TEXAS NEWS
Multiple U.S. House members face setbacks in Texas primaries
Read full article: Multiple U.S. House members face setbacks in Texas primariesU.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, was defeated and four other incumbents — Democrats and Republicans — found themselves in close races or runoffs as votes were still being counted early Wednesday.
Incumbents prevail in Texas legislative races amid proxy battles over casinos, tort reform
Read full article: Incumbents prevail in Texas legislative races amid proxy battles over casinos, tort reformThe most expensive state House primaries this cycle were proxy wars over issues including casinos, tort reform and a lingering battle between establishment Republicans and more hardline conservatives.
Nate Sheets defeats three-term incumbent Sid Miller in GOP primary for Texas agriculture commissioner
Read full article: Nate Sheets defeats three-term incumbent Sid Miller in GOP primary for Texas agriculture commissionerSheets’ campaign was boosted by major endorsements from Gov. Greg Abbott, Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham and industry groups like the Texas Farm Bureau.
U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales forced into runoff by Brandon Herrera amid affair scandal
Read full article: U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales forced into runoff by Brandon Herrera amid affair scandalThe Republican primary was upended in the final days by reports that Gonzales had an affair with a former aide who died last year after setting herself on fire. He'll face Herrera in a runoff for the second straight election.
Former state Sen. Don Huffines wins GOP primary for Texas comptroller
Read full article: Former state Sen. Don Huffines wins GOP primary for Texas comptrollerHuffines avoided a runoff in a big-money race against acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock and Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick to be the state’s chief financial officer.
Mayes Middleton, Chip Roy advance to runoff for GOP attorney general nomination
Read full article: Mayes Middleton, Chip Roy advance to runoff for GOP attorney general nominationWith a self-funded ad surge, Middleton overcame Roy’s initial frontrunner status, taking a commanding lead but falling short of the majority needed to win outright.
Steve Toth declares victory in race to unseat U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw
Read full article: Steve Toth declares victory in race to unseat U.S. Rep. Dan CrenshawSteve Toth, one of the most conservative members of the Texas House, framed his challenge of Dan Crenshaw as a referendum on the ideological future of the Republican Party.
Bo French, Jim Wright head to runoff for seat on Texas Railroad Commission
Read full article: Bo French, Jim Wright head to runoff for seat on Texas Railroad CommissionThe Texas Railroad Commission is responsible for regulating the state’s oil and gas industry. The election included a clash over China and diversity rules.
For Texas’ highest courts, two Democratic races decided, one GOP race goes to runoff
Read full article: For Texas’ highest courts, two Democratic races decided, one GOP race goes to runoffMaggie Ellis and Kristen Hawkins win Texas Supreme Court Dem primaries. John Messinger wins his GOP race for Court of Criminal Appeals, while Alison Fox and Thomas Smith head to a runoff.
Supreme Court orders Dallas County to separate votes; Williamson County extends hours
Read full article: Supreme Court orders Dallas County to separate votes; Williamson County extends hoursThe Texas Supreme Court late Tuesday ordered Dallas County to separate any votes cast by voters who were not in line by 7 p.m., temporarily blocking a district court judge’s order for the polls to remain open.
James Talarico defeats Jasmine Crockett in blockbuster Democratic primary for U.S. Senate
Read full article: James Talarico defeats Jasmine Crockett in blockbuster Democratic primary for U.S. SenateThe Austin Democrat’s win comes after a bitter primary that focused on which candidate’s political and electoral strategy would get the party’s first statewide victory in over 30 years.
Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick easily win their Republican primaries
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick easily win their Republican primariesSummary: On the Democratic side, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa captured the nomination to take on Abbott while Rep. Vikki Goodwin is in the lead for the lieutenant governor nomination.
