Our series of explainers and guides will help you get ready to vote in the upcoming runoffs. Early voting begins May 18.
Politics
Stay informed with The Texas Tribune’s in-depth political coverage, including Texas elections, state government, policy debates, and the leaders shaping the future of the state.
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Hill Country floods
Texas summer camps have closed, scaled back operations due to state’s new regulations
There are 66 fewer active summer camps in Texas compared to December, according to the state.
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Health care
Texas Children’s Hospital must create country’s first “detransition clinic” under legal settlement with state
Attorney General Ken Paxton said on Friday that Texas Children’s must also pay $10 million to the state because it illegally provided transgender care to kids.
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Immigration
AG Ken Paxton demands Dallas County sheriff enter formal partnership with ICE
Sheriff Marian Brown said her office, which already cooperates with federal immigration authorities, has until Dec. 1 to act.
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Redistricting Texas 2025
Texas Supreme Court rejects Abbott’s request to remove Democratic Rep. Gene Wu from office over redistricting protest
More than 50 Democrats, including Wu — the House Democratic leader — left the state last August to shut down the Legislature and stall passage of the GOP’s map.
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2026 Texas Elections
Here are the megadonors and dark money groups bankrolling John Cornyn and Ken Paxton’s Senate primary
The incumbent senator has dominated financially, thanks to an array of megadonors and dark money groups. The Tribune assembled a guide to the money behind the most expensive Senate primary ever.
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Economy
Seesaw rulings on Texas’ smokeable hemp ban is bad for business, retailers say
Some smoke shops say the flurry of court actions since March 31 has already forced them to scale back hours, cut staff and prepare to shut down.
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Criminal Justice
Texas executes 600th inmate since death penalty was reinstated in 1976
Edward Busby was executed by lethal injection Thursday, reinforcing Texas’ position as the nation’s leader in capital punishment.
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Criminal Justice
Abbott’s public safety wish list includes statewide prosecutor, more bail restrictions
Some items on Abbott’s agenda would require amending the Texas Constitution, meaning they would need supermajority support in the Legislature.
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State Government
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton blocks more than 130 cities from raising property taxes
Attorney General Ken Paxton accused the cities, most of them small, of violating a state law aimed at preventing cities from unduly raising property taxes.