Gilberto Hinojosa addresses Texas Democrats during one of the party’s state conventions. Credit: X / @hinojosatx

Assclown Alert is a column of opinion, analysis and snark.

After embarrassing losses statewide in the Nov. 5 election, longtime Democratic Party of Texas Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa last Friday announced his resignation.

The question at this point should be, “Why the hell did it take this long?”

The red wave that washed over Texas was hardly the first bruising defeat for state Democrats since Hinojosa’s watch began in 2012. Despite a watershed 2018, during which Beto O’Rourke’s near-miss campaign against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz helped propel a dozen Dems, mostly in suburban districts, into the Texas House, the wins have been few and far between under Hinojosa’s leadership.

Hinojosa’s credentials include serving as a Cameron County judge from 1995 to 2006, something that gave him clout with the state party in terms of understanding longtime blue strongholds in South Texas, according to observers.

However, that dependably blue part of the state became increasingly red as Hinojosa oversaw the state party, and it went all in for Trump this cycle. Shouldn’t he have seen that coming?

The losses haven’t been for lack of hyperbole on Hinojosa’s part, though.

As party chief, he’s drawn repeated criticism for his Pollyanna-ish projections about Texas turning purple. To listen to his prognostications, a potent cocktail of Latino voters, blue-leaning suburbs and big-city turnout was about to make the state competitive once again.

During August’s Democratic National Convention, Hinojosa even called Texas “the nation’s biggest battleground state.” No. Just no. We’re clearly a long way from it.

Then, when Hinojosa was caught with his foot deeply embedded in his mouth right after Tuesday’s shellacking, he blamed the party’s dismal performance on its support of transgender rights.

An immediate backlash from LGBTQ+ groups ensued, and Hinojosa apologized. But the damage was already done.

At least by the time Friday rolled around, the assclown was smart enough to get a more realistic view on his own prospects and step down.

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This article appears in Oct 30 – Nov 5, 2024.

Sanford Nowlin is editor-in-chief of the San Antonio Current. He holds degrees from Trinity University and the University of Texas at San Antonio, and his work has been featured in Salon, Alternet, Creative...