Texas Politics: Elections, State Government, Policy, and Leaders

The Capitol dome from the north side of the complex in Austin on March 18, 2025.

2025 Texas Elections

What to know about 17 statewide propositions on Texans’ ballots Tuesday

By María MéndezSept. 22, 2025Oct. 31, 2025

A majority of the proposed constitutional amendments address tax cuts for homeowners and businesses.

Affordable Care Act assistance hours at Bibliotech, a digital public library in San Antonio, on Jan. 17, 2014.

Graphics and data reporting

Texas ACA insurers hike monthly premiums by 35% on average

By Gabby Birenbaum, GRAPHICS BY Dan KeemahillOct. 31, 2025

The amount Texans will pay toward their ACA premiums will likely rise more steeply, with enhanced subsidies set to expire.

Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson presides over the House as members prepare to vote for House Speaker at the capitol in Austin on Jan. 14, 2025.

State Government

Republican Texas secretary of state fights GOP’s closed primary lawsuit, calls Paxton filing “brazen”

By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneOct. 31, 2025

Jane Nelson is fighting a lawsuit from Republicans who say Democrats and independents are voting in GOP primaries, boosting more moderate candidates.

Investigations

DHS asked Texas to hand over driver’s license data for citizenship checks

By Jen Fifield, ProPublica, and Zach Despart, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaOct. 31, 2025

It’s the latest step to pool confidential data that the Trump administration claims will help identify noncitizens on voter rolls and tighten immigration enforcement.

Tony Box, a Dallas attorney and Army veteran who previously worked as an FBI agent and federal prosecutor, is running in the Democratic primary for Texas attorney general.

Politics

Dallas attorney Tony Box enters Democratic primary for Texas attorney general

by Eleanor Klibanoff Oct. 31, 2025

Box, a first-time political candidate, is an Army veteran who also worked as an FBI agent and federal prosecutor.

Voter registration forms are displayed at a get-out-the-vote rally in Houston on Oct. 15, 2022.

2026 Texas Elections

Texas counties are looking into “potential noncitizens” on voter rolls. Here’s what they’re finding.

By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas Tribune Oct. 31, 2025

The voters were flagged after being checked against a federal database. Some officials question its reliability.

From left, House Speaker Dustin Burrows, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick hold a bill signing ceremony at the Texas Capitol on April 23, 2025 to create a Texas Department of Government Efficiency.

Graphics and data reporting

Gov. Greg Abbott under pressure to use emergency funds for looming SNAP crisis

By Terri Langford, Stephen Simpson and Lindsey Byman, graphic by Dan KeemahillOct. 30, 2025

Democrats say Abbott has used his authority during COVID-19, the Uvalde shooting and border operations to free up emergency funds.

U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Houston, speaks at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 15, 2024.

2026 Texas Elections

Hunt calls for debate with Cornyn, Paxton in Senate GOP primary

by Gabby Birenbaum Oct. 30, 2025

The second-term congressman argued that voters should “hear directly from the candidates,” beyond the millions already being poured into paid advertising.