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Jon Rosenthal names Railroad Commission transition team, priorities in first address
The Cypress Democrat said in Midland that he’d push to raise salaries, boost production and turbocharge orphan well plugging.
Ken Paxton’s office drops lawsuit accusing NCAA of deceptive marketing of women’s sports
The Texas attorney general had accused the college sports organization of allowing transgender athletes to participate in women’s sports.
Parents of students with disabilities fear losing Texas’ “life-changing” school vouchers
Democrats vowed to end the state’s education savings accounts, which give more than 18,800 students with disabilities public funds for private school and homeschooling.
Scalding state review blasts Texas funeral agency’s lax oversight of body donation program
The identified shortcomings raised “serious concerns” about the stability and operation of the agency, the review found.
SpaceX reveals details on its proposal to buy Boca Chica State Park
Elon Musk’s company and the city of Starbase have been tight-lipped about plans for the land, which sparked resistance from advocates when word got out about a possible sale.
Texas maternal death rate drops to pre-pandemic levels as mental health becomes the leading cause
The highly anticipated maternal mortality report published Friday after the state delayed its release until after the midterm elections.
Transgender Texans feel “unbridled joy,” renewed hope after Democratic midterm wins
LGBTQ+ advocates want newly empowered Democrats to focus on lifting all communities without forgetting their prior support for trans Texans.
CDC eliminates $29 million for HIV prevention in Texas
The program, which helped organizations pay for HIV testing and outreach services, is the latest casualty in a series of public health funding cuts by the federal government.
East Texas Republicans ran their campaigns differently than the rest of the state by bucking culture war rhetoric
East Texas Republicans fought for their positions the old fashioned way — by focusing on local issues and needs.
Feds greenlight construction of advanced nuclear reactors in Texas
The project, a partnership between chemical giant Dow and nuclear startup X-energy, is intended to kickstart a new nuclear era.
Ken Paxton finalizes divorce from state Sen. Angela Paxton days after his U.S. Senate loss
The outgoing attorney general is officially divorced from his wife of nearly four decades, 16 months after she filed to end the marriage “on biblical grounds.”
Lawmakers propose banning Flock camera grants by Texas agency
The grants, funded by a fee on Texans’ auto insurance policies, helped install more than 3,200 of the surveillance cameras.
Texas executes Brownsville man for killing three small children in 2003
John Rubio, 46, became the state’s eighth death row inmate to be executed this year. Rubio killed his 1-month-old daughter, 1-year-old son and his common-law wife’s 3-year-old child.
After Democratic sweep, Texas looms as “big kahuna” in the 2028 presidential race
Presidential nominees have long skipped Texas. But Democrats, fresh off defeating Gov. Greg Abbott and winning the U.S. Senate race, are taking a second look.
Bill filed to give every Texas household $1,500, a Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa campaign promise
The money would come from the state’s rainy day fund and be distributed by the end of next year.
Texas Tech regents cut some classes on race, gender as options for graduation requirements
The Lubbock university’s student senate approved surveying students to gauge the impact of restrictions on what’s taught.
Texas’ new Democratic leaders turn to Republicans to steer transitions, vowing bipartisan governance
Gina Hinojosa, Vikki Goodwin and Senfronia Thompson tapped Republican politicians who clashed with Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick to help guide them into office in January.
Texas’ oil and gas commission to reinstate public comment after suspending it a few months ago
The public participation policy will be restored at the December meeting, railroad commissioners confirmed.
After Democratic wins, Texas could more closely review deaths related to the abortion ban
The state’s maternal mortality committee could provide one of the few windows into the impact of the state’s abortion ban.
After nearly three years, AG Ken Paxton drops fight to shut down El Paso migrant shelter network
Paxon sought to revoke Annunciation House’s nonprofit status, alleging that it was illegally smuggling in and harboring migrants.
Battered and bruised by the election, Texas Republicans reckon with a blue Texas
Across the state, Republicans were processing a staggering defeat. They expressed fear, but said they’ll pray for the winners and begin to rebuild the party.
James Sullivan, recently defeated Texas Supreme Court justice, nominated to federal bench by Trump
The Republican jurist lost his seat on Texas’ highest civil court in last week’s Democratic wipeout.
Ken Paxton drops lawsuit seeking to shut down immigration aid group FIEL Houston
The Texas attorney general also ended his effort to dissolve Annunciation House, another immigrant-serving nonprofit, as he prepares to leave office in January.
Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin taps bipartisan transition team as she prepares to lead a GOP-majority Senate
A week after unseating GOP incumbent Dan Patrick, the Austin Democrat announced a team that included Patrick’s former rivals on both sides of the aisle, along with several registered lobbyists.
Report: Luxury hotels, air travel among U.S. Rep. Lance Gooden’s “extravagant spending”
The Office of Congressional Conduct also found that the Terrel Republican had discrepancies between his campaign account expenses and official election filings.
SpaceX to build $24 billion data center in South Texas, sidestepping moratorium
The city of Starbase has scheduled a public hearing on a possible tax abatement agreement for the data center and power plant project.
After Huffines’ defeat, Austin ISD halts cooperation with state investigation
Austin ISD officials question the state’s demands for library records and staff interviews as incoming Comptroller Sarah Eckhardt plans changes.
Bill filing begins today for a divided Texas Legislature’s 2027 session
Democrats will run the House and Republicans retain control of the Senate when the 90th legislative session convenes in January.
Democrat Jon Rosenthal joins GOP-led Texas Railroad Commission with ideas, but faces an uphill fight
The oil field engineer’s technical expertise and perspective will give him influence in other ways, industry experts said.
Gov.-elect Hinojosa wants to expand Medicaid in Texas. An executive order won’t make that happen.
Texas Dems may craft a state “trigger bill” to activate Medicaid expansion if Congress repeals costly Trump administration restrictions.
TribCast: How the chair of Texas Democrats wants his party to govern
Kendall Scudder explains how Democrats flipped Texas in one election cycle — and how they’re hoping to hold onto those victories
Trump’s Big Bend border wall construction can resume after U.S. Supreme Court ruling
In an 8-1 unsigned opinion, the justices overturned an El Paso federal judge’s order to halt construction, while the Trump administration seeks further Supreme Court review.
Feds plan to take over Texas lawsuit against Planned Parenthood
As the state attorney general’s office transitions from Republican to Democratic hands, the Justice Department moves to intervene in the state’s legal battle over Medicaid payments.
Texas appeals court cancels oral arguments in challenge to state hemp rules
The move clears the way for the three newly elected Democratic justices on the 15th Court of Appeals to hear the cases after they take office.
Texas officials acknowledge problems with voter registration system, will work with locals on a fix
Election officials for more than a year sought fixes to TEAM, the state’s voter registration and management system.
Texas’ school voucher program could be “unrecognizable, if not extinct,” says Democratic lawmaker
Democrats won back the Texas House for the first time in 24 years. Gov. Greg Abbott’s bullishness on vouchers turned off some Republican voters in rural communities that have historically been strongholds for his party, politicians said.
