Birdie Canales Has an Overwhelming Moment as Gina Hinojosa Makes Texas History

For Birdie Canales, election night in Austin brought a moment she had once thought she might never witness. As supporters gathered to watch the results in the Texas governor’s race, Canales stood near the front of the room, surrounded by other Hispanic women and following the numbers on large screens. The Associated Press photographer covering the event said the early results first showed Gina Hinojosa ahead, though her victory was not assured. The crowd watched cautiously as more people arrived. When James Talarico was declared the winner of his Senate race, the room erupted in cheers. A few minutes later, Hinojosa’s win was announced, bringing an even bigger reaction from the front row. Canales was among those celebrating. The photographer said she heard Canales remark that she never expected to see a Latina become governor of Texas. The image captured her with her hands on her head, smiling amid the excitement around her—a mix of joy, disbelief and the significance of the result. The photographer described the watch party as increasingly crowded as the evening went on and said she had anticipated an especially intense response from the women closest to the stage if Hinojosa won. When the announcement came, she turned to Canales first, capturing the moment as the celebration unfolded. The scene also brought to mind the photographer’s memory of Barack Obama’s 2008 election-night victory. She said the women at Hinojosa’s gathering had not previously seen someone like themselves reach such a position of power. For Canales and those cheering beside her, the result was more than a political score: it felt like a breakthrough made tangible in the room.