14 measles cases reported at El Paso ICE tent camp as Democrats call for its shuttering
Read full article: 14 measles cases reported at El Paso ICE tent camp as Democrats call for its shutteringThe latest outbreak comes after a spate of COVID-19 and tuberculosis cases were reported at Camp East Montana, which holds more than 3,000 immigrants.
DA won’t refer police who killed Austin shooter to grand jury
Read full article: DA won’t refer police who killed Austin shooter to grand juryTravis County District Attorney José Garza faced intense criticism over a policy that would have sent the officers before a grand jury, before he said his office would not seek charges against “heroes.”
Texas Senate Democratic candidates raise concerns over voting location changes in two counties
Read full article: Texas Senate Democratic candidates raise concerns over voting location changes in two countiesDallas and Williamson counties closed centralized voting centers, which had become a common practice, at the request of local Republicans.
Ted Cruz leads bipartisan bill that would void and prohibit confidentiality clauses in child sex abuse cases
Read full article: Ted Cruz leads bipartisan bill that would void and prohibit confidentiality clauses in child sex abuse casesKnown as Trey’s law, the legislation would make any non-disclosure agreement unenforceable if it prohibits or restricts revealing the sexual abuse of a minor or facts related to that abuse.
Texas primary election results for U.S. Senate, attorney general and more
Read full article: Texas primary election results for U.S. Senate, attorney general and moreFollow The Texas Tribune’s coverage of election results for the 2026 primaries for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, the Texas Legislature and more.
Polls close today in the Texas primaries. Here are five things to watch.
Read full article: Polls close today in the Texas primaries. Here are five things to watch.This Tuesday, Tribune reporters are watching two blockbuster Senate primaries, an open attorney general seat, and more high-stakes, competitive races up and down the Texas ballot.
Trump floods Texas primaries with his endorsements, testing limits of political reach
Read full article: Trump floods Texas primaries with his endorsements, testing limits of political reachWhile he has stayed out of some blockbuster contests, the president has otherwise spread his endorsement generously in Texas. The strategy has helped him form politically beneficial alliances in the past.
Anti-Muslim backlash shadows Austin after downtown shooting
Read full article: Anti-Muslim backlash shadows Austin after downtown shootingAfter a deadly downtown shooting, Texas Muslims report fear and backlash as political rhetoric intensifies and Austin’s first Muslim city council member responds.
Texas House Republicans ask Congress to halt all immigration after Austin shooting
Read full article: Texas House Republicans ask Congress to halt all immigration after Austin shootingMore than 70 GOP House members signed a letter asking Congress to stop legal immigration until “proper vetting protocols” are in place.
Texas law bans state-licensed mental health providers from giving gender-transitioning care to minors, AG Ken Paxton says
Read full article: Texas law bans state-licensed mental health providers from giving gender-transitioning care to minors, AG Ken Paxton saysTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion that says that a 2023 law that bans gender-transitioning medical care to minors also applies to mental health care.
Muslim parent sues Texas over exclusion of Islamic private schools in voucher program
Read full article: Muslim parent sues Texas over exclusion of Islamic private schools in voucher programThe federal lawsuit argues Texas officials are engaging in religious discrimination by preventing Islamic private schools from accessing state voucher money.
Austin downtown shooting: What we know about the gunman, victims and motive
Read full article: Austin downtown shooting: What we know about the gunman, victims and motiveThree people were killed and 13 wounded in a West Sixth Street attack. Police say the shooter fired from an SUV before getting out and continuing on foot.
Business owners sue comptroller after their removal from state minority business program
Read full article: Business owners sue comptroller after their removal from state minority business programWomen- and minority-owned businesses were removed from the Historically Underutilized Business Program in December by acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock, who argued he was ending a DEI program.
Republican meddling roils Senate Democratic primary in final days
Read full article: Republican meddling roils Senate Democratic primary in final daysA super PAC supporting James Talarico is running ads online warning that the GOP is “boosting” Jasmine Crockett. Her spokesperson said Republicans “who underestimate her do so at their own peril.”
