The world’s wealthiest man transformed Texas’ U.S. Senate race with a massive cash infusion to the Senate GOP’s main outside group, which has taken over the airwaves with ads boosting Paxton.
Politics
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2026 Texas Elections
Talarico raises $64 million in third quarter, more than any U.S. Senate candidate on record
The Democratic U.S. Senate nominee says he’s raised more than $134 million over the past year.
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2026 Texas Elections
Outspent and unknown, Democrat Vikki Goodwin gives Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick his toughest race yet
The race for Texas’ powerful second-in-command role pits a third-term GOP kingmaker against a state lawmaker who is riding the political tailwind felt by Democrats up and down the ballot.
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Texas affordability crisis
Report: Texas hospitals could offer more financial help before sending patients big bills
The report also found most nonprofit facilities in Texas — which has a higher rate of medical debt than most states — will not offer refunds to patients who are later found to qualify for free care.
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2026 Texas Elections
At CNN town hall, Senate candidate James Talarico woos moderate and undecided voters
The Austin Democrat used the forum, absent rival Ken Paxton, to discuss policy and present himself as a moderate. Republicans cast those efforts as contrary to his record.
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Politics
Texas transgender rights group says it didn’t send texts that prompted call for an investigation
The Transgender Education Network of Texas sent a cease and desist letter to messaging companies demanding an end to the text campaign.
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2026 Texas Elections
Local Texas election officials clear voter registration backlog caused by state error
More than 500,000 voter applications were held up by an error in a Department of Public Safety software update.
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Politics
It’s not just Talarico. New Texas poll shows Dems statistically tied in key statewide races
Republicans trail behind Democrats in voter enthusiasm, a University of Texas/Texas Politics Project University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll shows.
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2026 Texas Elections
House Republicans pull $3 million reserved for ads against Henry Cuellar
The Laredo Democrat’s 28th District was one of five seats Republicans redrew last summer to flip to GOP control. But the new map has proven less ironclad than the party hoped.
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Data Centers in Texas
Despite tough talk from Abbott and Paxton, Texas penalties for data center violations are light
Texas officials are promising tougher enforcement on data centers, but the existing law may offer limited leverage over the industry that has largely failed to report its water use.
