On Thursday, Texas gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa staged a political demonstration outside the governor's mansion in Austin. The event featured an empty lectern intended to represent Governor Greg Abbott, who has declined to participate in a debate with Hinojosa.

During the event, Hinojosa criticized the governor's absence, stating that his refusal to debate was consistent with his record as governor. She characterized his lack of participation as a broader pattern of neglecting the needs of Texans. The event served as a visual protest against the governor's campaign strategy regarding public debates.

While Hinojosa framed the empty lectern as a symbol of the governor's unavailability to the public, the governor’s office has not issued a specific rebuttal regarding this particular event. The incident highlights the ongoing tension between the two campaigns as the election cycle progresses, with the Democratic candidate attempting to draw attention to the incumbent's refusal to engage in direct debate. The event was primarily a media-facing effort to pressure the governor into changing his stance on debate participation.