It would cost $1.5 billion to fully cool all prisons, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice estimates.
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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2026 Texas Elections
Cuellar and Tijerina spar over who delivers for a South Texas district redrawn to favor the GOP
Rep. Henry Cuellar and Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina are both courting crossover support in a region where voters have been willing to defy Democratic or Republican labels.
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Texas affordability crisis
Are you a Texan dealing with rising costs? We want to hear from you.
Tell us how the rise in everyday costs like housing, healthcare and groceries has affected you.
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2026 Texas Elections
Ken Paxton whistleblower endorses James Talarico in Texas’ U.S. Senate race
David Maxwell was among the top attorney general officials who reported Paxton to the FBI and later testified at his impeachment trial.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
GOP to open first-ever midterm convention in Dallas as Texas’ U.S. Senate race hangs in the balance
The two-day gathering, informally dubbed “Trumpapalooza,” will put Texas at the center of the political world as it hits the homestretch of its most competitive election cycle in years.
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Texas affordability crisis
Texas cities say Abbott’s proposal to disband their electric companies won’t lower costs
On the campaign trail, the governor said dismantling city-owned utilities will save customers money by introducing competition.
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State Government
MAGA Inc. cavalry arrives for Paxton in Texas Senate as Trump’s PAC places $10 million ad buy
This is the first buy that Trump’s well-heeled political operation has made for a general election, underscoring how critical Texas’ Senate race is to the GOP’s hopes.
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Health care
AG Ken Paxton hasn’t challenged the Trump administration over Texas’ $10-billion Medicaid cut even though he sued Biden
The attorney general won a lawsuit against the feds for withholding a Medicaid funding stream three years ago. Texas faces the same cut, but Paxton has stayed quiet.
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2026 Texas Elections
Elon Musk’s super PAC starts spending to boost Ken Paxton in Texas
Musk’s super PAC recently dropped almost a quarter-million dollars boosting the Republican Senate nominee, who has seen a recent surge in outside support yet continues to lag in fundraising.
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Investigations
Ken Paxton omits rental income and mortgages from financial disclosures, obscuring his wealth
The Republican U.S. Senate nominee appears to have violated federal ethics law, which requires candidates to report their income and disclose mortgages on properties other than personal residences, experts said.
