we have restored that communication among kids in school," Abbott said.
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Abbott says he wants to eliminate screen time in Texas classrooms
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said that he wants screen time in classrooms eliminated, saying 1-on-1 time with teachers is better.
The Republican seeking reelection for a third time and a historic fourth term said he wants to expand the technology ban during the next legislative session.
"We’re going to be eliminating and reducing screen time in classrooms for students, and getting back to true education," Abbott said.
Hinojosa blames Abbott for education failures
State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, Abbott’s Democratic opponent, said the governor is the one who has let technology take root in Texas schools to begin with.
Texas state Rep. Gina Hinojosa is running for governor in 2026. (FOX Local)
The other side:
"Abbott’s failed education record has been to gamify education, even appointing a tech entrepreneur to run his Education agency," Hinojosa said in a statement to FOX Local. "He has replaced hands-on learning with screen time in elementary school and is now ushering in AI schools in Houston ISD after taking over the school district and receiving $1.5 million from the founder of an AI schools franchise. Everything out of Abbott’s mouth this campaign is the opposite of what he does. Abbott lies, and Texans know it."
Tightening governor’s race
Dig deeper:
Recent polling has shown the Texas governor’s race is close, with both candidates inside the margin of error of most surveys.
A poll by YouGov that was fielded between Sept. 28 and Oct. 5 showed Hinojosa leading Abbott by a point.
Early voting begins in Texas on Oct. 19. Election Day is Nov. 3.
Hinojosa, Abbott split Texas voters in latest governor’s poll
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa are statistically tied in the race to become the state's next governor, according to a new YouGov poll.
The Source: Information in this story came from an event Abbott spoke at on Oct. 9, 2026, a statement issued by the Hinojosa campaign and previous FOX Local reporting.