Democrats won back the Texas House for the first time in 24 years. Gov. Greg Abbottโs bullishness on vouchers turned off some Republican voters in rural communities that have historically been strongholds for his party, politicians said.
school vouchers
Texas Dems vowed seismic education change. Hereโs how schools could change for millions of students.
The end to GOP dominance in Texas will likely have major implications for K-12 education policies, including the future of school vouchers and state takeovers.
Republicans lost ground in rural Texas, adding to historic wipeout
James Talarico ran up the score in the Panhandle, while rural Texans living along the Louisiana border stayed home.
Texas governor 2026: Who is running and what to know
The governor is Texasโ chief executive, with a hand in everything from enforcing laws to setting budget priorities and responding to crises. Hereโs a look at where GOP candidate Gov. Greg Abbott and Democratic candidate Gina Hinojosa stand.
Which families are using ESAs? Here’s what we know about Texas’ first school vouchers
More than 111,000 families are participating in the voucher program in its first year. About 17% of voucher recipients attended public schools during the 2024-25 school year.
Frustration over school takeovers, vouchers could sway Texas voters in close governorโs race
As Democrat Gina Hinojosa focuses on โsavingโ public schools, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has emphasized property tax cuts in the final weeks of the campaign.
How Gina Hinojosa went from progressive to populist, emerging as Greg Abbott’s most formidable challenger
Hinojosa has gone from unknown state lawmaker to Abbottโs most viable Democratic challenger yet โ a surge that has dared Democrats to wonder if she could actually topple this mainstay of the Texas Republican establishment.
Comptroller requests doubling Texas school voucher program to $2 billion
This is the first year for education savings accounts, which allow Texas families to use taxpayer dollars for private or home schooling.
Nearly 96,000 students receiving Texas school voucher award notices
Families have until July 15 to opt in to the education savings accounts, or ESAs, which launches next school year.
Judge will allow Attorney General Ken Paxton to withdraw from representing comptrollerโs office in voucher case
The Houston federal judge said Paxtonโs office can pull out of the case as soon as acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock finds new lawyers. The unusual request comes amid a bubbling feud between the two Republicans.