With Democrats sweeping Texas, the GOP-led war on cities nears its end
Democrats are less likely to pick on cities the way Republican lawmakers have, observers said. But a fight over housing affordability will test that.
Houston mayor limits police cooperation with ICE after Democratic wins
Houston police will stop contacting ICE during traffic stops when drivers aren’t arrested, even if they have immigration warrants. The change follows pressure from Gov. Greg Abbott to maintain cooperation.
In historic first, women poised to hold top three leadership positions in Texas government
Texas made history Tuesday night by electing the first Latina governor and first female lieutenant governor. In January, the state House is expected to elect the first female Speaker.
Leaders of powerful energy industry prepare to work with Democrat on Texas Railroad Commission
Associations that represent the oil and gas industry are calling on Jon Rosenthal, the first Democrat on the commission in three decades, to govern fairly and predictably.
Senfronia Thompson says she has the votes to become the first woman and first Black Texas House speaker
The 87-year-old Houston Democrat, known as Ms. T, has served in the Legislature since 1973. On Tuesday, her party won control of the Texas House for the first time since 2003.
State-appointed managers in Texas takeover school districts brace for imminent removal
Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa is selecting a new education commissioner, who would have the power to replace any or all appointed board managers.
Texas spent billions on border security. What happens to Greg Abbott’s mission when Dems take over?
After Abbott’s defeat, Texas’ new governor faces questions about Operation Lone Star, border security and the future of immigration enforcement.
Texas’ economic prowess unlikely to wane under state leadership change
Economists attributed Texas’ economic success to factors that have little to do with the political party that controls the state.
Attorney General-elect Nathan Johnson says he won’t sue out-of-state doctors who mail abortion pills to Texas
Current Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued multiple out-of-state doctors for illegally mailing abortion pills, which abortion advocates say has chilled access.
Democrats inheriting Texas colleges the GOP overhauled in conservative push
Universities were a political target of Texas Republicans. As Gina Hinojosa and other Democrats prepare for office, here’s a look at the turning point facing college campuses.
GOP state senators could emerge as last protectors of party power in Texas
Republican state senators will still hold a majority in the Capitol’s upper chamber. They have the ability to significantly weaken the role of the lieutenant governor.
Hemp-friendly candidates win in Texas, but don’t expect to see THC products on shelves any time soon
THC-friendly lawmakers and hemp advocates hope for a legal framework that finally protects their industry from another ban by either state agencies or the federal government.
Republicans lost ground in rural Texas, adding to historic wipeout
James Talarico ran up the score in the Panhandle, while rural Texans living along the Louisiana border stayed home.
Rio Grande Valley celebrates daughter Gina Hinojosa’s historic gubernatorial win
Hinojosa’s victory has injected a surge of pride in the South Texas region where the Austin lawmaker was born and raised.
Texas Democrats already angling to be the next House speaker
Rep. Senfronia Thompson, a Houston Democrat, and Rep. Eddie Morales Jr., D-Eagle Pass, have both announced their intentions.
Texas Democrats won big with little-known underdogs. Here’s how they pulled it off.
Going into the election, half of voters didn’t know anything about the Democratic statewide candidates. Now, Democrats are going to run the state’s most important agencies.
Texas Dems vowed seismic education change. Here’s how schools could change for millions of students
The end to GOP dominance in Texas will likely have major implications for K-12 education policies, including the future of school vouchers and state takeovers.
Watch: Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa publicly discusses next steps as Democrats transition into power
Hinojosa’s first press conference begins at 2 p.m. Thursday. She ousted longtime Republican Gov. Greg Abbott amid a national blue wave.
With Democrats unexpectedly in control, Gina Hinojosa will have more power than she ever imagined
Hinojosa was careful while campaigning not to overpromise what she could deliver, assuming she’d be fighting against GOP majorities. Now she and her Democratic allies will control the government.
After historic rout, Texas Republicans train fire on Trump, Paxton and each other in search for answers
Many Texas Republicans entered Tuesday’s election having known November as a formality. They ended the night in the political wilderness trying to make sense of what went so wrong.
After supporting Trump in 2024, Texas border counties fueled Democrats’ big night
Counties along the U.S.-Mexico border saw the largest surge in voter turnout compared to any other region in the state.
Clayton Tucker poised to become first Democratic agriculture commissioner in nearly 40 years
If elected, Tucker will usher in a new era for the agriculture department as the agency’s first Democratic commissioner since Jim Hightower in 1990.
Democrat claims victory over Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare in key battleground
The Republican incumbent is a firebrand conservative and veteran of culture war battles. The last Democrat to serve as county judge left office in 1986.
Democrat Gina Hinojosa leads Gov. Greg Abbott in early vote returns in key counties
Hinojosa built up an early margin with strong performances in important North Texas suburbs and at least two of the major urban metros that had reported. Those returns largely exclude Election Day votes.
Democrat Vikki Goodwin declares victory over Dan Patrick to become Texas lieutenant governor
The race became unexpectedly close in the final weeks of the cycle, with the incumbent naming his opponent and releasing attack ads unlike in his previous contests.
Democrats seize power in Texas, ending decades of GOP dominance
Texas’ governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and every other statewide candidate fell, upending the state’s political power structure in one night.
Gina Hinojosa won the governor’s race. What happens to Texas data centers now?
The governor-elect has called for a data center moratorium to last until the Texas Legislature meets in January to pass “real protections so Texans can have a seat at the table.”
Gina Hinojosa’s win could change Austin ISD’s fate. But state law may stand in the way.
Texas’ next governor and former AISD trustee has vowed to replace the state’s education commissioner, but a replacement would be bound by law that requires intervention.
Greg Abbott lost because he became a RINO, Trump says
The president’s late-night rebuke came the same day he praised Abbott as “strong and highly respected.”
In major upset, Nathan Johnson takes Texas attorney general’s office for Democrats
In a stunning upset with repercussions across the national legal landscape, Democrat Nathan Johnson claimed victory in the race to be Texas’ next top lawyer. Johnson, a Dallas state senator and corporate litigator, is the first Democrat elected attorney general since 1994. He defeated Mayes Middleton, an oil and gas heir who tethered himself closely […]
James Talarico leads Ken Paxton in early returns in Texas’ U.S. Senate race
Talarico led the polling average for months in the most expensive nonpresidential race on record. The Associated Press had not yet called the race as Election Day ballots were still being counted.
Jon Rosenthal heads toward victory in Texas Railroad Commission race, the first Dem to hold the role in 32 years
Rosenthal defeated Bo French in a race that drew national attention for French’s racist remarks. The position regulates Texas' oil and gas industry.
Katy Padilla Stout, Democratic newcomer, flips West Texas congressional seat
Padilla Stout is the first Democrat to hold the seat in over a decade, besting right-wing Youtuber Brandon Herrera.
Ken Paxton survived scandal after scandal. He couldn’t survive a Senate race.
The attorney general ran for Senate as a grudge match, and in the process helped give Democrats their first win in decades.
