Hinojosa Plans to Fire Education Chief on Day One

Gina Hinojosa intends to fire Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath on her first day in office.

The newly elected governor defeated Greg Abbott in the general election with a platform centered on public education and lower living costs. She will be sworn in on Jan. 19, 2027. Her immediate administrative action targets the head of the state education agency. She stated her goal is to lead a government that serves every Texan, not just major donors.

Hinojosa outlined specific reforms for the public school system during her victory speech. She plans to end no-bid contracts, which are government agreements awarded without a competitive bidding process. She intends to redirect the savings from these changes into higher teacher salaries. She also promised to stop state takeovers of local schools and repair damage from the private school voucher program.

The governor-elect referred to the voucher program as a scam enacted under Abbott’s administration. The program allows public funds to help families pay for private education. Critics have argued the system primarily benefits wealthier families. Hinojosa also said she will end the STARR test. She described the assessment as flawed and stated it fails to reliably measure student achievement.

Her agenda extends beyond schools to the state economy. Hinojosa proposed a ban on surveillance pricing for groceries. She also called for an immediate moratorium on the construction of AI data centers. These measures aim to control everyday costs and manage technological expansion in the state.

She additionally proposed issuing a one-time $1,500 check to Texans using the state’s Rainy Day Fund. This specific measure requires approval from two-thirds of the Senate. Hinojosa expressed hope that the future work of her administration would surpass the history of her election night.

She told the crowd she was excited about the history made that night but prayed the future they built together would be greater. The transition team will begin implementing these plans leading up to the January swearing-in ceremony.