Texas Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa is urging lawmakers to respect the results of Tuesday’s election amid calls from at least one Republican legislator to restrict the governor’s emergency powers before she takes office.
During her first post-election news conference Thursday, Hinojosa was asked whether she was concerned about Republican efforts to limit her authority ahead of the transition.
Republican state Rep. Brian Harrison of Midlothian has called for a special legislative session to reconsider the governor’s emergency powers.
? I call on Gov. Abbott to IMMEDIATELY convene a special session to REIN IN EXECUTIVE EMERGENCY POWERS… before Gina Hinojosa is sworn in! Republicans lost last night, but Democrats were not sworn in. We still have total power in Texas, and we must act like it by using the remaining ten weeks to restore separation of powers and limit the emergency powers that Governor-Elect Hinojosa is set to inherit, which would allow her to destroy liberty in Texas by executive fiat. I’ve warned since I was first elected that NO governor, Republican or Democrat, should have unchecked emergency powers! Now that Texas has elected a Democrat Governor, the urgency is undeniable… and inaction is intolerable. Without action, Governor Hinojosa will inherit the powers of a DICTATOR. Due to the absurd (and almost certainly unconstitutional) Texas emergency powers laws, Gov. Hinojosa will literally have the power to modify laws, ignore laws, or create and enforce laws – including criminal laws – on a whim! Today is a day for ACTION, and bold leadership. The Texas Legislature must immediately pass, and Governor Abbott must sign, legislation like HB911, which I filed in 2022 and warned at the time, that “Never ending emergency powers are antithetical to representative government and render people powerless. Legislative bodies allowing a single executive branch official to both write and enforce laws is the biggest threat to our constitutional system of divided government and should be opposed irrespective of which political party runs the executive branch.” My legislation would protect liberty from executive fiat by, among other things, taking the following actions: 1. Prohibit the Governor from suspending or modifying statutes 2. Sunset emergency orders in 30 days if the legislature does not ratify the order 3. Prohibit the governor from reissuing emergency orders that expired or the legislature rejected 4. Require emergency orders to be narrowly tailored 5. Subject emergency orders to expedited judicial review We have TEN WEEKS LEFT to protect Texas from near total Democrat rule. I encourage every elected Republican in Texas to join my demand for Gov. Abbott to call a special session. The future of liberty in America is literally on the line in Texas, and Texans deserve leadership that acts accordingly. @GregAbbott_TX
— Brian Harrison (@brianeharrison) November 4, 2026
Harrison has argued that Texas law gives governors too much authority during declared emergencies and has advocated restrictions on those powers.
The proposal comes after Hinojosa defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, although Harrison has maintained that limits on executive authority should apply regardless of who occupies the governor’s office.
Asked about the possibility of lawmakers attempting to restrict her authority, Hinojosa did not directly address Harrison or his proposal.
“The people of Texas have spoken, and I think it’s important that as elected leaders we respect what the people of Texas have said,” Hinojosa said.
She said Texans had voted for change and urged elected officials from both parties not to stand in the way of progress.
“I would hope that elected leaders from both parties don’t get in the way of the progress we can make together to deliver for working people,” she said.
Any effort to change state law before Hinojosa takes office would require legislative action. Abbott would have to call a special session for lawmakers to consider such legislation before the next regular session.
Hinojosa said she looks forward to working with Republican leaders in the Legislature after taking office in January.