League City voters reject continued use of Flock cameras
The police department for the Houston-area suburb operates a system of 55 cameras.
Majority control of State Board of Education remains uncertain after Democratic gains
As it stands, Democrats have clinched seven seats on the 15-member board while Republicans occupy six. The final two seats will depend on the outcomes of two races involving GOP incumbents.
Meet Vikki Goodwin, Nathan Johnson and the other Democrats who’ll run Texas
Overshadowed and outspent, newcomers will fill statewide offices from lieutenant governor to agriculture commissioner.
Photos: Texans cast their ballots resulting in a historic Election Day
State Rep. James Talarico defeated Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, and state Rep. Gina Hinojosa was elected to become Texas's first Democratic governor since Ann Richards lost her reelection bid in 1994.
Sarah Eckhardt unseats GOP Comptroller Don Huffines in historic victory for Democrats
Sarah Eckhardt won the Texas comptroller race on Election Day, becoming the first Democrat in decades to oversee state revenue forecasts, tax collections and government purchasing.
Shouting, honking and dancing: Revelers descend on Texas Capitol to celebrate Democratic wins
The election marked the first time many had witnessed a Democrat win a major election in Texas.
South Texas congressional Democrats Vicente Gonzalez and Henry Cuellar glide toward reelection
Ahead of the 2026 election, Texas Republicans redrew congressional boundaries in a gambit to help the GOP keep control of Congress.
Surge in voter turnout in urban, border counties carried Texas blue wave
Meanwhile, rural counties saw the smallest growth in turnout.
Tejano musician Bobby Pulido declares victory over GOP Rep. Monica De La Cruz in key South Texas district
The self-styled “conservative Democrat” recaptured the 15th Congressional District four years after it flipped red, a blow to Republicans who tried to draw themselves more seats in the Rio Grande Valley.
Texas Democrats break Republican hold on statewide courts
With votes still being counted, the GOP advantage is poised to fall to 5-4 on the Texas Supreme Court and 6-3 on the Court of Criminal Appeals.
Texas House Republican ousted early as Democrats hope to make gains in lower chamber
State Rep. Denise Villalobos of Corpus Christi conceded in an early Texas House pickup for Democrats. Several key races have yet to be called.
Texas Republicans redrew the U.S. House map to gain five seats. They could end up with a net loss.
Republicans were heading toward losses in two U.S. House seats they already controlled and appeared on track to flip no more than one of their gerrymander targets.
Here’s how 2026 midterm election votes will be tallied and reported in Texas
Results from early voting should start rolling out after polls close at 7 p.m. It will be hours before all races are called.
It’s Election Day. Here’s what to watch as Texas wraps its most competitive electoral season in years.
Democrats have forced Republicans to compete from U.S. Senate to railroad commissioner, and early turnout hit a modern-day midterm record. Tuesday night could reshape Texas politics.
Ken Paxton and James Talarico close their Senate campaigns on home turf
To win, Paxton needs to keep the margin close in Collin County, his political home base. Talarico must earn epic returns in Travis County, the bluest part of the state.
See November 2026 midterm election results as votes come in across Texas.
Texans are voting in several high-profile races, including contests for U.S. Senate, governor, several legislative seats and more.
Texas 2026 midterm elections live blog
Texas Tribune reporters will provide live updates throughout the night on key results, breaking news and what they’re seeing across the state.
ICE agent accused of hitting immigrant in Houston with an SUV turns himself in
Houston ICE officer Mario Alberto Morales turned himself in after being indicted on a felony assault charge for striking a man with his SUV.
Inside the booth: Faith, economy and immigration inspired these Texans’ votes
Several races in Texas drew national attention. On the eve of the election, Texans share what mattered to them.
Paxton vs. Talarico: Five things to watch in Texas’ tight U.S. Senate race
A swing back among Latino voters, Harris County turnout and Republicans skipping the Senate race are among the trends we’ll be tracking as returns come in.
In volatile Tarrant County, both political parties are on the prowl for moderate Republicans
The Fort Worth area, no longer solidly red, is a midterm election wild card as Democrats and Republicans jockey for supremacy.
Ken Paxton appears to cancel final rally of his “Come and Take It” tour at the Alamo
Paxton’s campaign initially said he would close his get-out-the-vote push at the landmark. Instead, his campaign schedule lists events in North Texas on the eve of Election Day.
More than 7.4 million Texans voted early in 2026 election, nearly matching 2018 pace
Thirty-nine percent of voters cast a ballot during the early voting period, just shy of the modern-day record set in 2018.
Texas parks department fights to withhold draft agenda amid fears of Boca Chica sale to SpaceX
The Texas Tribune reviewed a copy of a draft Texas Parks and Wildlife agenda that included discussion about ceding control of 1,300 acres in Cameron County, home to Boca Chica Beach and SpaceX’s launch site.
This young Latino mayor went all in for John Cornyn. But Ken Paxton is a sore subject.
Erik Gomez, a rising GOP star in South Texas, has modeled his career after Republicans like Cornyn. He’s wrestling with the idea of voting for Paxton.
With U.S. Senate control at stake, Republicans fear the once-unthinkable: a blue Texas
Ken Paxton and James Talarico are neck-and-neck in the country's most expensive U.S. Senate race on record. The outcome's ripple effects will extend years.
An Hinojosa win would be a political feat, but she wouldn’t inherit the power Abbott holds
Even if a Democrat were in the Governor’s Mansion, Republicans would likely control the Legislature. Divided government could mean limited political control.
Deposition ties national GOP women’s group to texts about transgender youth
A representative with the messaging group that sent the texts testified that they were deployed on behalf of the Republican Women’s Caucus Fund.
El Paso ISD releases student data to state comptroller, prompting concerns over undocumented students
Texas Comptroller Don Huffines’ office requested the number of El Paso ISD students using a Social Security number and those using alternative identification numbers.
Rick Perry booted from board of Fermi, the massive planned data center company he co-founded
Fermi, slated to build the largest data center and power generation campus in the U.S., has had a tumultuous first couple years including a turbulent ownership battle between Perry and his co-founder Toby Neugebauer.
Suburban Houston voters will be the first in Texas to decide the fate of Flock cameras
Tuesday’s election will determine if League City can keep its 55 cameras operating along city roads.
Texas ICE agent indicted for striking fleeing Houston pedestrian with vehicle
A Harris County grand jury indicted a federal immigration agent caught on video striking a pedestrian during a vehicle pursuit.
Texas Supreme Court blocks deposition intended to identify group behind transgender mailers
The ruling came 15 minutes before a Wyoming-registered group was scheduled to answer questions in a deposition ordered by a Travis County judge.
Use our updated database to see what state employees in Texas are paid, as of October 2026
The Texas Tribune’s database of state employees’ compensation has been updated to include salaries as of October 1.
Voting rights groups in Texas have cut back on outreach efforts amid threat of criminal penalties
State lawmakers passed strict restrictions in SB1 that criminalize paid workers helping voters with mail ballots.
A conservative senator reshaped Texas colleges. He wants the rest of the country to follow.
