Texas Democratic candidates pitch themselves as the best to beat Gov. Greg Abbott

Democratic candidates for Texas governor on Thursday cast themselves as the best pick to unseat Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking a fourth term.

Speaking at a Texas Tribune Festival event, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, said Abbott was to blame for the state’s biggest problem — corruption. He was the object of her derision for the half-hour interview, even when she was pressed to respond to her primary challenger, Andrew White. She said she’s focused on defeating Abbott in next year’s general election to ensure everyday Texans have a state leader who works for them.

“The first order of business when I’m elected governor will be to stop the corruption,” Hinojosa said, referencing a program created by the Legislature this year to offer parents vouchers to send their kids to private school — a top priority of Abbott that had repeatedly failed in previous legislative sessions.

Meanwhile, White, a Houston businessman and son of former Gov. Mark White, branded himself as an independent Democrat who could win statewide office — a feat no Democrat has accomplished since 1994.

White said that he is pro-life but people should have access to safe and legal abortions. He believes that women should not be criminalized for having an abortion and doctors should not be criminalized over providing abortions. He also said he believes there should be a pathway to citizenship for undocumented people as well as a secure U.S-Mexico border.

Both he and Hinojosa vowed to eliminate the state’s school vouchers program, already being implemented across the state.

“I’m into strategy and I’m into winning,” White said.

Whoever emerges victorious in the Democratic primary will face an uphill battle against the governor. Abbott is a prolific fundraiser and currently has nearly $90 million in his campaign war chest.