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Dallas could restore decorative crosswalks after Gov.-elect Hinojosa takes office

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 20:53:17 -0600

A new administration in Austin could mean the return of colorful crosswalks in Oak Lawn and Fair Park.

Dallas City Councilman Chad West has asked Dallas City Manager Kim Tolbert to contact Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa's office to inquire about restoring decorative crosswalks across the city.

West cites "community value" and evidence showing the decorative crosswalks have safety benefits as reason for the inquiry.

The request includes 12 total crosswalks. Read West's full request below.

Dallas colorful crosswalk removal

Colorful crosswalks in Dallas were removed in March 2026 as the city complied with a TxDOT order to remove "decorative designs" from public roadways.

In 2025, Gov. Greg Abbott called for their removal, threatening to withhold state funding from cities that did not remove what he called "political messaging" and a distraction to drivers.

Dallas filed for an exemption to the order, but was denied, and removed the crosswalks in March and April. This included rainbow crosswalks in Oak Lawn and Black Lives Matter crosswalks in Fair Park.

One person was arrested after trying to repaint a rainbow on the crosswalks in Oak Lawn.

"There's a lot of priorities in the state and a lot of very important issues to face. This is, to me, a pretty easy one."

West tells FOX 4's Amelia Jones that City Manager Tolbert is behind his push to restore the crosswalks. He's hoping Gov.-elect Hinojosa rescinds Abbott's order.

"So now we've got a new regime. We're hoping to see a little bit more tolerance and more of a focus on what's really important in the state. And that doesn't involve the removal of crosswalks, I would assume."

He says he's only received emails in support of keeping the crosswalks.

"So I anticipate seeing the community rallying behind this, both the LGBTQ plus community and also all of the allies that we have in Dallas. And there's quite a few of those to get the crosswalks put back in, assuming the governor's office supports this request."

Hinojosa will be sworn in as the next Governor of Texas on January 19.

Gina Hinojosa's policies: Key things she hopes to accomplish as Texas governor

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 19:47:22 -0600

Gina Hinojosa defeated Greg Abbott in the Texas governor’s race with a campaign primarily focused on improving public education and lowering everyday costs.

As she begins the transition into the governor’s office, she already has plans for day one of her governorship and a few other priorities she has said she’s focused on.

Hinojosa will officially be administered the oath of office on Jan. 19, 2027. Hinojosa said in a speech after her win Tuesday night that she intends to fire Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath the day she takes office.

"I will take the oath of office ready to lead a government by the people and for the people," she said. "Not for the people who donated the most, not for the people who know the right people, but for every Texan."

Public education reform a major focus

While speaking to supporters, she also revisited some of her key ideas surrounding public education reform.

Hinojosa said she plans to "end the era of no-bid contracts," or government agreements awarded to a vendor without a bidding process, and redirect funds toward increasing teacher pay.

She also promised to stop state takeovers of local schools and "repair the damage" from what she referred to as the "Texas voucher scam."

The private school voucher program was enacted under Abbott’s administration following years of debate. Under it, public funds are used to help families pay for private education, though critics have argued it primarily benefits wealthier families.

Hinojosa has also repeatedly stated her intentions to end the STARR test, which she says is "flawed" and fails to "reliably measure student achievement."

Other goals Hinojosa has as governor

Some of her other proposals outside public education include banning surveillance pricing on groceries, putting an immediate moratorium on AI data centers and issuing a one-time $1,500 check to Texans using the state’s Rainy Day Fund – the latter of which would need approval from two-thirds of the Senate.

It remains to be seen what she is able to accomplish in her four years as governor, though Tuesday night she seemed hopeful that she could achieve what she campaigned on.

"As excited as I am about the history we’ve made tonight, I pray it does not compare to the future we build together," she told the crowd.

Here is the constitutional timeline for when Gina Hinojosa assumes office as Texas governor

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 12:19:51 -0600

Following state Rep. Gina Hinojosa’s victory over incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott in Tuesday’s midterm election, voters across Texas are tracking when the state’s newly elected governor will officially take office.

The answer is mandated by the Texas Constitution: Hinojosa will officially take office at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2027.

Constitutional Timeline

Under the Texas Constitution, the state’s governor is installed on the third Tuesday in January following a gubernatorial general election.

The Transition Window: Abbott’s current four-year term will formally conclude at noon on Jan. 19, 2027, at which point Hinojosa’s four-year term officially begins.
Term of Office: Hinojosa’s term will run through January 2031.

Inauguration Day in Austin

While election results were projected on election night, the formal transfer of executive power follows a structured legal process:

Official Canvass: Local election authorities will finish tallying votes across Texas' 254 counties, after which the state will certify the election results.
Legislative Organization: The 90th Texas Legislature will convene at the State Capitol in Austin in early January 2027 to organize the upcoming legislative session.
Swearing-In Ceremony: On Jan. 19, 2027, Hinojosa will take the constitutional oath of office on the south steps of the Texas State Capitol, officially assuming the powers and duties of the governor's office.