The county, which includes Houston, is critical to both parties’ statewide ambitions, but has been blue for about decade.
Houston
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2026 Texas Elections
Abbott sets Jan. 31 runoff for special election to replace U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner
The Houston-based seat will have been without representation for about 11 months.
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LGBTQ+ Texans
LGBTQ+ Texans fought to be recognized. That work is eroding under a conservative pressure campaign.
Conservative activists argue they’re protecting women and rebalancing the law that Democrats tilted in favor of LGBTQ+ people.
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The 2025 Texas Tribune Festival
Texas superintendents say school takeovers aren’t a sustainable way to boost student learning
School district leaders said the state’s increasing reliance on takeovers to improve academic performance threatens local control. The emergence of private school vouchers could pose another challenge.
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Transportation
Car-dominant Texas needs more public transit to meet mobility demands, TxDOT report says
As the state’s population grows, more travel options are needed in rural and smaller urban areas and between major cities, according to a draft of the first-of-its-kind plan.
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2026 Texas Elections
Rep. Al Green switches congressional districts in bid for reelection
The veteran lawmaker whose current district was redrawn to benefit Republicans would face the winner of the 18th Congressional District special election runoff.
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Economy
Dallas, Houston airports will see flights cut starting Friday
The Federal Aviation Administration will cut air traffic by 10% across 40 U.S. airports.
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2025 Texas Elections
Christian Menefee, Amanda Edwards advance to runoff in special election for Houston congressional seat
The runoff winner will serve out the term of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner, who died in office earlier this year. The seat will immediately be up for election again in 2026 for a full two-year term.
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Graphics and data reporting
New data shows 1 in 4 ICE arrests happened in Texas under Trump’s immigration crackdown
ICE agents are arresting more immigrants on the streets and at routine check-ins than under President Biden. But most of them don’t have criminal convictions despite pledges to pursue “the worst of the worst.”
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Economy
Part-time jobs, loans and worry: Texas federal workers contend with government shutdown
Many federal workers missed their first full paycheck this weekend as the shutdown nears the one-month mark.