Some advocates for the region worry freshmen lawmakers will start deal-making at a deficit, while other voters see a chance for new blood.
Politics
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Politics
Political fighting pervades Texas politicians’ responses to Austin shooting
Days out from the March primary, Republicans called for changes to immigration law. Democrats repeated their calls for stricter gun laws.
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2026 Texas Elections
Texas Democrats prepare to decide party’s future after divisive, epic Senate primary
Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico face off in the state’s first blockbuster Democratic primary in decades. The race will likely conclude Tuesday, with the outside chance of a runoff.
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2026 Texas Elections
Texas’ Republican Senate primary is a battle of conservative titans
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt are competing to be the Republican nominee come November, with stakes that will be felt across Texas and in Washington.
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2026 Texas Elections
Redrawn to favor GOP, Texas’ 35th Congressional District attracts competitive primaries in both parties
President Donald Trump recently endorsed Air Force veteran Carlos De La Cruz for the seat Texas Republicans drew at his request. Democrats also see a chance to win in November.
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Environment
Dow asks Texas to legalize plastic pollution from its Seadrift complex
Facing multiple lawsuits, North America’s largest chemical manufacturer requests an “unprecedented” permit amendment to authorize its discharge of polyethylene pellets into coastal waters.
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2026 Texas Elections
President Trump endorses Sid Miller and Don Huffines, countering Abbott’s picks
Trump’s last-minute primary endorsements that directly oppose the Texas governor’s selections came hours after he spoke at an event in Corpus Christi on Friday.
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2026 Texas Elections
Tony Gonzales heads into Election Day with political future imperiled, Democrats eyeing his district
Both parties are contemplating the notion of Brandon Herrera, a gun-loving YouTuber with a history of provocative comments, as the GOP nominee. Herrera says he can win in November.
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Politics
Kamala Harris makes last-minute pitch for Jasmine Crockett with robocall
The call gives Crockett a jolt of support from one of her party’s biggest stars in the home stretch of her Senate Democratic primary against state Rep. James Talarico.
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2026 Texas Elections
Before scandal, Rep. Tony Gonzales had complicated relationship with his West Texas constituents
The moderate Republican’s votes on gun control and marriage equality upset the region’s most conservative voters, but local officials said they’re grateful for the work he did on public safety and health.