Writing laws to restrict DEI on campuses was just the start. Now as Texas Tech chancellor, Brandon Creighton wants to push the limits on what professors teach.
Disappointed by Trump, dubious of Talarico: This Rio Grande Valley health official mulls his midterm vote
Dr. Ivan Melendez aligned with Democrats for years before moving to the right in recent elections. Ahead of the midterms, he’s weighing his options.
High housing costs cut into Texans’ income gains in 2025, new Census data shows
Incomes grew in some parts of the state and fell in others, according to new U.S. Census Bureau figures. Meanwhile, homeowners are paying more to keep a roof over their heads.
Panhandle Republican group wants all Texas ballots hand counted in the Nov. 3 election
The Potter County Republican Party lawsuit argues, without providing proof, that voting machines could be vulnerable. Texas law already requires a portion of paper ballots to be hand counted.
Texas AG’s office labels get-out-the-vote ads discriminatory for focus on Black, Latino and Asian voters
The Harris County ads, which urged social media users to make a plan to vote, must be halted or changed, an agency lawsuit said.
Texas elections aren’t official until they get certified. Here’s how it works.
The typically low-key process has come under scrutiny since Jan. 6 rioters sought to halt certification of the 2020 presidential election.
As Dems target the Texas House, GOP Speaker Dustin Burrows is campaigning like his gavel’s at stake
Flipping 14 seats would give Democrats control of the lower chamber, but even putting a major dent in the GOP's margin could complicate Burrows’ ability to govern, or even remain speaker.
Comptroller Don Huffines did not disclose his role managing firm investing in SpaceX
On state-required disclosure forms, Huffines omitted his leadership role in Huffines Enterprises Science & Technology, a firm that invests in Elon Musk’s company that has received tax breaks from the state.
Dolores Huerta, trailblazing advocate for migrant farmworkers, dies at 96
Huerta co-founded several organizations to support Texas farmworkers. She was also an ardent advocate for women and immigrant's rights.
Group behind trans mailers must answer questions under oath, Travis County judge rules
The organization, which argued that the order violates its First Amendment right to speak anonymously, will appeal.
High schooler pulled from musical over Texas’ anti-DEI law sues, alleging discrimination
A female Grand Prairie teen lost the lead role in “Little Shop of Horrors” because the role was male. Administrators cited the state’s ban on diversity, equity and inclusion as the reason.
In this high-stakes election, young Black voters could be the push Dems need to turn Texas blue
For Democrats to win in Texas, young Black voters must vote in record numbers. Harris County advocates are betting on it.
Six charts that explain how Texas’ suburbs became a midterm battleground
The state’s fast-growing suburban counties have gotten bigger, more diverse and bluer over time.
Trump says more FEMA aid is coming to Texas after 2026 floods
Trump promised more federal money after FEMA denied individual assistance for Texas flood survivors. State officials have appealed FEMA’s decision.
With dueling Trump-Talarico rallies, Lubbock became the center of the political universe
Lubbock, the most populous city in West Texas, has been a reliable Republican stronghold. Democrats, like Talarico, hope to close yawning gaps in rural areas that have kept them out of power.
Austin man shot by ICE officer pleads not guilty to federal assault charge
Wilber Rafael Garces Perez entered the plea a week after a grand jury indicted him on one count of assaulting, resisting, impeding and obstructing a federal officer.
Bo French, Jon Rosenthal raise more than $1M combined in second-highest fundraising haul
The candidates for railroad commissioner are using the money in advertising, mailers and consulting fees.
Coalition in deep East Texas aims to build tech workforce, connect region
Led by community members from 11 counties, the group plans to address major concerns about broadband expansion and provide training on how to use technology.
Dems hope to clinch the state by flipping Collin County, Paxton’s homebase and a longtime GOP bastion
Democrats’ chances hinge on finally winning a county that for years has been trending purple.
Greg Abbott, Gina Hinojosa each post biggest fundraising hauls yet in final leg of Texas governor’s race
The third-term GOP governor’s burst of fundraising and spending was especially notable, signaling how seriously he is taking the once-overlooked race.
Texas early voting rate is slightly behind 2018, when Beto O’Rourke challenged Ted Cruz
The first seven days of the 2026 midterm election fuel Democratic hopes but leave Republicans cautiously optimistic.
U.S. Supreme Court leaves in place limits on when deportation cases can be paused
The court declined to block a settlement between Texas and the Justice Department that effectively restricts when judges can use their discretion in how quickly immigration cases are resolved.
“Silence is getting a bit loud”: Emails show UT leaders took heat for slow response to Bo French post
Despite pressure from students and graduates to condemn the remarks as racist, University of Texas officials took a more careful approach.
As South Texas Republicans brace for losses, Ryan Guillen’s career offers a possible roadmap back
The former Democrat’s reputation as an unflappable moderate stands in sharp contrast to the MAGA firebrands at the top of this year’s GOP ticket.
Feds may build border wall through South Texas refuge as original plan stalls in court
The original plan, which has been stalled since July, called for construction of a wall along the Santa Ana wildlife refuge.
Frustration over school takeovers, vouchers could sway Texas voters in close governor’s race
As Democrat Gina Hinojosa focuses on “saving” public schools, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has emphasized property tax cuts in the final weeks of the campaign.
Ties to Trump, Biden loom large in key South Texas congressional race
Democrat Vicente Gonzalez and Republican Eric Flores square off in a U.S. House district redrawn to benefit the GOP.
A Texas cop signed on to help ICE deport his neighbors. It tore the town apart.
Ingram was just rebuilding from a devastating flood when its tiny police department enrolled in ICE’s 287(g) deportation program. Within a year, cops would hand over the equivalent of 10% of the town.
Emergency weather alerts may be sent via satellite under new “Mystic Alerts Act”
Not everyone received cell alerts during the deadly flooding in 2025 in the Texas Hill Country. A new law is trying to fix that.
Fed up with data centers and Big Tech, rural Republican crossover could decide Democrats’ fate in Texas
Rural Republicans have long undercut Democrats’ gains in cities and suburbs. Will enough defect to make a difference this fall?
Head of Texas juvenile justice department resigns
It’s not immediately clear why TJJD Executive Director Shandra Carter left the role, which she had held since 2022.
Ken and Angela Paxton invested $600,000 in a convicted fraudster’s business
The blind trust’s investment in Wildcatter offers a new, unreported look at the attorney general’s financial ties with the very type of business executives whose prosecutions he typically celebrates.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues ChatGPT-maker OpenAI
CEO Sam Altman and ChatGPT are top competitors to Elon Musk, the tech billionaire fueling Paxton’s U.S. Senate campaign.
Texas SNAP participation drops to a 17-year low as the feds tighten eligibility
The state health agency is also processing 64% of SNAP applications in a timely manner — within 30 days — even though the required rate is 95%.
Trump administration can hold immigrants in ICE custody without bond, court rules
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled detained immigrants don’t have a constitutional right to a bond hearing after they enter the country illegally.
