The more than $800,000 ad buy — the first by either candidate in the general election — continues the Austin Democrat’s push to win Latino voters as his race against GOP nominee Ken Paxton ramps up.
Congress
Read the latest Texas Tribune coverage of Congress, from the state’s lawmakers in Washington to key legislation and political debates shaping Texas and the nation.
Posted in
Immigration
Proposed ban on Big Bend border wall fails in U.S. House funding panel
Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar sought to bar the Trump administration from using federal funds to build border barriers in the national park, which is rarely traversed by migrants.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
New pro-Talarico super PAC wants to give GOP voters “permission to defect”
Moment of Truth PAC, launched by a bipartisan group of campaign operatives, is aiming to spend a staggering $62 million. Much of it would be used to spotlight Ken Paxton’s controversies.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Talarico lands endorsement from lawyer who defended Paxton in impeachment, securities fraud cases
Dan Cogdell, who represented Paxton for nearly a decade in two high-profile cases, said his former client “has lost sight of his core mission.”
Posted in
Congress
Eight Senate Republicans broke ranks this week. John Cornyn, spurned by Trump in his primary, didn’t.
The Texas senator’s defeat to Ken Paxton sparked talk he’d join the “YOLO Caucus” of Republicans defecting from Donald Trump. This week, he sided with Senate GOP leadership on every key vote.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Victorious Paxton goes to Washington as former GOP foes open their doors — and wallets
The attorney general fundraised with Republican senators and met with rival-turned-ally John Thune, the Senate majority leader who had backed Sen. John Cornyn.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Outside spending blitz defined the close of Texas’ District 35 Democratic runoff
To counter what appeared to be a GOP push to elevate Maureen Galindo, who’d voiced antisemitic stereotypes, national Democrats carpet-bombed the San Antonio area with $1.7 million worth of ads.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Colin Allred tops Julie Johnson in redistricting-driven runoff battle of Dallas Democrats
Johnson succeeded Allred in Congress, but Republican redistricting pushed them into an unusual primary confrontation for the 33rd Congressional District.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Democrat Johnny Garcia to face Republican Carlos De La Cruz for redrawn Texas district
The boundaries of the 35th Congressional District in South Central Texas were redrawn in 2025 to favor GOP candidates as requested by President Trump.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Ken Paxton defeats John Cornyn for U.S. Senate GOP nomination
The attorney general’s victory is a crushing blow to the Texas GOP’s old guard, which has faltered in recent years against the Paxton-led insurgent wing.
