The Austin Democrat said she wants to tackle waste and fraud as a watchdog over the state budget. She will retain her Senate seat if she loses.

The Austin Democrat will face an uphill battle in the GOP-leaning district. McCaul announced earlier this year he would not seek reelection.

A panel of three federal judges will begin considering whether Texas can use a redrawn congressional map that boosts Republicans and has launched a widening redistricting battle ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Critics of the bill say the state’s smallest cities and school districts will be silenced at the Capitol.

There’s political urgency for Republicans to deal with housing affordability, especially as surveys find most Texans say housing costs are a top concern.

Some are questioning whether lawmakers should commit billions more to border security with illegal crossings dwindling and a Trump immigration crackdown.

One Senate Democrat joined Republicans, providing the margin needed to approve Justin Berry to the state law-enforcement board.

The Texas Democrat made fun of the governor during a speech over the weekend in Los Angeles to an LGBTQ rights group.

House Speaker Dade Phelan wrote an op-ed for his hometown newspaper, saying the “fix was in from the start,” while other Republican officials are calling for Phelan’s resignation.

Democrats, however, said their GOP colleagues “caved” to outside pressure in voting to acquit and return Ken Paxton to his job as attorney general.

Housing advocates, builders and real estate experts agree that the state simply isn’t building enough homes to keep up with its booming population and economic growth.

The State Commission on Judicial Conduct had admonished Eckhardt in 2020 for her actions as Travis County judge.

Ten years ago, the state led in requiring meningitis vaccines for students under 22 enrolling in college. Now, in the middle of a pandemic, lawmakers are more skeptical of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Greg Abbott's office, after a rocky confirmation hearing Monday at the Texas Capitol. AdToward the end of the questioning, state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, asked Yancy if he had "any regrets with regard to your public discourse." He is not unknown in Texas politics — he ran for Texas Senate in 2010. AdNext up was Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, who asked Yancy about the anti-Reid tweet. Gutierrez asked Yancy if it was fair to say he "misspoke [or] overreached" with the tweet.

“There’s not a good answer for this, that’s the problem,” Rep. Michelle Beckley, D-Carrollton, told The Texas Tribune last week. “I think they’re doing the best that we can given the situation there,” King said of the House rules. She said the House rules were inadequate and that she would like to see “stronger social distancing” and more plexiglass dividing people on the floor. So it’s very unfortunate.”In the Texas Senate, meanwhile, the rules are more stringent. Through a spokesperson, Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, who authored the Senate rules regarding COVID-19 precautions, said he was not involved in any discussions with the Texas House.

Former Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt at The Texas Tribune Festival in 2018 Thomas Meredith for The Texas TribuneFormer Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt is set to succeed former state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, in the Texas Senate after state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez said Monday he is dropping out of the race. Eckhardt and Rodriguez, both Democrats, were poised to face off in a special election runoff for the seat. "For that reason," he wrote, "I have decided to forego the runoff for Senate and focus my efforts on winning a Democratic majority and promoting an aggressive, progressive agenda in the Texas House." Eckhardt and Rodriguez finished first and second, respectively, in the six-way race on July 14. Greg Abbott had not yet set a date for the runoff.

Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt speaks at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 29, 2018. Thomas Meredith for The Texas TribuneFormer Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt was leading the way Tuesday night in the special election to replace former state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, though it remained unclear whether she would be able to avoid a runoff. Eckhardt, who needs 50% of the vote to win the election outright, was hovering around that figure Tuesday night. Rodriguez touted his 18 years in the Texas House, arguing that his relationships there will serve him well in the Senate. His district includes all of Bastrop County, most of Austin and northern Travis County.

(CNN) The three most-populous states in the US are reporting record increases in new coronavirus cases as concerning trends in the pandemic have emerged across the country. Greg Abbott urged people to stay home due to the surge, with some health officials calling for a stricter stay-at-home order. New cases and hospitalizations are rising at their fastest rate yet, with Texas reporting 5,551 cases on Wednesday, breaking the previous record of 5,489 set the day before, health authorities said. In many cases, officials pointed back to instances including parties and bars as sources of recent clusters. Some states remaining steadyMeanwhile, cases in 10 states are holding at a steady pace.