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.
Turnover in East Texas politics may jeopardize regional sway at the Legislature
Read full article: Turnover in East Texas politics may jeopardize regional sway at the LegislatureSome advocates for the region worry freshmen lawmakers will start deal-making at a deficit, while other voters see a chance for new blood.
Political fighting pervades Texas politicians’ responses to Austin shooting
Read full article: Political fighting pervades Texas politicians’ responses to Austin shootingDays out from the March primary, Republicans called for changes to immigration law. Democrats repeated their calls for stricter gun laws.
Three dead, including suspect, and 14 injured after shooting at Austin bar
Read full article: Three dead, including suspect, and 14 injured after shooting at Austin barOfficials are investigating the early Sunday morning shooting as a potential act of terrorism, but didn’t provide further details, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Attack on Iran: Texas, San Antonio leaders react after joint US-Israel strike
Read full article: Attack on Iran: Texas, San Antonio leaders react after joint US-Israel strikeIranian state media, citing the Red Crescent, on Saturday evening said at least 201 people had been killed and more than 700 injured.
Texas Democrats prepare to decide party’s future after divisive, epic Senate primary
Read full article: Texas Democrats prepare to decide party’s future after divisive, epic Senate primaryJasmine Crockett and James Talarico face off in the state’s first blockbuster Democratic primary in decades. The race will likely conclude Tuesday, with the outside chance of a runoff.
Texas’ Republican Senate primary is a battle of conservative titans
Read full article: Texas’ Republican Senate primary is a battle of conservative titansU.S. Sen. John Cornyn, Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt are competing to be the Republican nominee come November, with stakes that will be felt across Texas and in Washington.
Redrawn to favor GOP, Texas’ 35th Congressional District attracts competitive primaries in both parties
Read full article: Redrawn to favor GOP, Texas’ 35th Congressional District attracts competitive primaries in both partiesPresident Donald Trump recently endorsed Air Force veteran Carlos De La Cruz for the seat Texas Republicans drew at his request. Democrats also see a chance to win in November.
President Trump endorses Sid Miller and Don Huffines, countering Abbott’s picks
Read full article: President Trump endorses Sid Miller and Don Huffines, countering Abbott’s picksTrump’s last-minute primary endorsements that directly oppose the Texas governor’s selections came hours after he spoke at an event in Corpus Christi on Friday.
Tony Gonzales heads into Election Day with political future imperiled, Democrats eyeing his district
Read full article: Tony Gonzales heads into Election Day with political future imperiled, Democrats eyeing his districtBoth parties are contemplating the notion of Brandon Herrera, a gun-loving YouTuber with a history of provocative comments, as the GOP nominee. Herrera says he can win in November.
Kamala Harris makes last-minute pitch for Jasmine Crockett with robocall
Read full article: Kamala Harris makes last-minute pitch for Jasmine Crockett with robocallThe call gives Crockett a jolt of support from one of her party’s biggest stars in the home stretch of her Senate Democratic primary against state Rep. James Talarico.
‘We’ve got to win the midterms’: President Trump talks energy, primary races in Corpus Christi
Read full article: ‘We’ve got to win the midterms’: President Trump talks energy, primary races in Corpus ChristiPresident Donald Trump arrived Friday in Corpus Christi and offered remarks on energy and important Republican primary races four days before Election Day.
Before scandal, Rep. Tony Gonzales had complicated relationship with his West Texas constituents
Read full article: Before scandal, Rep. Tony Gonzales had complicated relationship with his West Texas constituentsThe moderate Republican’s votes on gun control and marriage equality upset the region’s most conservative voters, but local officials said they’re grateful for the work he did on public safety and health.
Trump administration ends protections for rare dancing prairie bird
Read full article: Trump administration ends protections for rare dancing prairie birdThe crow-sized birds once numbered in the millions. Habitat loss from energy and agriculture development has shrunk their population to about 30,000 across parts of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.