Feds charge Fort Bend County official with theft of government money
Carmen Turner, the Democratic tax assessor-collector since 2021, was arrested Thursday morning.
Four key November races could push Texas education board further right
Three conservative Republicans known for compromise on divisive topics did not seek reelection, while a seat representing the Rio Grande Valley could sway in either political direction.
How Texas Democrats and Republicans have shifted their campaign ad pitches throughout the midterms
Democrats have moved from healthcare to taxes and corruption, while Republicans have ramped up ad spending on property taxes, crime and transgender issues, an analysis of AdImpact data shows.
TCU chancellor resigns after less than two years at helm
Daniel Pullin’s time at the private Fort Worth institution included disputes over academic priorities and faculty input. Victor Boschini Jr., who led TCU for 22 years, is replacing him.
Texas Latinos are turning on Trump. That doesn’t mean they’re sold on Democrats.
Latino strategists and voters say this year’s swing is driven by anger at those in power and hinges on individual candidates. Democrats and Republicans alike agree it may not last.
Texas’ child care quality control measures played a role in enrollment cuts this fall
HB 2607 implemented quality control measures at Texas child care centers, but rising costs, a loss of federal funds and no additional state money has put a strain on the program, forcing cuts.
West Texas DA opens forgery investigation into disputed transgender mailers
The pamphlets appear to be an attempt to anger voters ahead of the midterm elections, GOP District Attorney Sarah Stogner said.
AG’s office sides with community in the fight over public access to an East Texas waterway
A brief on the Cutoff stream, which a billionaire blocked access to, was issued by the state agency in the days leading up to oral arguments before the 12th Court of Appeals.
FEMA won’t help Texans after July 2026 floods as agency tells states to lead disaster response
Disaster recovery experts say FEMA individual assistance funds are critical for residents to cover short-term costs. Gov. Greg Abbott is considering an appeal.
Guatemalan man gets 30 years for role in San Antonio smuggling deaths of 53 migrants
Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco received a 30-year prison sentence in a San Antonio migrant smuggling case that left 53 people dead.
More than $350M in foster care reforms, oversight, enough to end court monitoring, state tells court
“Substantial” compliance to federal court-ordered improvements should be enough to end 15-year-old lawsuit, state argues
Texans didn’t know their neighborhood was built near an abandoned oil well spreading toxic fumes
As new neighborhoods are built in Texas, residents don’t always know they are living on top of old oilfields.
Texas Comptroller Don Huffines issues series of “executive orders,” raising questions about his office’s authority
The authority to issue executive orders traditionally belongs to the chief executive, like the governor or a county judge.
Texas environmental agency shuts down online permit filing system after data center controversy
Texas environmental officials disabled an online filing system after watchdog groups raised concerns about the agency issuing permits related to data centers.
Trump administration asks Supreme Court to let Big Bend border wall project resume
The emergency appeal seeks to resume work on the project, which opponents argue is a waste of money due to low illegal immigration in the area and could harm scenic landscapes.
False pamphlets causing backlash and confusion, Texas transgender rights group says
The mailers, sent by an organization formed last month in Wyoming, implicate a Texas transgender rights group that says it was not involved.
Federal judge to weigh Texas bid to dismiss 15-year-old suit seeking foster care system reform
U.S. District Judge Randy Crane will hold the first public hearing in two years this week on the lawsuit, which prompted constant court oversight of the troubled system.
Gov. Greg Abbott says sale of state park to SpaceX won’t happen anytime soon
At a news conference, Gov. Greg Abbott said he remains dedicated to preserving parkland in Texas.
Greg Abbott ordered a pause on data center permits. Critics say some plans still moved forward.
Public Citizen said the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality hadn’t stopped issuing data center permits as required. The agency said it was complying with the directive.
How to read the tea leaves as early voting totals in the Texas election trickle in
Counties are reporting record-breaking early voting participation. But that information alone isn’t necessarily useful in interpreting who will win.
Hundreds of thousands of potentially eligible Texas homeowners aren’t claiming their property tax savings
Homeowners aren’t claiming a homestead exemption because they do not know about it or find the process too complicated, experts say.
Republican Bo French denies he agreed to debate Railroad Commission opponent
The Dallas Press Club, which organized the event, said it would host a podcast recording with Democrat Jon Rosenthal if his GOP opponent doesn’t show.
Texas data center boom could erase decades of progress on air quality
A new report warns that the state’s air quality progress could be reversed by the end of the decade, especially if facilities use natural gas power.
Texas homeowners may be missing out on a major property tax break. Here’s how to claim it.
Hundreds of thousands of potentially eligible Texas homeowners aren’t claiming a homestead exemption, which shaves off thousands of dollars from the taxable value of a home. Here’s how to apply.
TribCast: Steve Kornacki on Texas’ midterm outlook
As early voting begins, the chief data analyst for NBC News turns his Big Board analysis on Texas to assess where things stand.
Dallas man who died in Laredo ICE facility was lawful permanent resident
ICE said Emiliano Andrade-Covarrubias obtained his legal status fraudulently because he failed to disclose a 2004 arrest for theft. His daughter disputes that.
Gov. Greg Abbott touts endorsements from 12 Democratic sheriffs from border counties in final early voting push
The promotion of cross-partisan support was notable for a governor who has embraced his right flank, but who is now facing his most competitive reelection bid yet.
Greg Abbott raked in $9 million from data center-related donors as he called for regulations
About $4.9 million of the haul came from donors who develop, own or operate data centers, a Tribune analysis found. The other share of the donations came from people and groups with indirect financial ties.
Hakeem Jeffries to campaign in Texas on behalf of Bexar County congressional candidate Johnny Garcia
Garcia, a former sheriff’s deputy, is running in one of the five districts Republicans redrew last year with the intention of flipping.
Provisional ballots in Texas: What voters should know if they’re not on a poll’s registration list
If a voter’s eligibility is uncertain, they can still cast what’s called a provisional ballot. Here’s how they qualify — and how officials ultimately decide whether they’re counted.Complete sentence summary goes here.
Sid Miller stops short of endorsing Democrat Clayton Tucker for ag commissioner over Nate Sheets
Sheets, in response, called Miller the most corrupt figure in Texas government and considers his criticism a “badge of honor.”
Texas man seeks to have armed robbery conviction tossed over no-warrant Flock camera search
Defense lawyers asked a federal appeals court to void the conviction, arguing the cameras give police more power than the Constitution allows.
For Texas schoolchildren, minor misbehavior can mean criminal charges
More students ages 10 to 13 are ending up in the justice system after vaping, making threats and lashing out at school.
In Senate race, Paxton and Talarico each promise relief from rising energy costs in Texas
The candidates are miles apart on climate, but both are making affordability a central issue as Texans grapple with spiking prices.
Migrant found dead at Laredo ICE facility
The death was confirmed by U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, who said the 56-year-old Mexican national was found unresponsive in his cell. He’s the seventh person to die while detained by ICE this year.
Bo French, Jon Rosenthal battle over culture, job duties in bid to regulate the oil and gas industry
Controversial remarks by the GOP candidate cast a national spotlight on the typically quiet race for a spot on the Texas Railroad Commission.
