2 p.m.: Hinojosa sets time for first press conference

Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa will address reporters at 2 p.m. CT Thursday in Austin for her first news conference since winning the election.

The briefing comes after Hinojosa spoke with outgoing Governor Greg Abbott to begin the executive transition. Abbott called to offer his congratulations and assist with the handover. Hinojosa thanked Abbott and his family for their years of public service during her victory speech on Tuesday night.

During that speech, Hinojosa, a former school board member and state representative, described her path from the Rio Grande Valley to the governor's mansion. She stated, "Everything is bigger in Texas, and so is this win." She added that the state had shocked the world. Hinojosa framed her victory as a mandate against political corruption and corporate influence. She rejected the idea that her win was solely a partisan Democratic victory, calling it a coalition of working families, teachers, oilfield workers, and small-business owners.

Hinojosa pledged to fire Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath on her first day in office. She also promised to dismantle the state's school voucher program. "The days of treating our public schools like they're for sale are over," she said. She called the victory a win for teachers who will be paid their worth.

The governor-elect committed to ending no-bid state contracts and restoring ethics standards. She warned that corruption does not become right when her side does it. Her campaign manager, Amy Friedman, and political ally U.S. Senator-elect James Talarico were thanked during the address. Hinojosa also cited her grandmother's advice to know her worth and fight for it.

Transition operations will begin immediately. Hinojosa is scheduled to be inaugurated in January. She will use the Thursday press conference to lay out her administration's key priorities and legislative goals for the upcoming session.