Democratic Texas gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa has sent cease-and-desist letters to multiple television stations, demanding that they take down an ad produced by Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaign attacking her record on property taxes.
Last week, Hinojosa’s campaign sent letters to multiple television stations calling Abbott’s campaign ad a “demonstrably false, defamatory television advertisement.”
“We believe your television station has aired, and may continue to air, the Advertisement. To avoid potential legal liability, we demand that your station: (A) immediately cease airing, streaming, and distributing the Advertisement, or any derivative thereof containing similar defamatory statements; and (B) publish a correction and retraction in a manner and medium as prominent as the programs on which your station aired the Advertisement,” the letter reads.
Hinojosa’s campaign attorneys additionally wrote that stations could be “liable for defamation” if they continue airing the ad.
The letter comes after Abbott’s campaign released a television ad highlighting Hinojosa’s voting record on property taxes. The ad claims Hinojosa voted “40 different times” to raise property taxes.
Hinojosa campaign spokesman Tommy Kubitschek said Abbott should defend his record on the issues and the ad in a debate.
“Instead, he’s lying to Texans, plain and simple,” Kubitschek said, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Meanwhile, Abbott’s campaign responded to Hinojosa’s effort to have the ads taken down, saying, “Texas voters need to understand – Gina wants to raise your taxes. Period.”
Abbott campaign spokeswoman Catherine Frazier called Hinojosa’s actions a “desperate use of lawfare to pull ads that expose her horrendous voting record on property taxes,” according to the Dallas Morning News.
The dispute comes as Abbott and Hinojosa remain in a competitive race for governor. A New York Times/Siena College poll conducted Sept. 21-30 found Hinojosa leading Abbott 49% to 46%, while a Fox News poll conducted Sept. 24-28 found Abbott leading Hinojosa 52% to 47%.
The two polls show a five-point swing depending on the poll, underscoring the competitiveness of the race.
