Texas Republicans trumpet their support for another Trump presidential bid at Conroe rally
The rally in the Houston suburbs put on full display how much of a grip former President Donald Trump still has on Texas Republican leaders. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7d1813fc237cf5d1fdf8c5c02506ea6b/Trump%20Conroe%20Rally%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
-
![People attend a rally where former U.S. President Donald Trump is to speak, in Conroe on Jan. 29, 2022.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Go Nakamura -
Black Texas farmers were finally on track to get federal aid. The state’s agriculture commissioner wants to stop that.
Sid Miller is challenging a debt relief program that the U.S. Department of Agriculture saw as a way to correct historic discrimination. An advocate for Black Texas farmers says the challenge “pushes us back even further.” Full Story
Credit: Meridith Kohut for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: For a few Texas politicians, a bad time for bad news
For three of the state’s most experienced politicians, bad news comes with the territory. But bad news in the critical stages of an election is another, more serious, kind of trouble. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6170a3359fb85a9221e84ea51b3cd75f/Pelosi%20Cuellar%20RJ%20TT%2004.jpg)
![Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-TX, talks with supporters at an event featuring Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi at his campaign headquarters in Laredo on Feb. 22, 2020.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller’s political consultant indicted on charges of theft, bribery in hemp license scheme
Attorneys for Smith said he has not broken any laws. Miller, who is seeking reelection and facing a competitive primary, said Tuesday evening he's "not ready to throw [Smith] under the bus" and believes the indictment was politically motivated. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/32f03cae924a54e9550c130095ce2bb1/Todd%20M%20Smith%20TT.jpg)
![Todd M Smith.]()
Credit: Social Media -
State Rep. James White announces primary challenge to Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller
Miller is running for a third term. Full Story
![Rep. James White, R-Hillister, speaks at the Women's [In]Justice Day rally on the south steps of the Capitol on March 8, 2019.](https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/QS6lPNOLq4rH6nnluM-VwuzAVRU=/850x570/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/73f9792e693faec14bc3e1bdfc12c237/06%20Women%20Prisons%20March%20TT%20MG.jpg)
![Rep. James White, R-Hillister, speaks at the Women's [In]Justice Day rally on the south steps of the Capitol on March 8, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The most influential non-voter in Texas
The most important voter in Texas politics in 2022 doesn't even live in the state, but he's popular with Republican voters. Donald Trump's influence is already changing next year's GOP primary. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/61403b0b08211f8ee56b10df0dee6a0b/Abbott%20Trump%20Press%20REUTERS.jpg)
![President Donald Trump makes remarks as he meets with Gov. Greg Abbott in the Oval Office in Washington, DC, on May 7, 2020. Gov. Greg Abbott's latest order requires Texans living in counties with more than 20 COVID-19 cases to wear a face-covering over the nose and mouth while in a business or other building open to the public, as well as outdoor public spaces.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Doug Mills -
Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller running for reelection, instead of challenging Gov. Greg Abbott
Miller was seen as a potential challenger to Abbott because of his vocal criticism of the governor's restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19 last year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2779b8d69201c78760811e3a3b07071d/Sid%20Miller%202018%20BD%20TT%2003.jpg)
![Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller spoke with Evan Smith on Feb. 16, 2021.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Donald Trump endorses Gov. Greg Abbott for reelection
The endorsement comes as Abbott faces a primary challenge from former state Sen. Don Huffines of Dallas and as other fellow Republicans eye the race. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ce2e3e727febb94d8adb369c7a295958/Abbott%20Trump%20Orange%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott greeted then-President Donald Trump upon arrival at the Orange County Airport Landing Zone to visit areas damaged by Hurricane Laura in Orange on Aug. 29, 2020.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Tom Brenner -
Republican former state Sen. Don Huffines launches primary challenge to Gov. Greg Abbott
Huffines, who has criticized Abbott as being too slow to fully reopen the state, served in the Senate from 2015-19. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c0a2a91896ffdac08af4f42d9e2e2552/Dan%20Huffines%20MKC%20TT%2033.jpg)
![Former State Senator Don Huffines, R-Dallas, during a Texas Public Policy Foundation event on Feb. 8, 2018.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Top political aide to Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller arrested in alleged scheme to take money in exchange for hemp licenses
Todd M. Smith was arrested Thursday and released from Travis County Jail on Friday, according to the Travis County Sheriff's Office. On Sunday, his attorneys said he did nothing wrong and is cooperating with police. Full Story
