Christian Menefee, Alex Mealer lead Houston-area congressional runoffs, new poll finds
Read full article: Christian Menefee, Alex Mealer lead Houston-area congressional runoffs, new poll findsThe two contests are among the most closely watched U.S. House runoffs in Texas. Menefee, newly elected to Congress, faces longtime Democratic Rep. Al Green in a matchup spawned by GOP redistricting.
GOP hardliners aren’t buying into U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar’s bipartisan immigration bill
Read full article: GOP hardliners aren’t buying into U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar’s bipartisan immigration billThe latest version of the El Paso Democrat’s Dignity Act includes a key change to make it more palatable to Republicans. Some have gotten on board, but others are firmly opposed.
Texas’ 35th Congressional District primary runoffs: Who is running and what to know
Read full article: Texas’ 35th Congressional District primary runoffs: Who is running and what to knowTwo Democrats and two Republicans advanced to May runoffs for the open San Antonio-area seat, which was drawn to favor the GOP yet is considered winnable for Democrats in a wave year.
Texas’ 33rd Congressional District Democratic runoff: Who is running and what to know
Read full article: Texas’ 33rd Congressional District Democratic runoff: Who is running and what to knowThe primary between predecessor and successor arose from a combination of redistricting and Allred’s move to exit the U.S. Senate race to make way for Rep. Jasmine Crockett.
Texas’ 18th Congressional District Democratic runoff: Who is running and what to know
Read full article: Texas’ 18th Congressional District Democratic runoff: Who is running and what to knowThe Democratic runoff for the Houston-based seat — a longtime bastion of Black political power — pits the Texas delegation’s newest member, Christian Menefee, against one of its longest-tenured, Al Green.
Dan Patrick eyes closing “gambling loophole” for prediction markets. The feds stand in Texas’ way.
Read full article: Dan Patrick eyes closing “gambling loophole” for prediction markets. The feds stand in Texas’ way.A Trump administration agency has sued other states that sought to regulate Kalshi, Polymarket and other prediction operations under their gambling laws.
Texas inmate James Broadnax faces Thursday execution amid final appeal arguing he wasn’t the shooter
Read full article: Texas inmate James Broadnax faces Thursday execution amid final appeal arguing he wasn’t the shooterThe death row inmate has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to halt his execution, pointing to a codefendant’s confession in the shooting death of two people.
Texas wants to ban in-home ketamine and add more physician oversight during treatment
Read full article: Texas wants to ban in-home ketamine and add more physician oversight during treatmentKetamine industry leaders say Texas Medical Board’s proposal to require physician supervision or limit treatments to two people at a time will force clinics to close.
Texas agency finds Camp Mystic emergency plan insufficient
Read full article: Texas agency finds Camp Mystic emergency plan insufficientThe camp has 45 days to revise its plan as it aims to reopen for campers this summer. Other youth camps also had deficiencies to correct in their plans, according to the agency that must review them.
Texas AG runoff: Democrats Jaworski and Johnson on Trump battles, legal strategy, and office priorities
Read full article: Texas AG runoff: Democrats Jaworski and Johnson on Trump battles, legal strategy, and office prioritiesIn this updated Q&A, we asked Joe Jaworski and Nathan Johnson where they stand on the agency’s key issues as they seek a chance to reclaim the office that has become a GOP legal powerhouse.
Low-producing oil wells linger for years, causing headaches for Texas landowners
Read full article: Low-producing oil wells linger for years, causing headaches for Texas landownersJackie Chesnutt, who lives outside San Angelo, is tired of pollution from nearly inactive wells. Experts say Texas rules allow companies to defer plugging wells for far too long.
Trump taps Texas’ top public health official as CDC chief medical officer
Read full article: Trump taps Texas’ top public health official as CDC chief medical officerJennifer Shuford, an infectious disease physician who oversaw the country’s largest measles outbreak in 30 years, is among a slate of CDC nominations with no apparent ties to the anti-vaccine movement.
Texas’ highest criminal court overturns sentence of inmate who has been on death row for 48 years
Read full article: Texas’ highest criminal court overturns sentence of inmate who has been on death row for 48 yearsClarence Curtis Jordan’s attorney said the intellectually disabled man didn’t have a lawyer to work on his behalf for nearly four decades.
Texas 2026 election: Here’s who’s on your ballot in the May 26 primary runoff
Read full article: Texas 2026 election: Here’s who’s on your ballot in the May 26 primary runoffThe Republican and Democratic primary runoffs are May 26. See the full list of statewide candidates, as well as local races that will be on your ballot.
