Gilberto Hinojosa

While living in Washington D.C., Hinojosa worked as a staff attorney for the Migrant Legal Action Program, Inc. He later became the Director of the Migrant Division of Colorado Rural Legal Services, Inc., in Denver, Colorado. After returning to his native Texas, he continued to practice law as the nanaging attorney for Texas Rural Legal Aid, Inc., in Brownsville. Although he briefly was a partner with another law firm in 1995 he established his law firm of Magallanes & Hinojosa, P.C., in Brownsville.

Hinojosa was elected Cameron County Judge on November 8, 1994. During his administration, bridges from Texas to Mexico were built and the restoration of the 1912 era courthouse was completed. The Dancy Building houses the county administration.

On August 11, 2003, Hinojosa appeared before the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works in support of Senate Bill 1329, which would provide funds to assist in moving railroads to improve access for commercial traffic which passes through Cameron County to and from the border with Mexico. He voiced support for the planned Interstate 69 project.{{cite web|url=http://epw.senate.gov/108th/Hinojosa_081103.htm|title=Statement of Cameron County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa|date=August 11, 2003|publisher=United States Senate|accessdate=February 11, 2009}} After the bill passed, the Cameron County West Rail Relocation Project was initiated providing for the construction of a railroad across the Rio Grande River from Brownsville to Matamoros, Mexico, with approximately $21 million in federal funds provided.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2004-06-25-04-14468|title=Brownsville/Matamoros West Rail Relocation Project, Cameron County, TX|date=June 25, 2004|publisher=United States Department of State|accessdate=February 11, 2009}} The administration of Judge Carlos Cascos continues to work towards completing the project.

Hinojosa was elected chairman of the Cameron County Democratic Party on November 12, 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/party_82067___article.html/hinojosa_county.html|title=Hinojosa tapped to lead local Democratic Party|last=Martinez|first=Laura|date=November 13, 2007|publisher=Brownsville Herald|accessdate=February 11, 2009}} One day after the inauguration of President Barack Obama, Hinojosa attended the Democratic National Committee winter meeting in Washington, DC. On January 23, 2008, he nominated Virginia Governor Tim Kaine to head the Democratic National Committee.{{cite web|url=http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Hinojosa-Nominates-Virgina-Gov-to-be-Next-DNC/Q7uO1d38EEaTiMLFc67Vng.cspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180232/http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Hinojosa-Nominates-Virgina-Gov-to-be-Next-DNC/Q7uO1d38EEaTiMLFc67Vng.cspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 3, 2016|title=Hinojosa Nominates Virginia Gov. to be Next DNC Chairman|date=January 23, 2009|publisher=KRGV|accessdate=February 11, 2009}} With a unanimous vote Kaine became the leader of the Democratic National Committee.

On May 12, 2011, Hinojosa announced his intention to run for chair of the Texas Democratic Party after the incumbent, Boyd Richie, announced that he would not run for re-election and was retiring. Hinojosa named Houston attorney Cris Felman treasurer of his campaign. Hinojosa was elected chair of the Texas Democratic Party on June 9, 2012, at the state party convention held in Houston. He replaced Richie.

On November 8, 2024, Hinojosa announced his resignation as Texas Democratic Party chair, effective in March 2025.{{Cite web |author=Jasper SchereR |date=November 8, 2024 |title=Texas Democratic Party chair steps down after dismal election performance |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/08/texas-democrat-party-resigns-gilberto-hinojosa/ |website=The Texas Tribune}}

Hinojosa is the father of Xochitl Hinojosa, the spokesperson for the 2020 Democratic National Convention and state representative Gina Hinojosa.{{Cite news|last=Mallozzi|first=Vincent M.|date=November 22, 2015|title=Xochitl Hinojosa and Eloy Martinez: Texans Find Love Near the Potomac|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/22/fashion/weddings/xochitl-hinojosa-and-eloy-martinez-texans-find-love-near-the-potomac.html|access-date=August 18, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|last=Sheffield|first=Matthew|date=August 6, 2018|title=Full interview: DNC spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa discusses upcoming elections|url=https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/400542-full-interview-dnc-spokeswoman-xochitl-hinojosa-discusses-upcoming-elections|access-date=August 18, 2020|website=The Hill|language=en}}

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{{s-bef|before=Boyd Richie}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the Texas Democratic Party|years=2012–2025}}

{{s-aft|after=Kendall Scudder}}

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Category:1952 births

Category:County judges in Texas

Category:Hispanic and Latino American politicians

Category:Living people

Category:People from Cameron County, Texas

Category:People from Hidalgo County, Texas

Category:State political party chairs of Texas

Category:Texas Democrats

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