Priorities for Republican leadership last legislative session have either been stuck in the courts or left to linger in the state rulemaking process.
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
2026 Texas Elections
Texas Democrats look to rally behind their ticket, draw national attention at state convention
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders is headlining the event, as Democrats seek to drum up support and excitement for James Talarico and other down-ballot candidates ahead of November.
Posted in
Immigration
Judge blocks Biden-era immigration rule hours after Texas AG and Stephen Miller’s group sued DOJ
On Monday, Ken Paxton’s office asked the judge to block the rule, a request the federal agency then agreed with. The suit echoes a similar move in 2025 that killed a 24-year-old state tuition law.
Posted in
State Government
Court filings: Unsafe homes and a child death still dog Texas’ foster care system amid improvement
The reports note that in recent years, the troubled child welfare system improved caseworker training and caseloads, but unsafe conditions for children persisted.
Posted in
Courts
Judge blocks feds from using immigration database to check voter eligibility
A federal judge cited Texas’ use of the SAVE database, which flagged several voters who were actually citizens, and said the checks violated privacy and voting rights.
Posted in
Health care
Austin-area hospitals denied miscarriage care despite clarification to Texas’ abortion ban, federal complaint alleges
Lynn Callaway says she was sent home from two hospitals, despite an infection, due to healthcare providers’ fear of the state’s abortion ban.
Posted in
Health care
A Houston drowning tests whether Texas law gives the right to deny brain death testing
State leaders and pro-life groups are siding with 2-year-old Annelise Camp’s family, who are suing to stop Texas Children’s Hospital from testing her for brain death.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
From an indictment to an alleged affair, Ken Paxton’s controversies hang over his Senate bid
The attorney general has won statewide elections twice since his legal woes began. This time he will be at the top of the ticket, facing a fundraising juggernaut in James Talarico.
Posted in
Public Education
Which Bible passages are in Texas’ proposed student reading list? Here’s what the selections reveal.
The chosen readings, to be voted on soon by the State Board of Education, draw heavily from Christian perspectives.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Talarico goes all-in with attack on Paxton plea deal in child sex abuse case
The Democratic Senate candidate continued his push for the release of files related to a plea deal his GOP rival’s office offered admitted child molester Adam Hoffman.