How a 27-year-old upstart unseated longtime Texas House Democrat Chris Turner
Read full article: How a 27-year-old upstart unseated longtime Texas House Democrat Chris TurnerJunior Ezeonu, a Grand Prairie City Council member, defeated Turner in the Democratic primary, becoming the representative-elect for the southeast Tarrant County House district.
Texas suburbs lead U.S. for population growth as international migration slows, census finds
Read full article: Texas suburbs lead U.S. for population growth as international migration slows, census findsWaller County, near Houston, was the second fastest growing county in the U.S. Another three Texas counties were among the 10 fastest growing in U.S.
Mayes Middleton nabs former opponent Aaron Reitz’s endorsement in GOP attorney general runoff
Read full article: Mayes Middleton nabs former opponent Aaron Reitz’s endorsement in GOP attorney general runoffReitz, a former aide to Texas AG Ken Paxton, had sharply criticized both Middleton and Chip Roy on the campaign trail.
Corpus Christi is scrambling to ward off a water crisis. Here’s a guide to its water projects.
Read full article: Corpus Christi is scrambling to ward off a water crisis. Here’s a guide to its water projects.From drilling groundwater wells to recycling wastewater, Corpus Christi has launched a host of projects as it races against the clock to find more water.
Here’s how to vote in Texas’ May 26 primary runoff elections
Read full article: Here’s how to vote in Texas’ May 26 primary runoff electionsVoters will decide over 30 races, including a nationally watched battle between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton. The registration deadline is April 27, and early voting is May 18–22.
Tuesday is the deadline for candidates to get off the Texas Senate GOP runoff ballot
Read full article: Tuesday is the deadline for candidates to get off the Texas Senate GOP runoff ballotThe day after the March 3 primary, President Donald Trump pledged to endorse either John Cornyn or Ken Paxton “soon,” and call on the other to drop out. He has yet to make an endorsement.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett confirms security team member killed by Dallas police in standoff
Read full article: Rep. Jasmine Crockett confirms security team member killed by Dallas police in standoffDiamon Mazairre Robinson impersonated a federal agent and had two active felony warrants for years, officials say, but was hired by Crockett and police agencies under an alias.
March primary ensures record turnover for Texas congressional delegation
Read full article: March primary ensures record turnover for Texas congressional delegationTwelve House incumbents from Texas are set to leave Congress after this year, with the possibility of additional turnover in the May runoffs and November general election.
Pro-gambling interests fail to gain ground in Texas primaries as legislative roadblocks remain
Read full article: Pro-gambling interests fail to gain ground in Texas primaries as legislative roadblocks remainDespite slow progress, casino empire Las Vegas Sands promised to continue investing in candidates who support bringing destination resort casinos to Texas.
School districts can set aside prayer time under a new Texas law. Few have done so.
Read full article: School districts can set aside prayer time under a new Texas law. Few have done so.School boards had until March 1 to decide whether to establish a daily period for students and staff to pray or read religious texts.
Texas refineries see opportunity in Venezuelan oil amid Mexico export declines
Read full article: Texas refineries see opportunity in Venezuelan oil amid Mexico export declinesAs President Donald Trump seeks to boost U.S. investment in Venezuela’s oil fields, Mexico is poised to export less heavy crude to Gulf refineries, creating an opening for Venezuelan oil.
How to spot AI-generated images and online content during the 2026 primary elections
Read full article: How to spot AI-generated images and online content during the 2026 primary electionsIdentifying falsified or digitally enhanced videos, photos and ads takes attention and awareness, but helpful tools are out there.
In Texas attorney general race, Mayes Middleton runs on conservative, not courtroom, record
Read full article: In Texas attorney general race, Mayes Middleton runs on conservative, not courtroom, recordMiddleton has the money and the endorsements. But his primary opponents say he lacks key legal experience to be Texas’ top lawyer.
“Rule follower”: In GOP primary, Joan Huffman promises to bring law and order to the attorney general’s office
Read full article: “Rule follower”: In GOP primary, Joan Huffman promises to bring law and order to the attorney general’s officeHuffman is running on her criminal prosecution experience and allegiance to the rule of law, cutting a contrast with her opponents who are emphasizing a continuation of Paxton’s culture war battles.
Texas labor unions are increasingly divided on which candidate to endorse for governor
Read full article: Texas labor unions are increasingly divided on which candidate to endorse for governorGov. Greg Abbott was endorsed by Texas Teamsters, a labor union that has historically supported Democrats. Other large unions still back his Democratic opponent.
We’ve leveled up our voter guides to help Texans make informed decisions
Read full article: We’ve leveled up our voter guides to help Texans make informed decisionsOur newsroom is trying new things to help Texans vote with confidence this spring. We want to demystify the process, the candidates and the offices of this year’s Texas primaries.
