Sid Miller declares victory in Texas agriculture commissioner race
Securing a third term with strong support across rural Texas, the Republican pledged to expand medical use of cannabis and funding for rural health care. Full Story
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![Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller onstage on the final day of the Texas Republican Convention in San Antonio on June 16, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Both have deep Texas roots, but Sid Miller and Susan Hays offer stark contrast in fight for ag commissioner
The state’s agriculture commissioner oversees a vast portfolio including farming and ranching, rural health care and the scales you use at grocery store checkout. Full Story
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![Susan Hays campaign website/Juan Figueroa for The Texas Tribune]()
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How the debunked conspiracy film “2000 Mules” became Texas Republican orthodoxy
Watchdog groups fear the film will fuel chaos in the upcoming midterm elections and could be a pretext for more restrictive voting laws in the future. Full Story
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![From left: Attorney General Ken Paxton, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, and Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Comptroller, railroad commissioner, lieutenant governor: What do Texas state officials actually do?
For example, members of the Railroad Commission don’t deal with railroads. Here’s what the many officials elected statewide do with the power voters give them. Full Story
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![A graphic that reads, "Texas Office Glossary" above a collection of voting stickers.]()
Credit: Emily Albracht for the Texas Tribune -
Predicting food shortages, Sid Miller calls on Gov. Greg Abbott to stop new vehicle inspections at the border
Abbott’s new policy has resulted in hourslong delays and protester blockades at border crossings. The state’s agriculture commissioner criticized the measure as an “economy killing action.” Full Story
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![A fruit and vegetable distribution center in Pharr, TX. April 11, 2022.]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
Sid Miller wins Republican primary for Texas agriculture commissioner
The incumbent avoided a runoff. State Rep. James White had tried to unseat Miller with criticisms centered on controversies under Miller’s leadership. Full Story
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![Texas Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller speaks to a crowd gathered in front of the Governor’s Mansion to protest statewide business closures and mask mandates, on Oct. 10, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Trump’s man in Texas, has quietly amassed influence — to the detriment of fellow Republicans
Patrick urged former Gov. Rick Perry to mount a challenge to Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking a third term. He’s taken the already considerable power concentrated in the state’s No. 2 job to another level, forcing opponents from races and tightening his grip on the Senate. Full Story
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Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller’s challengers take aim at his ethics, relationship to indicted political aide
Miller’s top challenger is state Rep. James White, a Hillister rancher, who is running a hard-charging campaign calling out the incumbent for creating a scandal-prone culture at the commission. Full Story
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![Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller speaks at a Trump rally in Conroe on Jan. 29, 2022.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: March primaries in Texas lead to November — some with a stop in May
Early voting starts on Monday, and the primaries are on March 1. But some recent polling foreshadows May runoffs for some offices high on the Texas ballot. Full Story
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![A voter casts their ballot in the gymnasium at St. Edwards University to cast their ballot on Election Day 2020. Nov. 3, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
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
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![People attend a rally where former U.S. President Donald Trump is to speak, in Conroe on Jan. 29, 2022.]()
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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
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![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 -
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
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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
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![Todd M Smith.]()
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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
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![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.]()
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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
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![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
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![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.]()
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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
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![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.]()
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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
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![From left, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Gov. Greg Abbott.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune
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