The criminal court decides death penalty case appeals and rules on petitions for those who believe they’ve been wrongfully detained. Alison Fox and Thomas Smith are in the runoff for Place 3’s Republican nominee.
2026 Texas Elections
The Texas Tribune is your 2026 elections headquarters. Check back here for everything you need to know — from what’s on the ballot to post-election analysis. Find the latest coverage and resources and be sure to join us in person or online for our election-related events.
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2026 Texas Elections
Republican Brett Ligon, former Montgomery County DA, wins special election for open Texas Senate seat
A rematch is scheduled for November, as Ligon’s win only puts him in the seat through January. But the former prosecutor will be heavily favored, given the district’s solidly Republican makeup.
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2026 Texas Elections
Hispanic GOP candidates could reshape Texas’ congressional delegation — if they can win Hispanic voters
Texas voters could nominate as many as six Hispanic Republicans in the state’s most hotly contested congressional races. Party leaders hope that’ll help keep Hispanic voters in the GOP’s corner.
State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, Democratic nominee for comptroller, promises to be government watchdog
In a live interview with The Texas Tribune, the Austin Democrat said she would use the office to “more deeply inform Texans” and lawmakers about how state money is being spent.
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2026 Texas Elections
Texas voters can face confusion as political parties run primary as they wish
Local GOP and Democratic county leaders have control, taxpayers foot the bill and voters have little recourse. But lawmakers are unlikely to change how Texas’ primary elections work.
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2026 Texas Elections
Talarico leads both Cornyn, Paxton in new polls of Texas’ U.S. Senate race
The Austin Democrat, who won his party’s nomination in March, led Cornyn and Paxton in two successive polls, though he did not crack 50%.
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2026 Texas Elections
Texas Railroad Commission GOP runoff: Who is running and what to know
The May 26 runoff pits incumbent Railroad Commissioner Jim Wright, who’s pitching himself as a “proven advocate for Texas energy,” against Bo French, who has cast himself as a “MAGA conservative.”
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2026 Texas Elections
U.S. Supreme Court upholds Texas’ newly redrawn congressional map
The high court had previously allowed the map to be used temporarily, but Monday’s ruling makes that permanent.
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2026 Texas Elections
Some Dallas County Republicans trying to revive precinct voting that created chaos in primary
A new lawsuit wants a court to set aside an agreement to let voters use any countywide voting location for next month’s runoff.
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2026 Texas Elections
Texas lieutenant governor Democratic runoff: Who is running and what to know
The lieutenant governor’s office is one of the most powerful in Texas government, and the 2026 race features a Democratic runoff between Vikki Goodwin and Marcos Velez.
