Four Conversations Across North Texas
By A. Govea
Gina Hinojosa in Arlington
Hola Texas Editor Denise G. Jimenez and I met with State Representative Gina Hinojosa and candidate for Texas governor at Marquez Bakery in Arlington for an in‑depth interview. Also present was Brittney Garcia‑Dumas, the first and only Latina to serve on the Arlington City Council (District 5).
Gina was warm, personable, and refreshingly direct. She answered every question fully—something I value deeply. We may not always agree on every issue with anyone, Pero honesty matters more than anything. The full interview will appear in the October print and online editions of Hola Texas.
Taylor Rehmet and Local Leaders in Fort Worth
On Sunday, I spoke with Taylor Rehmet District 9 State Senator at the Dreaming the Cure Car, Truck, and Bike Show in Fort Worth. The event also drew several local leaders, including State Representative Ramon Romero and City Councilman Carlos Flores.
Nydia Cardona’s Message for Tarrant County
Nydia Cardona, candidate for Tarrant County Commissioner Precinct 4, addressed the crowd with a clear message: county government should work for everyone. She noted that the current structure does not reflect that commitment.
Also speaking was Aakash Saraf, campaign manager for County Commissioner Place 2 and Candidate for Tarrant County Judge Alisha Simmons. He apologized for Simmons’ absence, explaining she was pulled away at the last minute for official duties. His message echoed that Nydia’s—county government must serve all residents.
Rachel Maddow at UTA
On Saturday at UTA, I saw Rachel Maddow along with a powerhouse group: Ali Velshi, Al Sharpton, Ari Melber, Chris Hayes, Stacey Abrams, Stephanie Ruhle, and Lawrence O’Donnell.
Rachel interviewed White House reporter Laura Barrón‑López, who spoke about being removed from the White House press pool. She emphasized the essential role of a free press—not for media companies, but for the American people who deserve to know what their government is doing. She warned against limiting access only to reporters who ask flattering questions like “Mr. president how did you get to be so awesome”
Latino Voters and the 2024 Shift
Alicia Menendez and María Teresa Kumar of Voto Latino discussed why many Latinos voted for Trump previously and how those attitudes are shifting. For many, the decision came down to economics—having more money left after paying basic expenses.Trump promised to lower prices but now the opposite has happened.
Now, they say many Latino voters are moving in the opposite direction, openly acknowledging past mistakes and preparing to vote differently in November. They also highlighted a surge of new Latino voters who have recently come of age.
Jen Psaki and Bobby Pulido on the Rio Grande Valley
Another highlight was Jen Psaki’s conversation with Bobby Pulido, candidate for Congress in District 15. Pulido spoke about how Republican immigration policies have hurt the Rio Grande Valley’s economy, which relies heavily on immigrant labor. He noted that “there isn’t a standing building in the Valley that wasn’t built with immigrant labor,” a reality that has frustrated even Chamber of Commerce Republicans. He half jokily said it was like the movie “A Day Without A Mexican”
He also criticized policies supported by Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz, saying they have harmed the region. Despite being told the district was drawn to make her unbeatable, Pulido said those challenges motivated him to run. One more note that he mentioned was that many in the Latina community are striving to gain financial security. And when they hear that the Republican party is the party of the rich it gets their attention. So maybe best not to reference the Republican party as that.
Why Hola Texas Covers Who Shows Up
Some readers ask why Hola Texas doesn’t cover Republican candidates as often. The answer is simple: we reach out, but they do not respond. The people mentioned above were present, accessible, and willing to speak. Others were not.
A Cowboys Note
Lastly, I watched the Cowboys game. I didn’t give them much of a chance, mostly because of the Ravens’ running game and their mobile quarterback. They proved me wrong… well, at least until the end.
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