White Makes Bid for Governor Official
as 4th Democrat in Field that's All White
Capitol Inside
September 24, 2025
Andrew White - the son of a former top Texas leader, attorney general and secretary of state - entered the race for Governor Greg Abbott's job officially on Wednesday with a novel twist as an "independent" Democrat.
White launched his second bid for governor in the past eight years with a vow to bring new voters into the minority party's base in the Lone Star State where Democrats haven't won statewide in 30 years. But White gave the impression in a campaign kickoff post on social media that he would not be as dependent on the Democratic Party as its candidates for high-ranking Texas offices have been in three decades of Republican rule here.
"It’s time for a new approach," White said on X. "The best way to defeat Greg Abbott is to unite Progressives and Moderates – and invite Independents – into the Democratic party to expand our base.
"So, I’m running as an Independent Democrat – a leader focused on getting things done, not culture wars," White, a Houston business executive, added. "I’ve spent 30 years as an entrepreneur. I’m a problem solver with the experience, creativity and work ethic it takes to win. I may not pass all the purity tests – but I’ll change the way things get done in Austin – and be laser focused on making our schools, hospitals and infrastructure the best in the nation."
White, whose father is the late Houston attorney Mark White, revealed last week
that he planned to run for governor in 2026 after an unsuccessful bid for the position in 2018 when he lost to former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez in a Democratic primary runoff. Valdez had the party machinery behind her campaign en route to an overtime victory over White with 53 percent of the vote.
White could face an even tougher challenge with the current campaign if State Rep. Gina Hinojosa of Austin throws her hat into the ring as Democratic strategists here have been predicting in the past few days.
The Capitol City lawmaker probably could expect to have the party and most liberal voters in her corner if she dives into the fray as the daughter of a former state Democratic chairman in Gilberto Hinojosa.
Beto O'Rourke - a former congressional member and U.S. Senate contender who lost to Abbott in 2022 - has indicated that he doesn't plan to compete for governor next year despite a lead in polls over potential contenders. U.S. Reps. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas and Joaquin Castro of San Antonio have been mentioned as a possible gubernatorial aspirants in 2026 but appear poised to seek re-election instead.
Abbott and White are the only two candidates who aren't political unknowns in the field up to now. White joined a field of Democrats that includes Bobby Cole, Nick Pappas, and Meagan Tehseldar. All of the current Democratic candidates for governor are white.
Pappas could be the most formidable primary foe for White and other potential contestants as a disabled veteran who served 17 years in the United States Marines Corps and survived life-threatening injuries as a troop who was deployed in Iraq.
"Trump’s cult is openly fantasizing about civil war," Pappas said in a post on X on Wednesday. "Abbott is part of the same cult. Texans deserve better than leaders who cheer for fascism."
Ronnie Tullos is the incumbent's only current challenger in the Republican primary in 2026 when Abbott will be seeking a record fourth term in the governor's office here.
more to come ...
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