19 million Texans are registered to vote, breaking record
The number of Texans registered to vote jumped 2% from March even as the state struggles to process backlogged voter records.
Bobby Pulido pitches himself as the Democrat “you used to vote for” in bid to oust Rep. Monica De La Cruz
In Texas’ 15th Congressional District, the Tejano musician is trying to remind voters of the Democratic Party their abuelitas supported for decades. The GOP incumbent casts him as a relic of a “corrupt, compadre system.”
How Gina Hinojosa went from progressive to populist, emerging as Greg Abbott’s most formidable challenger
Hinojosa has gone from unknown state lawmaker to Abbott’s most viable Democratic challenger yet — a surge that has dared Democrats to wonder if she could actually topple this mainstay of the Texas Republican establishment.
Meet the candidates running for Texas’ State Board of Education in 2026
The education board sets learning standards and approves instructional materials for public schools. Here are the nine candidates who are running and what’s at stake.
Pro-Cruz PAC launches seven-figure Spanish-language ad buy attacking Talarico
Aimed at Hispanic voters, the new ad from Truth and Courage PAC attacks Democrat James Talarico over his past comments on gender and sexuality.
Texas discovers more backlogged voter registration records days before early voting begins
Local election officials must now process thousands of voter address updates before early voting starts Monday.
Texas election laws: What voters need to know before casting ballots in the 2026 midterm
From required IDs to navigating mail-in ballots, here's how voters can navigate early voting and Election Day.
At CNN town hall, Senate candidate James Talarico woos moderate and undecided voters
The Austin Democrat used the forum, absent rival Ken Paxton, to discuss policy and present himself as a moderate. Republicans cast those efforts as contrary to his record.
Elon Musk is the donor behind Senate Republicans’ massive rescue mission for Ken Paxton
The world’s wealthiest man transformed Texas’ U.S. Senate race with a massive cash infusion to the Senate GOP’s main outside group, which has taken over the airwaves with ads boosting Paxton.
Execution of Fort Hood shooter will not be live-streamed, Trump says
The firing squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan is set for Dec. 3.
In race to lead Texas agriculture department, Sheets and Tucker clash on data centers, credentials
The race to be the state’s first new agriculture commissioner in more than a decade has turned personal as both men have challenged each other’s ties to farm land.
Outspent and unknown, Democrat Vikki Goodwin gives Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick his toughest race yet
The race for Texas’ powerful second-in-command role pits a third-term GOP kingmaker against a state lawmaker who is riding the political tailwind felt by Democrats up and down the ballot.
Report: Texas hospitals could offer more financial help before sending patients big bills
The report also found most nonprofit facilities in Texas — which has a higher rate of medical debt than most states — will not offer refunds to patients who are later found to qualify for free care.
Talarico raises $64 million in third quarter, more than any U.S. Senate candidate
The Democratic U.S. Senate nominee says he’s raised more than $134 million over the past year.
Trump blasts “political hacks” John Cornyn and Karl Rove for failing to support Paxton
If Ken Paxton loses to James Talarico, blame would fall on weak Republicans who failed to close ranks, the president said on social media.
Trump says the border is secure. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott keeps declaring an emergency.
Since Abbott first declared a border emergency in 2021, he’s renewed or amended the proclamation at least 69 times. The proclamation has greatly expanded his powers.
Despite tough talk from Abbott and Paxton, Texas penalties for data center violations are light
Texas officials are promising tougher enforcement on data centers, but the existing law may offer limited leverage over the industry that has largely failed to report its water use.
El Paso and New Mexico spent millions on climate plans. Three new data centers could undo them.
El Paso and New Mexico planned to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Neither plan considered how three new data centers could upend their climate goals.
House Republicans pull $3 million reserved for ads against Henry Cuellar
The Laredo Democrat’s 28th District was one of five seats Republicans redrew last summer to flip to GOP control. But the new map has proven less ironclad than the party hoped.
How Ken Paxton and allies fanned a false conspiracy to convince voters James Talarico was mentally unfit
While James Talarico was recovering from the flu, Paxton supporters said the Democrat was being treated for mental illness in Ohio. The debunked story was shared by White House officials, Elon Musk and social media influencers.
In competitive North Texas Senate race, GOP candidate sheds her “ultra MAGA” label
In a district Trump won by 17 points, Republican Leigh Wambsganss no longer describes herself as ultra-MAGA in her rematch with Democrat Taylor Rehmet.
It’s not just Talarico. New Texas poll shows Dems statistically tied in key statewide races
Republicans trail behind Democrats in voter enthusiasm, a University of Texas/Texas Politics Project University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll shows.
Ken Paxton to close Senate campaign with ‘Come And Take It’ bus tour ending at the Alamo
The Republican nominee plans to hit over 30 stops across Texas, concluding with a stop at the Alamo on the eve of Election Day, as he competes in an intensely close Senate race against Democrat James Talarico.
Local Texas election officials clear voter registration backlog caused by state error
More than 500,000 voter applications were held up by an error in a Department of Public Safety software update.
Texas sued for failing to process more than 500,000 voter registrations
Voting rights groups are asking a judge to enforce a 2021 settlement aimed at providing reliable online registration through DPS.
Texas transgender rights group says it didn’t send texts that prompted call for an investigation
The Transgender Education Network of Texas sent a cease and desist letter to messaging companies demanding an end to the text campaign.
Harris County prosecutor to investigate ICE striking Houston man with vehicle
District Attorney Sean Teare said his office is investigating whether an ICE agent in an SUV intentionally struck Miguel Parra-Hernandez as he fled.
On the issues: A Q&A with U.S. Senate candidates James Talarico, Ken Paxton and Ted Brown
Ken Paxton and James Talarico are in a close race for Texas’ U.S. Senate seat, with Ted Brown also on the ballot. See where they stand on THC, data centers and Flock cameras. Talarico and Brown answered our questions; Paxton did not, so we used his past public statements to describe his positions.
San Antonio sues to block plans to convert warehouse into an ICE detention center
The city argued that federal officials failed to review the environmental impact of a proposed facility that could hold 1,500 people a day.
Some Texas colleges get OK for new Workforce Pell that pays for job training
At least five Texas colleges are among the first in the country that can use the federal funding for jobs training.
Texas woman uses state law to sue anti-abortion group that allegedly ordered abortion pills online
Unable to abort two unplanned pregnancies because of the law, the woman is suing Students for Life for the cost of raising the children. The group posted about buying the pills undercover.
TribCast: Houston is a model for school takeovers. Is it sustainable?
This week, the podcast explores what can be learned from Houston ISD as more school districts face state takeover.
How a bid to beat the drought drove Corpus Christi to the brink of disaster
What started as a novel plan to provide an unrestricted water supply to the oil and gas industry turned into a political quagmire that has consumed the city.
Taxpayers pay the price when Texas education department takes over school districts
Cash-strapped Austin ISD faces big changes under a potential state takeover. It could also face increased costs at a time when reserves are running dry.
