The Houston congressman is giving up his safe seat after just two terms, scrambling the contest between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Politics
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Criminal Justice
Texas health agency adopts emergency rule banning consumable hemp sales to anyone under 21
Two state agencies have now adopted the temporary rule while they work to adopt formal rules to limit who can buy THC products.
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Politics
Texas attorney general tells 4 cities to drop tax hikes amid investigations into incomplete audits
Most of the cities — Odessa, La Marque, Tom Bean and Whitesboro — said they are following the law and Ken Paxton’s office is jumping the gun on enforcing new state rules.
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Robert Roberson
Renewed focus on Roberson case is latest in deluge of political pressure aimed at Texas judiciary
The latest calls to stave off the politically charged execution come after a summer where GOP leaders asked the state courts to kick Democrats out of office and throw Beto O’Rourke in jail.
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Higher Education
Roughly 350 complaints filed against Texas teachers for alleged comments on killing of Charlie Kirk
Several school districts have already taken disciplinary action against staff for comments made about the Christian conservative activist’s death.
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2026 Texas Elections
Republican Carlos De La Cruz announces run for redrawn 35th Congressional District
U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz’s brother is the latest to enter a GOP primary field vying for the San Antonio-area district newly gerrymandered to favor Republicans.
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Health care
Texas could bear the brunt of expiring ACA tax credits. Is the GOP delegation willing to make a deal?
Democrats in Congress want to renew the Obamacare subsidies as part of any deal to reopen the government. Texas Republicans say the policy needs major reforms.
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Redistricting Texas 2025
At hearing, Democrats say the redistricting process was flawed from the start
On the first day of a two-week trial, the plaintiffs’ lawyers honed in on who drew the new map and whether race was a factor.
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2026 Texas Elections
Talarico outraises Allred with massive fundraising haul to kick off Senate Democratic primary
The Austin state lawmaker took in $6.2 million in the three weeks since he launched his bid, outpacing the $4.1 million Allred raised over the last three months.
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Politics
Texans ask for eligibility fixes, stronger accountability in school voucher program
For the first time since Texas authorized the program, the state heard public testimony from people concerned about pre-K funding, special education provisions and data reporting.