Karl Rove says John Cornyn, not Paxton, could beat Talarico Karl Rove speaks at the 2026 Texas Tribune Festival, focusing on the comments made by Bo French and the U.S. Senate race. The Texas Tribune · 19h ago
Corpus Christi Could Owe Texas $235M for Failed Desalination Plant City leaders hope to revive the twice-rejected project to avoid returning money loaned by the state. Texas Observer · Sep 25
Texas Wants Free Speech on Campus—With Exceptions Charlie Kirk’s death put campus censorship back in the spotlight. In Texas, FIRE found plenty of it—much of it was from the right. Reason · Sep 24
Dems in Texas are truly competitive Democrat James Talarico is consistently leading in the polls over Ken Paxton, which is unheard of in recent decades Salon · Sep 18
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.” The Texas Tribune · Sep 18
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. The Texas Tribune · Sep 17
“Uncharted territory”: Two months from Election Day, Democrats in Texas are truly competitive Democrat James Talarico is consistently leading in the polls over Ken Paxton, which is unheard of in recent decades. National forecasters are calling Texas a tie, or else giving the advantage to the Democrat. The Texas Tribune · Sep 17
Karl Rove said he’ll break 30 years of only supporting Republicans to vote against “bigot” Bo French Rove, a former adviser to President George W. Bush and longtime Texas GOP political consultant, made the comments at a private lunch in Austin, according to attendees. The Texas Tribune · Sep 14
Not All Texas Republicans Are Condemning Bo French While many top Texas GOP leaders rushed to denounce the Railroad Commissioner nominee's latest racist screed, another assortment of Lone Star conservatives has stood behind him. Texas Observer · Sep 14
Texas universities limit their brands in political ads. Dan Patrick used them anyway. It is not clear if Patrick’s campaign sought permission from three Texas universities to use their trademarks in a college football-inspired ad that appears to be AI-generated. The Texas Tribune · Sep 14
Several Texas Republicans condemn Bo French’s racist posts calling Asian students at UT a “problem” French, the Republican nominee for a statewide position regulating Texas’ oil and gas industry, posted a photo of University of Texas students, while decrying “foreigners” displacing Americans. The Texas Tribune · Sep 13
After public pressure, Texas OKs more 765 lines, directing companies to work with landowners The Public Utility Commission voted to greenlight some proposals to build first-of-their-kind transmission lines after approving two massive lines last month. The Texas Tribune · Sep 11
At Dallas convention, Texas Republicans claim credit for tax cuts, blame Democrats for high prices With high costs top of mind, GOP candidates in competitive races tested a tightrope act: Trump’s policies are helping, but Biden is still the culprit for your gas and grocery bills. The Texas Tribune · Sep 11
GOP convention closes with Trump, Vance talking Senate, Texas delegation blasting Dems National Republicans branded their midterm convention as “Trumpapalooza,” with a clear goal of energizing GOP voters — and stocking their campaign coffers — during a difficult midterm environment. The Texas Tribune · Sep 8
The Texas Tribune · Sep 8 GOP to open first-ever midterm convention in Dallas as Texas’ U.S. Senate race hangs in the balance The two-day gathering, informally dubbed “Trumpapalooza,” will put Texas at the center of the political world as it hits the homestretch of its most competitive election cycle in years.
The Texas Tribune · Sep 4 School librarians hesitant to discuss books, order more amid Texas battles to restrict titles, they say Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s latest push to restrict what students can access adds to Texas school librarians’ angst, the educators said.
We Got This Covered · Aug 30 ‘We’re coming for the books’: Texas Lieutenant Governor threatens school ratings after libraries don’t remove ‘lewd’ books like ‘Les Misérables’ “The apathy is the most terrifying.”
The Texas Tribune · Aug 26 Ted Cruz says on podcast it’s “no secret that I want to be president” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also speculated during their conversation that Gov. Greg Abbott also aspires for the White House.
Reason · Aug 26 Texas Moves To Protect Kids—and Women—From 'Demonic' Sex Education Book The book is part of a wider spate of "dirty" and "vulgar" books that authorities want yanked, including an educational book that mentions animal penis sizes and classic literature by authors like Tennessee Williams and Maya Angelou.
Texas Observer · Aug 25 Come and Take Them, Dan Patrick An Abilene public school librarian has a message for the lieutenant governor and his book-banning crusade.
The Texas Tribune · Aug 24 Industry warns of blackouts, economic woes if Texas overreacts to data center, transmission line anger Energy regulators and industry experts warn that the state’s delays to major projects amid backlash from residents could create rolling blackouts and strangle growth of other industries that need power.
The Texas Tribune · Aug 21 Cornered by Big Bend backlash, Texas Republicans tread carefully around Trump Most of the state’s GOP leaders have hedged on the White House's plans for the region, welcoming a construction pause without breaking from a president they're loath to cross.
The Texas Tribune · Aug 19 Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick proposes penalties for schools that keep “vulgar” books on library shelves “We’re coming for the books,” the lieutenant governor said in announcing plans to lower the performance rating of Texas schools that violate a recent law targeting obscene titles in school libraries.
Salon · Aug 14 How Paxton, Talarico differ on God Campaigning for the U.S. Senate, Paxton says he was “delivered by God” to protect Texas from leftists
The Texas Tribune · Aug 13 Paxton, Talarico tap contrary versions of God and Christianity in appeal to Texas voters Campaigning for the U.S. Senate, Paxton says he was “delivered by God” to protect Texas from leftists. Talarico’s focus: “You can’t love God and hate other people.”