Texas appeals order requiring prison air conditioning, saying it puts operations at risk
TDCJ, which estimates climate control will cost $1.5 billion, said the federal judge’s order imposes “chaos and confusion” on the country’s largest prison system.
Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program
The proposed elimination of the program, aimed at serving lower-income families, comes as Texas leadership has called on agencies to reduce budgets by 3%.
Houston Democrats push for guardrails on school takeovers
A squad of Democratic lawmakers is pushing to limit the power of state-appointed officials who step in and take over struggling school districts, ousting locally elected trustees. A commission out of Houston, where the public school district is facing the largest school takeover in Texas history, recommended raising the bar for when the education commissioner […]
James Talarico returns to campaign trail at ACL festival after illness spurred GOP calls for “proof of life”
Republican Ken Paxton’s campaign made hay over the Democrat’s nine-day spell without a public appearance, casting doubt on his flu diagnosis.
Ken Paxton took nearly 1,000 trips with state-funded security detail costing millions of dollars
The Texas attorney general’s use of a taxpayer-funded travel security detail stands out when compared with his predecessor and other state officials, our analysis found.
Mayes Middleton, running for Texas attorney general, wants to “put God back in government”
Middleton, a Republican, has long pushed for injecting Christianity into the public sphere. His Democratic opponent, Nathan Johnson, said those views make him unfit for office.
‘We have to suck it up’: Ken Paxton privately suggests cutting federal benefit programs to reduce national deficit
In a conversation that has been leaked in pieces to multiple publications, the GOP Senate nominee called for “reasonable cuts to mandatory spending,” which is driven by Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Democrat Nathan Johnson pitches back-to-basics attorney general’s office after 12 years under Paxton
Johnson is hoping enough moderates are tired of Paxton-era culture wars to cross party lines. His GOP opponent, Mayes Middleton, is running as the outgoing incumbent’s ideological heir.
Firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter will be livestreamed, Pentagon says
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, who killed 13 people and injured 32 others, will take place at the military base on Dec. 3.
In attacking Talarico for campaign absence, Trump calls for debate that Paxton has avoided
The Democrat, off the trail with the flu, quickly accepted the president’s call to “immediately report to a Debate Stage” with Ken Paxton.
Trump slams Rep. Henry Cuellar for sticking with Democratic Party despite presidential pardon
Cuellar and his wife, charged with bribery, money laundering and conspiracy, were pardoned in December. In a social media post, Trump indicated he expected Cuellar to run as a Republican.
What to know about Texas’ affordability crisis and how candidates want to fix it
From groceries to childcare, Texans are spending more to live here. Here’s how much costs have risen, why it’s happening and what candidates are proposing to fix it.
When a rural Texas school district struggled with growth, charter schools filled the void
The state has limited how much money it gives to fast-growing school districts, creating million-dollar gaps between what is owed and what's given.
Most Texas Republicans ignore Democratic calls to debate in statewide races
The last U.S. Senate race in Texas to go without a debate was in 2000. Gov. Greg Abbott, meanwhile, debated his Democratic opponents in each of his last three campaigns.
STAAR rescoring requests triple after more Texas schools question computer grading
Thousands of STAAR reading results improved after humans rescored students’ written answers. Most of the initial grading was done by an automated engine.
Texas execution would be first in U.S. since Tennessee failure
Lawyers for Jamaal Howard are asking Gov. Greg Abbott for a 30-day reprieve after two lethal injections failed to kill Christa Pike, leaving her hospitalized.
Democrat Jon Rosenthal outraises Bo French in Railroad Commission race in latest report
A big chunk of Rosenthal’s haul came after French’s racist social media comments following a UT-Austin football game went viral.
Greg Abbott outraises Gina Hinojosa but burned through much of his campaign cash in Texas governor’s race
Abbott outspent Hinojosa 6-to-1 from July to late September, but the governor’s narrow polling lead was largely unchanged as he tapped a war chest that once topped $100 million.
In new San Antonio district, law enforcement Democrat and GOP Air Force vet upend partisan script
The 35th Congressional District was redrawn to elect a Republican, but Latino voters’ brewing leftward shift has put the seat in play for Democrat Johnny Garcia, who faces Trump-backed Carlos De La Cruz.
Texas agency sues to stop release of data center records that it says could aid terrorists
A lawsuit will test whether Texas officials can withhold data center location details under the state Homeland Security Act.
Texas college campus protest law faces First Amendment challenge
A federal appeals court will consider whether restrictions on protests at Texas’ public universities and colleges violate constitutional rights.
Texas comptroller investigating spending in Austin ISD, other districts
Texas Comptroller Don Huffines announced the reviews, which were requested by Gov. Greg Abbott, on Monday. Results are due Dec. 31.
These are the most competitive November races and where they are up and down Texas’ midterm ballot
Texas has an unusually large slate of competitive races for the state Legislature and U.S. House this year. Here’s our list of contests to watch.
TribCast: Are Texas’ voter systems ready for a contentious election?
Votebeat's Natalia Contreras joins TribCast to explain the state of Texas’ voter rolls one month before election day.
2026 Texas attorney general race: Who is running and what to know
Republican Mayes Middleton, Democrat Nathan Johnson and Libertarian Tom Oxford are running to replace Ken Paxton. Here’s where they stand.
Harris County’s cashless bail policy for misdemeanors upheld
The policy dates to a 2019 settlement after the county’s cash bail system was found to exacerbate poverty while not “meaningfully” promoting public safety.
Institute launches in East Texas to address the region and state’s largest water challenges
The new institute plans to help solve Texas' looming water crisis through research, data and training future workforces.
Ken Paxton raises personal-best $18 million in third quarter for Texas’ U.S. Senate race
The attorney general more than doubled his second-quarter haul, but still is well short of past totals posted by Democrat James Talarico, who has yet to announce his July-to-September fundraising.
Texas city charges $2 million for Flock records as agencies make it harder to see how cameras are used
High invoices and challenges to accessing data on how departments use the surveillance cameras have hindered requests by privacy advocates and journalists.
Texas’ glitchy voter registration system makes it harder to clear backlog, election officials say
Frustrated officials say “unacceptable” technology glitches with Texas’ TEAM system are impeding work to resolve a backlog of hundreds of thousands of records.
Tribune’s sample ballot tool now includes local elections for 16 million Texas voters
The updated 2026 election ballot tool is a major expansion and part of The Texas Tribune's mission to help Texans shape the future.
In TV ad, Angela Paxton urges voters to back “the Republican ticket” that includes her estranged husband
The ad is funded by a super PAC that has spent well over $100 million boosting Senate GOP nominee Ken Paxton, whom Angela Paxton accused of adultery in filing for divorce last year.
A 650-acre ranch on Lake Palestine will become Texas’ next state park
The ranch has been owned by an East Texas family for more than 80 years and is expected to be transferred to the state next year for development into a park.
Austin man has surgery 11 days after being shot by ICE agent
The surgery on the Venezuelan national, who has been in custody since his Sept. 20 run-in with an immigration officer, removed the bullet lodged in his back.
