The border wall at Big Bend National Park was again a flashpoint for debate, with Democrat Texas governor candidate Gina Hinojosa taking her ire to MS NOW.
She discussed recent Univision polling that made the Texas governor's race a tie and her recent visit to Big Bend National Park, where she met with landowners and community stakeholders during the interview posted Monday, Sept. 14.
Hinojosa is facing Gov. Greg Abbott in the November election for Texas governor.
"We are dealing with a system where the governor gives his donors $1 billion in no-bid contracts," Hinojosa told The Weekend. "This is their playbook, right? More and more taxpayer dollars to their donors, and Texans get less and less. We are paying into a system — the federal government,
the state government ― that is now working against us."
She also discussed her recent meeting with residents in the Big Bend area who oppose building a border wall.
"To be in the majesty of Big Bend and contemplate a border wall just makes no sense," Hinojosa told Marfa Public Radio. "This is such a gift that we have in Texas, and we have to fight for it and preserve it. I am so proud that the people of that region have been fighting to protect what is sacred land. And as governor, I will fight to protect our sovereignty and the inheritance of the Big Bend so that our children and grandchildren can experience what we have here."
Hinojosa noted she would use "every tool in the toolbox" to defend Big Bend.
Gov. Greg Abbott on DHS assurances of 'no border wall'
Abbott has firmly stated that no border wall or fence will be constructed inside Big Bend National Park.
Despite usually being a staunch advocate for physical border barriers, Abbott publicly broke with the federal plan regarding the park after receiving pushback from a bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers and local constituents.
Abbott argues that a physical wall in Big Bend is an inefficient use of resources. He publicly stated that there are other stretches of the Texas-Mexico border experiencing significantly higher rates of migrant crossings where physical walls are much more urgently needed.
Instead of physical barriers, Abbott has advocated for securing the park through alternative methods that preserve its geography. He has noted that federal authorities can effectively monitor the area using personnel and advanced technology, specifically pointing to high-tech tools like drones to capture information "without undermining the beauty of the National Park."
Opponents point to U.S. Border Patrol's own data showing the Big Bend Sector is historically the least active on the Southwest border, accounting for only about 1% to 1.5% of total migrant encounters.
Important dates for 2026 Texas election
The last day to register to vote for the General Election is Oct. 5, either online, by mail, or in person.
Early voting starts Oct. 19 and runs through Oct. 30. The absentee ballot request deadline is Oct. 23 for mail requests or Oct. 19 for in-person requests. The absentee ballot return deadline is Nov. 3, by mail or in person on Election Day.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Kristian Jaime is the Top Story Reporter for the El Paso Times and is reachable at Kjaime@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Gov. Greg Abbott, Gina Hinojosa talk future of Big Bend border wall