![Todd M Smith.]()
Credit: Social Media -
Ken Paxton tells The New York Times he doesn't support Greg Abbott for reelection — then tweets that he does
"I don't think he supports me; I don't support him," Paxton told The New York Times in a story published Tuesday. He later criticized the story as "fake news" and insisted he backed Abbott. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dfd97507a583c5d7eb72a6d80764d051/Paxton%20Abbott%20Split%20TT.jpg)
![From left, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Gov. Greg Abbott.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller alleges aid to farmers of color discriminates against white farmers in suit against Biden administration
The conservative Republican and rancher states in the lawsuit filed Monday in Fort Worth federal court that he is suing in his capacity as a private citizen — not on behalf of the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5ad6759778d75f130b45653b57b0d39f/Sid%20Miller%20JF%20TTF.jpg)
![Helena Bottemiller Evich moderates the “Ag in the Modern World” panel with guests Sid Miller, Drew Springer and Tom Vilsack at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 28, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Dan Patrick’s interrogation about a freeze warms speculation about 2022
An unusual appearance by the lieutenant governor at a Senate hearing looked like a tough session for one of Gov. Greg Abbott's appointees — and raised speculation about political tension between the state's top two elected officials. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6a89a16362beff6d2b1298fdf50216e3/Dan%20Patrick%20MG%20TT%2016.jpg)
![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at the dais on the Senate floor on May 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: After the blackouts, a whiff of the 2022 elections in Texas
A proposed remodeling of the state’s electricity grid from Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller might be more than it seems. It reads like a campaign’s position paper. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b07990e6e3c96c30a9e1acd4c69fdf91/Sid%20Miller%20BD%20TT.jpg)
![Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller addressed delegates at the Texas Republican Convention. June 16, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
No, frozen wind turbines aren’t the main culprit for Texas’ power outages
Lost wind power was expected to be a fraction of winter generation. All sources — from natural gas, to nuclear, to coal, to solar — have struggled to generate power during the storm that has left millions of Texans in the dark. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e4d91970366e2d7e269bb59a8c7742c7/Wind%20Energy%20Power%20Texas%20MKC%20TT%2001.jpg)
![A wind farm in Harrold. March 19, 2018.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says he has tested positive for coronavirus
Miller said he will quarantine at his ranch. He's the second Texas statewide elected official to confirm testing positive for the virus. Full Story
![Helena Bottemiller Evich moderates the “Ag in the Modern World” panel with guests Sid Miller, Drew Springer and Tom Vilsack at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 28, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa for The Texas Tribune -
State GOP Chair Allen West, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller join anti-Greg Abbott protest outside Governor's Mansion
The protest of Gov. Greg Abbott's coronavirus policies came on the weekend before early voting begins in the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b72c0f2646d71d5ec5ffa799d54ab1a4/King%20Abbott%20Protest%20JV%20TT%2006.jpg)
![Texas Republican Party Chairman Allen West speaks to a crowd gathered at the Governor’s Mansion on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020 to protest business closures and mask mandates which they call "King Abbott’s Royal Decrees."]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Republicans sue to stop Gov. Greg Abbott's extension of early voting period during the pandemic
State party Chair Allen West, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and members of the Texas Legislature were among those who filed the suit against Abbott. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/aace76ca4c0f8f3a975d6e3ef196d58c/Early%20Voting%20HTX%20MS%20TT.jpg)
![An early voting location in Houston on Feb. 21, 2018.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
At least 187 Texans received mystery seeds mailed from China. State officials warn they shouldn't be planted.
Officials are unsure of the motive behind the unsolicited packets but suspect that they are part of an online scam. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ffb853b007ba23e095ffc4822fe30f8b/Mystery%20Seeds%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
![Mystery seeds with labeling from China.]()
Credit: Washington State Department of Agriculture via REUTERS -
Analysis: Events — and their own words — put Texas Republicans in an election year bind
Texas Democrats convened last week. But it was the state's Republicans giving them the most hope about the coming November elections. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/08c9e39945eed3ca25001c060518f211/Texas%20Capitol%20ATX%20TT.jpg)
![The Texas Capitol Building.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a50a84ff791716f9efc10c95e204b37e/Texas%20Black%20Farmers%20MK%20TT%2003)