In this week’s episode, we talk about how French’s tweet has brought turmoil to the Republican Party and assess whether other statewide races are really competitive.
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
Tracking the money raised and spent in the U.S. Senate race between James Talarico and Ken Paxton
See the latest fundraising totals, where the money is coming from and how super PACs are spending in what’s poised to be Texas’ most expensive Senate race.
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2026 Texas Elections
James Talarico is moderating on gender, climate issues in his competitive Senate election
Republicans have seized on his past votes and comments to argue he will revert to his most progressive positions if elected, while Talarico’s campaign insists he has remained consistent.
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2026 Texas Elections
Texas and feds announce noncitizen voting charges against seven people
State officials also referred 117 people for investigation related to noncitizen voting, but confirmed nearly 600 other flagged voters are U.S. citizens.
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2026 Texas Elections
In lieutenant governor race, Vikki Goodwin says Dan Patrick ads are illegal AI deepfakes
The Democrat filed a police complaint against the Republican incumbent, saying state law bans deceptive video so close to the election. Patrick’s camp said they were obvious parodies.
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Environment
Gov. Greg Abbott broadens moratorium on data center approvals to include environmental permits
The move is the latest in a series of escalating efforts by the governor to slow data center development in Texas ahead of November’s election.
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Courts
Federal judge pauses Texas Republicans’ bid to close primaries
U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk said in his ruling that he expects Republicans to succeed in restricting primaries to voters registered with the party during the next legislative session.
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Health care
Texas Supreme Court rules baby delivered by surrogate can leave Texas
The decision clears the way for the 1-month-old’s biological parents to relocate him from Dallas to Los Angeles, where the couple lives, to seek treatment there. Their surrogate wants him in Texas.
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Politics
Feds reimburse Texas for $7.5 billion in border spending, ending delay
The grant program was created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which became law in July 2025.
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Immigration
Texas officials are cracking down on “illegal birth tourism.” Here’s what that means.
Texas officials have sued a Houston area postpartum center as well as investigated Rio Grande Valley hospitals over allegations of soliciting foreigners to have babies on U.S. soil.
