The 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.
Joshua Fechter
Joshua Fechter is the Dallas-based urban affairs reporter for The Texas Tribune, covering policy — including housing affordability, housing and property taxes, evictions, policing and transportation — and politics in Texas' major metropolitan areas. Before joining the Tribune in August 2021, Joshua covered City Hall for the San Antonio Express-News. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin.
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Texas’ housing crisis
Dallas’ affordable housing supply is evaporating, report finds
High-cost housing in Texas’ third-largest city reflects challenges across the state, which has faced an affordability crisis amid extraordinary growth.
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Criminal Justice
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accuses Dallas of spending too little on police
In a new lawsuit, Paxton accused city officials of under-calculating how much money should go to law enforcement under a voter-backed provision.
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Demographics
Yes, it’s more expensive to live in Texas, census finds
Incomes and education attainment among Texans have increased, while poverty has declined.
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Demographics
Census: Texas led U.S. in population growth in 2025, but immigration slowed
Texas’ population grew at a slower pace in 2025 than in previous years, according to new federal data. Nearly 32 million people now live in the state.
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State Government
Texas officials say the power grid will hold through winter storm, but local outages are likely
State and local officials say they’re better prepared than they were five years ago when Winter Storm Uri blanketed the state, killing hundreds and leaving scores without power and water.
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Transportation
North Texas’ largest public transit system may come undone in 2026
The push by four Dallas-area suburbs to exit the multi-city partnership comes as state transportation officials have said the state needs more public transit, not less.
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2026 Texas Elections
Gov. Greg Abbott wants a tighter lid on home values. Tax policy experts warn that’s a bad idea.
Conservative and liberal tax policy experts said Abbott’s proposal would lead to higher housing costs and tax benefits flowing disproportionately to wealthy homeowners.
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2026 Texas Elections
Why Gov. Greg Abbott wants to let taxpayers decide whether cities can raise — or cut — taxes
Texas cities and counties already face limits on how much revenue they can generate. Local leaders have warned that further restrictions would mean fewer services like parks and libraries.
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Politics
Texas AG probe of nearly 1,000 cities’ finances to seek violations of new property tax law
While Ken Paxton did not allege any wrongdoing, his move is intended to enforce a new law that prevents cities from raising property taxes if they fail to follow transparency requirements.