After Sen. John Cornyn ran ads about his rival’s alleged infidelity, Paxton countered with a spot featuring his daughter, who cited her father’s “genuine love for his family” in an op-ed.
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.
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2026 Texas Elections
Flores vs. Flores: GOP primary for South Texas congressional seat hinges on who can beat the Democrats
Mayra Flores argues her “battle scars” make her the best bet to beat Democrat Vicente Gonzalez. Eric Flores says his opponent is a proven “loser” after back-to-back defeats.
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2026 Texas Elections
How two churches forged Jasmine Crockett’s and James Talarico’s politics
In the Senate Democratic primary, Talarico has made his church’s ethos of compassion central to his campaign, while Jasmine Crockett is tapping into the civic power of Black churches.
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2026 Texas Elections
Early vote turnout in Texas outpacing past elections, fueled by Democratic primary voters
Turnout during the first week of early voting for the Texas midterm election exceeded the same period for the previous two presidential elections, years that typically see higher voter engagement.
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2026 Texas Elections
Jasmine Crockett leads James Talarico by double digits in Senate Democratic primary, poll finds
On the Republican side, Ken Paxton and John Cornyn were neck-and-neck and in position for a runoff, according to the poll from the University of Texas’ Texas Politics Project.
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2026 Texas Elections
U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales says he won’t resign despite explicit texts with staffer
A growing number of House Republicans have called for Gonzales’ ouster — though he has yet to explicitly lose the support of any members who endorsed him.
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2026 Texas Elections
Texts show Rep. Tony Gonzales asked for explicit photos from aide who later died by suicide
Additionally, a police report shows that the aide, Regina Santos-Aviles, told responding officers she set herself on fire because her husband was romantically involved with her best friend.
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2026 Texas Elections
Dark money fuels attack ads in final stretch of Texas’ U.S. Senate primaries
The latest campaign finance reports show big-money interests are heavily invested in the Texas primaries — but unwilling to reveal their identities at a critical juncture of the race.
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2026 Texas Elections
Rep. Tony Gonzales accuses dead staffer’s husband of trying to blackmail him amid affair scandal
The Republican congressman shared on social media an email requesting a settlement of up to $300,000 in exchange for a nondisclosure agreement.
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2026 Texas Elections
Rep. Tony Gonzales attacks primary opponent amid reporting of his affair with aide who died by suicide
The San Antonio Express-News reported on a text message from a staffer admitting to having an affair with Gonzales. The staffer died last year after setting herself on fire in Uvalde.