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
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![Todd 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
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![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
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![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
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![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
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![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
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![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
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![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
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![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
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![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
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![The Texas Capitol Building.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
In false Facebook posts, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller accused George Soros of paying protesters to “destroy” the country
The posts are similar in tone to racist posts by local GOP officials that drew calls for resignation from leaders of their party. Full Story
![Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller addressed delegates at the Texas Republican Convention. June 16, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Kim Olson's departure from the Air Force hasn't been a political liability. Will that change in 2020?
Olson retired from the Air Force amid a contracting scandal. Some Democrats worry the circumstances will make her vulnerable as she runs for a battleground U.S. House seat. Full Story
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![Kim Olson, the Democratic candidate for agriculture commissioner, speaks with Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith at the Tribune's Studio 919 on Nov. 1, 2018.]()
Credit: John Jordan/The Texas Tribune -
Sid Miller faced online backlash a month ago for posting the phrase 'get a rope' on Facebook. This weekend, Gov. Abbott said it on Twitter.
Abbott responded to criticism about his language by pointing to a decade's old Pace salsa ad. He told a critic to "lighten up." Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott delivers a speech at the swearing-in ceremony of Justice Brett Busby on March 20, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A changing political climate in Fort Bend County and a politically fatal blunder
When state Rep. Rick Miller said two of his opponents were running because they're Asian, the real news was in the result, not in the gaffe. Top Texas Republicans reacted, publicly and quickly. Full Story
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![Rep. Rick Miller R-Sugar Land during a February 21, 2017 House Appropriations committee hearing]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Sid Miller's Facebook rhetoric, Rodney Reed finds bipartisan allies
On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Ross, Emma and Jolie about Ag Commissioner Sid Miller’s latest Facebook rhetoric, the escalating pressure on the governor in the Rodney Reed death penalty case and a court of criminal appeals race that has everything going for it but an actual election. Full Story
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![Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Sept. 28, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa for The Texas Tribune -
Sid Miller heard a Confederate group was excluded from a Veteran's Day parade. His Facebook response? "Get a rope."
Miller, Texas' Agriculture Commissioner, has a history of making inflammatory, offensive and false posts on social media. Full Story
![Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller addressed delegates at the Texas Republican Convention. June 16, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Watch a Texas Tribune Festival conversation about the state of agriculture
This panel features state officials and a former U.S. agriculture secretary talking about the state of agriculture in 2020 and beyond. Full Story
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![House Committee on Agriculture visits farms in San Angelo, Texas, before a Listening Session at Angelo State University on July 31, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price -
Texas Ethics Commission fines Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller $500 over 2015 rodeo trip
The fine comes nearly four years after Miller, a champion calf roper, used taxpayer money for a trip to the National Dixie Rodeo in Jackson, Mississippi. Full Story
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![Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller speaks at the Republican Party of Texas convention on Saturday, June 16, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune