Gov. Greg Abbott turned the Texas Governor’s Mansion into a cross-border backdrop on March 17, hosting Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre as the two talked up deeper trade and energy ties with Canada. Across the aisle, Democrat Gina Hinojosa is plotting a very different kind of rollout, saying her campaign is gearing up to expand door-to-door organizing and fresh fundraising as she prepares to compete statewide this fall.
Abbott wrapped the visit in the language of jobs and investment, pointing to tax incentives, a workforce pipeline, and a deregulatory environment as key reasons Canadian companies and projects have landed in Texas. As reported by the El Paso Times, Abbott also told visitors that the statewide education system and the energy sector sit at the center of that pitch.
Poilievre’s swing through the United States was billed as a push for tariff-free access and a chance to spotlight Canadian energy and auto sectors. The Conservative Party said he planned meetings with state officials and industry leaders in Austin and Houston. In a news release, the party said Poilievre would "fight for tariff-free trade" and advocate for closer commercial ties between Canada and U.S. partners, including Texas, per the Conservative Party of Canada.
Trade and investment ties
State economic materials back up the message politicians are selling. Canadian firms have been a steady source of foreign direct investment in Texas, and two-way commerce runs in the tens of billions of dollars. The Texas Economic Development Corporation’s Canada FDI & Trade page lists dozens of Canadian projects and billions in cumulative capital investment, along with roughly $36 billion in Texas exports to Canada in 2023.
Hinojosa’s ground game
Hinojosa’s team says it plans to "appeal directly to organizing communities, talk directly with voters, and show up everywhere in the state" as it rebuilds outreach and refills its war chest. In a campaign release, Hinojosa added, "I want to tell you a little about how this campaign actually operates - because it says a lot about how I’ll lead as governor," and campaign materials show new donations arriving as the general election approaches, per the Gina for Texas.
Voters already have a detailed calendar. The Texas Secretary of State’s schedule for the Nov. 3, 2026 general election shows the last day to register is Monday, Oct. 5. Early voting runs from Oct. 19 to Oct. 30, and the last day to apply for a ballot by mail (received, not postmarked) is Friday, Oct. 23. Those deadlines make the summer and fall the crucial window for both campaigns to translate outreach into actual votes, according to the Texas Secretary of State.
What to watch
Abbott heads into the race with a near-nine-figure war chest and broad statewide name recognition, a structural advantage noted by The Texas Tribune. Hinojosa’s bet is that she can turn grassroots enthusiasm and smaller donations into precinct-level turnout that closes that gap before early voting kicks off in October.
For now, Abbott is using the Poilievre visit to reinforce an economic message aimed at voters and investors, while Hinojosa doubles down on building a people-powered campaign. Expect both candidates to keep threading trade, jobs, and education through their talking points as those ballot deadlines creep closer on the calendar.
