All articles tagged with #texas politics
Rep. Jasmine Crockett says she will campaign downballot and will not endorse state Rep. James Talarico, who is challenging Attorney General Ken Paxton; Crockett’s stance follows controversy from their March primary on race and gender, and her FIRE PAC has endorsed five candidates so far with more to come to bolster Democrats in Texas.
Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico filed a motion to unseal two depositions in which Attorney General Ken Paxton testified for Unity Resources, arguing the sworn statements raise substantial ethical questions and should be public before voters. The depositions from 2019 and 2022 involve claims Paxton violated attorney-client privilege and sought revenge against managers who testified against him in a securities case, with broader backdrop including a DOJ corruption probe, impeachment and acquittal. The move underscores how Paxton’s past legal and personal controversies remain central to the race.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott released a Spotify playlist of Texas-themed songs in a bid to mirror Obama’s popular lists, but the compilation is riddled with typos—most notably spelling Ella Langley as Ella Langely, Moe Bandy as Moe Brandy, and Khruangbin as Krugbhagin—turning a light PR gesture into a tongue-in-cheek AI-style miscue. The lineup includes Cody Johnson, Marty Robbins, Alan Jackson, George Strait and others, highlighting a playful, if flawed, effort to celebrate Texas music under a political spotlight.
A bipartisan group of 43 Texas lawmakers sent a letter to Gov. Abbott urging him to press the federal government to halt border barrier construction in Big Bend National Park, citing concerns about effectiveness, cost, and local landscapes. CBP says the work involves surveillance and infrastructure rather than a 30-foot wall, while a Republican lawmaker warns the GOP could face electoral backlash for not publicly opposing the project. Protests near Big Bend and cautious comments from DHS add to the controversy over border security plans in the region.
A TPOR poll of 1,048 likely Texas voters (MOE ±3.4) from July 15–17 shows Democrat James Talarico leading Republican Ken Paxton 45% to 40% in the race to replace Sen. John Cornyn, a 5-point edge and a shift since May. 14% are undecided. Talarico leads among moderates, independents, and Black/Latino voters, while Paxton leads white voters. The results follow a June period with mixed polls and scrutiny over Paxton’s residency allegations.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said on Facebook that she has infectious mononucleosis and will be less visible in the coming weeks as she recovers. She wore a K95 mask at a commissioners meeting, and her team will represent her as needed. The illness, caused by EBV, is contagious, and recovery typically takes four to six weeks, per the CDC.
Ted Cruz told Gov. Greg Abbott on Sean Hannity’s show that Democratic state Rep. James Talarico has a real chance to flip Texas’ U.S. Senate seat from Ken Paxton, with polling suggesting a tight 1–2 point race and Cruz warning that voters who aren’t paying attention could be swayed by Talarico’s charm; Abbott echoed optimism that Talarico is beatable, highlighting the broader GOP struggle to keep Texas red amid a shifting national environment.
Democratic voices, led by James Talarico, are crafting a forward-looking political language. In his Corpus Christi nomination speech for U.S. Senate, he anchors his vision in Barbara Jordan’s legacy and Texas history, arguing Texans are “big” enough for unity across backgrounds. He rails against billionaire megadonors who he says are shrinking the state and democracy, and urges a nonpartisan push to make Texas big again by investing in schools, the economy, and rights. The speech links Texas pride with a broader national, inclusive future.
Mark Hill won the Frisco mayor runoff on June 13, 2026, taking about 58% of the vote (19,632) to Rod Vilhauer’s 41.88% (14,146), with numbers unofficial until canvassed. The city will canvass the results on June 23, and Hill will become Frisco’s mayor, succeeding Jeff Cheney—the first new Frisco mayor since 2017.
At the Texas Republican Convention in Houston, Vice Chair D’rinda Randall defeated incumbent Chair Abraham George to become the party’s new leader, signaling a leadership shift amid concerns about finances and turnout as the party heads into the fall midterms.
Jasmine Crockett’s FIRE PAC-backed Colin Allred won the Texas 32nd District Democratic primary over Talarico-backed Julie Johnson, reviving their high-profile Senate primary rivalry and signaling Crockett’s influence in a broader Texas Democratic strategy as Black voters loom large for future statewide contests.
Colin Allred wins the Democratic primary for Texas’ 33rd District to reclaim his former seat in the U.S. House after briefly pursuing Senate runs; he defeats incumbent Rep. Julie Johnson, who had replaced him in Washington.
Texas Democratic congressional hopeful Maureen Galindo faced wide condemnation after social media posts in which she vowed to turn Karnes ICE Detention Center into a “prison for American Zionists” and stated anti‑Zionist positions, prompting antisemitism accusations from both parties. Galindo denies antisemitism, saying she opposes “Zionist Jews.” The controversy has drawn scrutiny over potential conservative funding via Lead Left PAC and elicited reactions from Democratic leaders and GOP rivals as the TX‑35 primary proceeds.
Barack Obama surprised diners at an Austin Taco Joint with Democratic Senate hopeful James Talarico and gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa, mingling with patrons, discussing issues from data centers to voting, and posing for photos before leaving; he paid in cash and did not publicly endorse the candidates, but the appearance signals national support for Texas Democrats in a high-stakes race, with Obama even signing a children’s book for Talarico’s niece Jane.
Texas Republicans are divided over rapid AI data-center growth led by OpenAI’s Stargate, with Abbott and Trump backing Texas as a data-center hub while rural voters worry about water use and grid strain; lawmakers debate county-level regulation versus statewide guidelines as industry lobbying and political donations surge ahead of the next session and midterm elections.