Rural Republicans have long undercut Democrats’ gains in cities and suburbs. Will enough defect to make a difference this fall?
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
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.
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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.
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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.
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Data Centers in Texas
Texas environmental agency shuts down online permit filing system after data center controversy
Texas environmental officials disabled an online filing system after watchdog groups raised concerns about the agency issuing permits related to data centers.
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2026 Texas Elections
Most polls have Talarico ahead of Paxton in the U.S. Senate race
We’re tracking all major polls in the U.S. Senate race to give Texans a fuller picture of where this race is headed. Paxton has been consistently trailing in the polls, but the margins are tight.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
19 million Texans are registered to vote, breaking record
The number of Texans registered to vote jumped 2% from March even as the state struggles to process backlogged voter records.