“A disaster waiting to happen”: How the fracking boom put an oil field in the Guadalupe River floodplain
Read full article: “A disaster waiting to happen”: How the fracking boom put an oil field in the Guadalupe River floodplainLack of a state floodplain policy enabled oil companies to build in parts of Texas hit by an epic inundation less than 30 years ago.
Family of still-missing camper sues to shut down Camp Mystic
Read full article: Family of still-missing camper sues to shut down Camp MysticThe lawsuit by Catherine and Will Steward, parents of Cecilia “Cile” Steward, argues the family who owns and operates the camp should “never be responsible for children again.”
Texas land commissioner primary: Who is running and what you need to know
Read full article: Texas land commissioner primary: Who is running and what you need to knowThe General Land Office oversees investments that earn billions of dollars for public education, manages state lands, operates the Alamo and distributes benefits to Texas veterans. Here’s a look at who’s running in the 2026 Democratic and Republican primaries and where they stand.
Texas’ long love affair with wrestling could be getting serious
Read full article: Texas’ long love affair with wrestling could be getting seriousThe sport’s been in Texas for nearly a century, but has yet to achieve the recognition other industries have. Its recent successes in the state could change all that.
Texas agriculture commissioner primary: Who is running and what you need to know
Read full article: Texas agriculture commissioner primary: Who is running and what you need to knowAgriculture is the second largest industry in Texas, which is home to more than 230,000 farms. Here’s a look at who’s running in the 2026 Democratic and Republican primaries to oversee the agriculture department and where they stand on the issues.
Federal appeals court rehears challenge against Texas’ immigration law
Read full article: Federal appeals court rehears challenge against Texas’ immigration lawSenate Bill 4 returns to the 5th Circuit with border crossings at record lows, a sharp reversal from the influx that inspired Texas’ law authorizing state police to arrest undocumented immigrants.
James Talarico unveils Spanish-language TV ad, signaling push for Latino support in Texas Senate bid
Read full article: James Talarico unveils Spanish-language TV ad, signaling push for Latino support in Texas Senate bidThe spot, which describes the Austin Democrat’s work on education issues in the Legislature, will air this week in nearly a dozen of the state’s largest media markets.
Paxton investigating Texas schools to ensure posting of Ten Commandments
Read full article: Paxton investigating Texas schools to ensure posting of Ten CommandmentsTexas can enforce the state's law requiring Ten Commandments posters in public schools. Here's what to know about the latest legal challenges.
Statewide battles, Latino voters and down-ballot contests: the biggest Texas political stories to watch in 2026
Read full article: Statewide battles, Latino voters and down-ballot contests: the biggest Texas political stories to watch in 2026The Texas Tribune’s politics team has compiled five of the top stories we're watching this year, when voters will have their first chance to make their opinions known on the events of 2025.
Texas Democratic candidates unite in the Rio Grande Valley to court Latino voters
Read full article: Texas Democratic candidates unite in the Rio Grande Valley to court Latino votersState Rep. James Talarico faces an uphill battle in his U.S. Senate bid while 15th Congressional hopeful Bobby Pulido aims to flip the district, but he must first win his primary.
Texans can use school vouchers for pre-K, but the pool of families who qualify is limited
Read full article: Texans can use school vouchers for pre-K, but the pool of families who qualify is limitedA limited group of families with 3- and 4-year-olds who already qualify for free public pre-K can receive state funds to attend private preschool.
In North Texas, game of musical chairs culminates in primary between Democrats Colin Allred and Julie Johnson
Read full article: In North Texas, game of musical chairs culminates in primary between Democrats Colin Allred and Julie JohnsonThe primary between predecessor and successor arose from a combination of redistricting and the entry of Rep. Jasmine Crockett into the U.S. Senate race, which prompted Allred to drop out.
Arlington upholds suspension of protections for LGBTQ+ people
Read full article: Arlington upholds suspension of protections for LGBTQ+ peopleCity Council voted 5-4 to continue the temporary removal of language in its ordinance, which was initiated in September in an effort to avoid losing federal funding.
How will Texas’ voter-approved $3 billion dementia fund fare in court
Read full article: How will Texas’ voter-approved $3 billion dementia fund fare in courtIn 2023, Texas overcame lawsuits that sought to prevent constitutional amendments from going into effect, but one that voters approved in 2021 is still blocked.
How Texas’ law banning DEI, LGBTQ+ topics in K-12 schools could fare in court
Read full article: How Texas’ law banning DEI, LGBTQ+ topics in K-12 schools could fare in courtCases challenging Florida and federal policies provide a glimpse into the possible outcome for the Texas case. It is scheduled for a court hearing in Houston on Dec. 10.
A West Texas county wants to better prepare for floods. Paying for it will be tricky.
