A Trump administration agency has sued other states that sought to regulate Kalshi, Polymarket and other prediction operations under their gambling laws.
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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Immigration
ICE warrants were central to Abbott’s immigration dispute with Texas cities. Here’s how they work.
Unlike criminal warrants, ICE administrative warrants don’t require approval from an independent judge. ICE defends the practice, but legal experts say they can have errors and risk wrongful detention.
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Politics
Chad Hasty, West Texas conservative talk show host, dies unexpectedly
Hasty, known statewide for his evocative political conversations, is described by his friends as “open-minded and respectful.”
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Redistricting Texas 2025
Supreme Court voting rights ruling empowers Texas Republicans to redraw more partisan maps
Texas lawmakers will be able to draw more aggressively partisan maps for the state House, Senate and education board when they return in 2027.
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Congress
Christian Menefee’s district sat vacant for 11 months. His first bill in Congress would set a deadline for special elections.
The Houston Democrat was elected earlier this year to finish out the term of Rep. Sylvester Turner, who died in March 2025. The safely blue district was left vacant for 334 days.
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2026 Texas Elections
Hispanic GOP candidates could reshape Texas’ congressional delegation — if they can win Hispanic voters
Texas voters could nominate as many as six Hispanic Republicans in the state’s most hotly contested congressional races. Party leaders hope that’ll help keep Hispanic voters in the GOP’s corner.
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Courts
U.S. Supreme Court weakens key pillar of Voting Rights Act, opening the door for Texas to redraw political maps
While the court did not strike down the provision entirely, Justice Elena Kagan said Wednesday’s ruling made Section 2 of the VRA “all but a dead letter.”
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2026 Texas Elections
Texas voters can face confusion as political parties run primary as they wish
Local GOP and Democratic county leaders have control, taxpayers foot the bill and voters have little recourse. But lawmakers are unlikely to change how Texas’ primary elections work.
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2026 Texas Elections
Talarico leads both Cornyn, Paxton in new polls of Texas’ U.S. Senate race
The Austin Democrat, who won his party’s nomination in March, led Cornyn and Paxton in two successive polls, though he did not crack 50%.
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Environment
Corpus Christi delays action on plan to cut water use by 25% if emergency is declared
A Level 1 emergency, which could arrive in September, would limit households to 5,250 gallons a month under proposed restrictions. About 30% of residential customers use more.