CEO Sam Altman and ChatGPT are top competitors to Elon Musk, the tech billionaire fueling Paxton’s U.S. Senate campaign.
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.
Posted in
Hill Country floods
Emergency weather alerts may be sent via satellite under new “Mystic Alerts Act”
Not everyone received cell alerts during the deadly flooding in 2025 in the Texas Hill Country. A new law is trying to fix that.
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Investigations
Ken and Angela Paxton invested $600,000 in a convicted fraudster’s business
The blind trust’s investment in Wildcatter offers a new, unreported look at the attorney general’s financial ties with the very type of business executives whose prosecutions he typically celebrates.
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2026 Texas Elections
Fed up with data centers and Big Tech, rural Republican crossover could decide Democrats’ fate in Texas
Rural Republicans have long undercut Democrats’ gains in cities and suburbs. Will enough defect to make a difference this fall?
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Texas affordability crisis
Texas SNAP participation drops to a 17-year low as the feds tighten eligibility
The state health agency is also processing 64% of food benefits applications in a timely manner — within 30 days — even though the required rate is 95%.
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Politics
West Texas DA opens forgery investigation into disputed transgender mailers
The pamphlets appear to be an attempt to anger voters ahead of the midterm elections, GOP District Attorney Sarah Stogner said.
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Politics
Feds charge Fort Bend County official with theft of government money
Carmen Turner, the Democratic tax assessor-collector since 2021, was arrested Thursday morning.
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2026 Texas Elections
How Texas Democrats and Republicans have shifted their campaign ad pitches throughout the midterms
Democrats have moved from healthcare to taxes and corruption, while Republicans have ramped up ad spending on property taxes, crime and transgender issues, an analysis of AdImpact data shows.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Texas Latinos are turning on Trump. That doesn’t mean they’re sold on Democrats.
Latino strategists and voters say this year’s swing is driven by anger at those in power and hinges on individual candidates. Democrats and Republicans alike agree it may not last.
Posted in
Public Education
Four key November races could push Texas education board further right
Three conservative Republicans known for compromise on divisive topics did not seek reelection, while a seat representing the Rio Grande Valley could sway in either political direction.
