Gina Hinojosa’s Texas Governor Bid May Violate New Digital Political Ad Disclosure Rules

Gina Hinojosa, a Democratic state representative from Austin, is running for governor of Texas, and her campaign’s social media ads are testing the limits of a new state law that requires disclosure of who paid for digital political advertising. Some posts paid for by the Hinojosa campaign lack the required “paid for by” disclaimer, according to a review of recent ads on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The Texas Ethics Commission adopted rules in 2020 requiring such disclosures on digital ads, but enforcement has been uneven, and campaigns have pushed back on the scope of the rules. Hinojosa’s campaign said it is working to comply, but the omissions highlight the challenges of regulating rapidly evolving digital political speech. The issue matters because undisclosed ads can mislead voters about the source of political messages, and Texas is a major battleground for digital campaigning with its large and diverse electorate. As the 2026 governor’s race heats up, expect more scrutiny of how candidates navigate disclosure requirements.