Read full article: A West Texas county wants to better prepare for floods. Paying for it will be tricky.Ector County has boomed since the 1970s, when the drainage system was last updated. Officials hope state and federal funds will help pay for the update despite some grant programs ending under the Trump administration.
Texas education chief met with Turning Point USA to discuss group’s expansion in high schools
Read full article: Texas education chief met with Turning Point USA to discuss group’s expansion in high schoolsThe meeting happened days before Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pledged $1 million to help establish chapters of the conservative student group on every Texas college and high school campus.
Speaker Johnson defends Crenshaw after he was reportedly banned from congressional overseas travel
Read full article: Speaker Johnson defends Crenshaw after he was reportedly banned from congressional overseas travelPunchbowl News reported that the Houston congressman was banned from taxpayer-funded travel for 90 days after toasting a Mexican official who made an inappropriate joke.
Proposed data center project for Waco area would be “paradigm-changer”
Read full article: Proposed data center project for Waco area would be “paradigm-changer”The project is at a scale of industrial development and investment unmatched in McLennan County’s history: acres of computer hardware, substations and a 1.2-gigawatt gas-fired plant capable of powering about 300,000 homes.
A small Texas think tank cultivated COVID dissidents. Now they’re running U.S. health policy.
Read full article: A small Texas think tank cultivated COVID dissidents. Now they’re running U.S. health policy.People with ties to Brownstone Institute have significant authority over access to vaccines and scientific research.
Former Alamo Trust president sues board, land commissioner and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for reinstatement
Read full article: Former Alamo Trust president sues board, land commissioner and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for reinstatementKate Rogers resigned from her position after Patrick criticized a 2023 dissertation in which she asserted the importance of Indigenous people’s history at the Alamo.
Pro-gambling interests struggling to gain foothold in Texas after Senate special election loss
Read full article: Pro-gambling interests struggling to gain foothold in Texas after Senate special election lossJohn Huffman was the best-funded candidate in the Senate District 9 special election thanks to casino interests, but failed to make the runoff. Gambling proponents still have millions more to spend on Texas races.
Billionaire Jeff Yass gives $100 million to University of Austin for free tuition
Read full article: Billionaire Jeff Yass gives $100 million to University of Austin for free tuitionYass, a school voucher supporter and an influential figure in Texas politics, said the only condition for the gift was for the school not to receive government funding.
Democrat Rehmet, Republican Wambsganss appear headed to runoff in special election for North Texas Senate seat
Read full article: Democrat Rehmet, Republican Wambsganss appear headed to runoff in special election for North Texas Senate seatWith the GOP vote fractured between Wambsganss and another Republican, Rehmet narrowly led the three-person contest for the red-leaning district.
Texas cities grapple with order to remove rainbow crosswalks as state deadline approaches
Read full article: Texas cities grapple with order to remove rainbow crosswalks as state deadline approachesAt the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott, state transportation officials told local leaders to remove crosswalk art often used to mark historically LGBTQ+ neighborhoods or risk losing millions in funding.
Explosion of data centers causes planning struggles for Texas power grid
Read full article: Explosion of data centers causes planning struggles for Texas power gridAs companies look to build projects that consume more power than cities, the state’s grid manager is trying to plan how to provide enough electricity to meet the demand.
Texas attorney general sues Tylenol company over autism claims
Read full article: Texas attorney general sues Tylenol company over autism claimsThis lawsuit comes a month after U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. updated guidance discouraging pregnant women from taking acetaminophen, citing it as a possible cause of autism.
They’ve Never Been Arrested. Why Does the FBI List Thousands of Service Members as Potential Criminals?
Read full article: They’ve Never Been Arrested. Why Does the FBI List Thousands of Service Members as Potential Criminals?Denise Rosales has fallen victim to a military justice process called “titling”— that’s left potentially thousands of veterans saddled with false criminal histories.
Dan Patrick calls for resignation of Alamo Trust president over views on how the Alamo’s history should be told
Read full article: Dan Patrick calls for resignation of Alamo Trust president over views on how the Alamo’s history should be toldThe lieutenant governor has insisted that the Alamo’s story remain focused on the 1836 battle over broader narratives addressing Indigenous people and slavery.
This newly drawn Houston district could unearth tensions between Democrats of color
Read full article: This newly drawn Houston district could unearth tensions between Democrats of colorA primary challenge to Rep. Sylvia Garcia underscores Latino Democrats’ fears of being unrepresented in Harris County.
Plan to pump billions of gallons of water from East Texas appears on hold
Read full article: Plan to pump billions of gallons of water from East Texas appears on holdAn East Texas farm sued the local groundwater conservation district that has authority over the aquifer that would be pumped. As part of a settlement, the district has voided its original permits.