Betting that Abbott will soon restore funding, some Texas agencies accept Flock’s offer to keep cameras on
Some local officials have suggested they expect Abbott will reinstate funding for the surveillance cameras, which are politically unpopular, after the election.
Judge halts border barrier construction in Big Bend
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone’s ruling means federal contractors can’t continue construction in the national park or surrounding areas until a lawsuit opposing the work is resolved.
Paxton ally opposes Talarico’s request to unseal AG’s depositions from investing dispute
Talarico’s campaign in August asked the court to unseal a pair of years-old depositions Paxton sat for, arguing the transcripts are “of immense public importance.”
Republicans are spending big to boost Ken Paxton on the airwaves, but not in Spanish
Nearly 7 in 10 Latino voters said in a recent statewide survey that when they see a political candidate on Spanish-language media, it “makes me feel they want to earn my vote.”
Texas 15th Court of Appeals race: Who is running and what to know
Three seats on Texas’ 15th Court of Appeals are on the ballot in November. The court hears challenges to state laws and other consequential civil cases. Here’s what to know about the candidates.
Trump to visit San Antonio next week for rally with Paxton, De La Cruz
The campaign trip will be Trump’s third to Texas in a month, underscoring the state’s importance in the fight for control of both chambers of Congress.
Texas DPS’ voter registration problems were flagged months before notice went out to local election officials
County elections administrators have received at least 500,000 applications that need to be processed before Monday’s registration deadline.
Texas seniors are getting a huge property tax break. Everyone else is picking up the tab.
State lawmakers passed generous homestead exemptions that have allowed some 60% of Texas homeowners age 65 and up to pay $0 in school property taxes.
Texas governor 2026: Who is running and what to know
The governor is Texas’ chief executive, with a hand in everything from enforcing laws to setting budget priorities and responding to crises. Here’s a look at where GOP candidate Gov. Greg Abbott and Democratic candidate Gina Hinojosa stand.
ICE officer shoots, injures man in Austin, officials say
The shooting in Austin, which injured Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, came more than two months after an ICE officer fatally shot a man in Houston.
Federal judge pauses Texas Republicans’ bid to close primaries
U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk said in his ruling that he expects Republicans to succeed in restricting primaries to voters registered with the party during the next legislative session.
Feds reimburse Texas for $7.5 billion in border spending, ending delay
The grant program was created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which became law in July 2025.
T-Squared: Erin Thornton establishes the John Thornton Founding Fund
Her $1 million gift — including a $500k match — honors Tribune Founder John Thornton's vision, and asks the next generation to see themselves as founders too.
Texas land commissioner 2026: Who is running and what you need to know
The General Land Office oversees investments that earn billions of dollars for public education, manages state lands, operates the Alamo and administers disaster recovery funds and benefits to Texas veterans. Here’s a look at who’s running in the 2026 race and where they stand.
Texas Supreme Court rules baby delivered by surrogate can leave Texas
The decision clears the way for the 1-month-old’s biological parents to relocate him from Dallas to Los Angeles, where the couple lives, to seek treatment there. Their surrogate wants him in Texas.
Top Texas Republicans knew Bo French’s history of racist comments. They supported him anyway.
The Railroad Commission candidate is under fire from fellow Republicans for a post that said a picture of college students celebrating a football victory shows “how many Americans have been displaced by foreigners.”
$12 billion in Medicaid funds restored to Texas hospitals, ending impasse with the feds
The announcement ends a nearly year-long dispute with the Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services over the funding to Texas hospitals, which were slated to lose $27 million a day.
John Cornyn says he won’t vote for Bo French as backlash to racist post rises
The outgoing U.S. senator called the Texas Railroad Commission candidate “an embarrassment to the Republican Party.”
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick calls on ERCOT to reverse 30% pay raise for board members
Patrick has also rebuked ERCOT’s board for approving and then backtracking on a contract that would allow ERCOT’s CEO to earn $6.4 million in 2027.
Minnesota drops extradition lawsuit against Abbott after ICE officer’s arrest
Minnesota prosecutors accused Christian Castro of injuring a Venezuelan man and lying about what led to the shooting. He also faces federal charges.
More young people are getting involved with South Texas civil rights group amid Trump’s immigration crackdown
For La Union del Pueblo Entero’s biennial convention, members under 45 years old made up the largest share of participants.
One group has stayed mostly mum on Bo French’s racist post — Texas’ oil and gas industry
One of the state’s largest oil and gas industry groups condemned French’s comments about South Asian students. They have not pulled their endorsement.
Texas freezes installation of Flock cameras along state roads
Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the state Department of Transportation to stop issuing permits for automated license plate readers.
UT-Austin cutting majors centering Latino, Black, women and gender studies, email shows
The University of Texas at Austin rejected a department’s plan to keep the majors, a decision that came without public knowledge, an interim department chair told faculty.
Texas Railroad Commission 2026: What it does and who’s running in the race
The commission doesn't have anything to do with railroads. It regulates Texas’ oil and gas industry. Here’s where 2026 candidates Bo French, Jon Rosenthal and Arthur DiBianca stand.
What to know about possible border barriers in Big Bend
The Trump administration has said the remote West Texas region needs measures to stop illegal immigration. But a bipartisan group of elected officials is pushing to halt that plan, especially in the national park.
Here’s how to cast a ballot in Texas’ midterm election on Nov. 3
Voters will weigh in on dozens of races, including U.S. senator, governor and many other offices.
All recent polls have Talarico ahead of Paxton in the U.S. Senate race
We're tracking all major polls in the U.S. Senate race to give Texans a fuller picture of where this race is headed. Paxton has been consistently trailing in the polls, but the margins are tight.
Which families are using ESAs? Here’s what we know about Texas’ first school vouchers
More than 111,000 families are participating in the voucher program in its first year. About 17% of voucher recipients attended public schools during the 2024-25 school year.
Tracking the money raised and spent in the U.S. Senate race between James Talarico and Ken Paxton
See the latest fundraising totals, where the money is coming from and how super PACs are spending in what’s poised to be Texas’ most expensive Senate race.
Texas officials are cracking down on “illegal birth tourism.” Here’s what that means.
Texas officials have sued a Houston area postpartum center as well as investigated Rio Grande Valley hospitals over allegations of soliciting foreigners to have babies on U.S. soil.
What to know about Austin ICE shooting and migrant deaths in Texas
Most migrant deaths in Texas have occurred while they were detained since President Donald Trump began his immigration crackdown. Several were from natural causes.
Where is screwworm in Texas? Track cases here.
The New World screwworm poses a multibillion-dollar threat to the state’s cattle industry. We’re keeping track of where these cases are reported.
Court orders Galveston ISD to display Ten Commandments posters in classrooms
A Galveston official said it would follow the judge’s order. The district, along with two others, was sued by the state in 2025 for alleged noncompliance of the new state law requiring the display.
Texas Tribune voting guides: Who is on the ballot?
View and easily share in-depth voter guides by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization.