Gov. Greg Abbott says sale of state park to SpaceX won’t happen anytime soon
At a news conference, Gov. Greg Abbott said he remains dedicated to preserving parkland in Texas.
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Dallas man who died in Laredo ICE facility was lawful permanent resident
ICE said Emiliano Andrade-Covarrubias obtained his legal status fraudulently because he failed to disclose a 2004 arrest for theft. His daughter disputes that.
Sid Miller stops short of endorsing Democrat Clayton Tucker for ag commissioner over Nate Sheets
Sheets, in response, called Miller the most corrupt figure in Texas government and considers his criticism a “badge of honor.”
Provisional ballots in Texas: What voters should know if they’re not on a poll’s registration list
If a voter’s eligibility is uncertain, they can still cast what’s called a provisional ballot. Here’s how they qualify — and how officials ultimately decide whether they’re counted.Complete sentence summary goes here.
Gov. Greg Abbott touts endorsements from 11 Democratic sheriffs from border counties in final early voting push
The promotion of cross-partisan support was notable for a governor who has embraced his right flank, but who is now facing his most competitive reelection bid yet.
Hakeem Jeffries to campaign in Texas on behalf of Bexar County congressional candidate Johnny Garcia
Garcia, a former sheriff’s deputy, is running in one of the five districts Republicans redrew last year with the intention of flipping.
Texas man seeks to have armed robbery conviction tossed over no-warrant Flock camera search
Defense lawyers asked a federal appeals court to void the conviction, arguing the cameras give police more power than the Constitution allows.
Greg Abbott raked in $9 million from data center-related donors as he called for regulations
About $4.9 million of the haul came from donors who develop, own or operate data centers, a Tribune analysis found. The other share of the donations came from people and groups with indirect financial ties.
Migrant found dead at Laredo ICE facility
The death was confirmed by U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, who said the 56-year-old Mexican national was found unresponsive in his cell. He’s the seventh person in Texas to die while detained by ICE this year.
For Texas schoolchildren, minor misbehavior can mean criminal charges
More students ages 10 to 13 are ending up in the justice system after vaping, making threats and lashing out at school.
In Senate race, Paxton and Talarico each promise relief from rising energy costs in Texas
The candidates are miles apart on climate, but both are making affordability a central issue as Texans grapple with spiking prices.
Bo French, Jon Rosenthal battle over culture, job duties in bid to regulate the oil and gas industry
Controversial remarks by the GOP candidate cast a national spotlight on the typically quiet race for a spot on the Texas Railroad Commission.
19 million Texans are registered to vote, breaking record
The number of Texans registered to vote jumped 2% from March even as the state struggles to process backlogged voter records.
How Gina Hinojosa went from progressive to populist, emerging as Greg Abbott’s most formidable challenger
Hinojosa has gone from unknown state lawmaker to Abbott’s most viable Democratic challenger yet — a surge that has dared Democrats to wonder if she could actually topple this mainstay of the Texas Republican establishment.
Texas discovers more backlogged voter registration records days before early voting begins
Local election officials must now process thousands of voter address updates before early voting starts Monday.
Bobby Pulido pitches himself as the Democrat “you used to vote for” in bid to oust Rep. Monica De La Cruz
In Texas’ 15th Congressional District, the Tejano musician is trying to remind voters of the Democratic Party their abuelitas supported for decades. The GOP incumbent casts him as a relic of a “corrupt, compadre system.”
Pro-Cruz PAC launches seven-figure Spanish-language ad buy attacking Talarico
Aimed at Hispanic voters, the new ad from Truth and Courage PAC attacks Democrat James Talarico over his past comments on gender and sexuality.
Meet the candidates running for Texas’ State Board of Education in 2026
The education board sets learning standards and approves instructional materials for public schools. Here are the nine candidates who are running and what’s at stake.
Texas election laws: What voters need to know before casting ballots in the 2026 midterm
From required IDs to navigating mail-in ballots, here's how voters can navigate early voting and Election Day.
Elon Musk is the donor behind Senate Republicans’ massive rescue mission for Ken Paxton
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.
Trump says John Cornyn and Karl Rove to blame if Ken Paxton loses Senate race
If Ken Paxton loses to James Talarico, blame would fall on weak Republicans who failed to close ranks, the president said on social media.
In race to lead Texas agriculture department, Sheets and Tucker clash on data centers, credentials
The race to be the state’s first new agriculture commissioner in more than a decade has turned personal as both men have challenged each other’s ties to farm land.
Execution of Fort Hood shooter will not be live-streamed, Trump says
The firing squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan is set for Dec. 3.
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.
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.
Trump says the border is secure. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott keeps declaring an emergency.
Since Abbott first declared a border emergency in 2021, he’s renewed or amended the proclamation at least 69 times. The proclamation has greatly expanded his powers.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ken Paxton to close Senate campaign with “Come and Take It” bus tour ending at the Alamo
The Republican nominee plans to hit over 30 stops across Texas, concluding with a stop at the Alamo on the eve of Election Day, as he competes in an intensely close Senate race against Democrat James Talarico.
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.
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.
El Paso and New Mexico spent millions on climate plans. Three new data centers could undo them.
El Paso and New Mexico planned to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Neither plan considered how three new data centers could upend their climate goals.
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.
In competitive North Texas Senate race, GOP candidate sheds her “ultra MAGA” label
In a district Trump won by 17 points, Republican Leigh Wambsganss no longer describes herself as ultra-MAGA in her rematch with Democrat Taylor Rehmet.
Texas sued for failing to process more than 500,000 voter registrations
Voting rights groups are asking a judge to enforce a 2021 settlement aimed at providing reliable online registration through DPS.
How Ken Paxton and allies fanned a false conspiracy to convince voters James Talarico was mentally unfit
While James Talarico was recovering from the flu, Paxton supporters said the Democrat was being treated for mental illness in Ohio. The debunked story was shared by White House officials, Elon Musk and social media influencers.
Harris County prosecutor to investigate ICE striking Houston man with vehicle
District Attorney Sean Teare said his office is investigating whether an ICE agent in an SUV intentionally struck Miguel Parra-Hernandez as he fled.
Texas woman uses state law to sue anti-abortion group that allegedly ordered abortion pills online
Unable to abort two unplanned pregnancies because of the law, the woman is suing Students for Life for the cost of raising the children. The group posted about buying the pills undercover.
TribCast: Houston is a model for school takeovers. Is it sustainable?
This week, the podcast explores what can be learned from Houston ISD as more school districts face state takeover.
San Antonio sues to block plans to convert warehouse into an ICE detention center
The city argued that federal officials failed to review the environmental impact of a proposed facility that could hold 1,500 people a day.
Some Texas colleges get OK for new Workforce Pell that pays for job training
At least five Texas colleges are among the first in the country that can use the federal funding for jobs training.
On the issues: A Q&A with U.S. Senate candidates James Talarico, Ken Paxton and Ted Brown
Ken Paxton and James Talarico are in a close race for Texas’ U.S. Senate seat, with Ted Brown also on the ballot. See where they stand on THC, data centers and Flock cameras. Talarico and Brown answered our questions; Paxton did not, so we used his past public statements to describe his positions.
How a bid to beat the drought drove Corpus Christi to the brink of disaster
What started as a novel plan to provide an unrestricted water supply to the oil and gas industry turned into a political quagmire that has consumed the city.
Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program
The proposed elimination of the program, aimed at serving lower-income families, comes as Texas leadership has called on agencies to reduce budgets by 3%.
Taxpayers pay the price when Texas education department takes over school districts
Cash-strapped Austin ISD faces big changes under a potential state takeover. It could also face increased costs at a time when reserves are running dry.
Texas appeals order requiring prison air conditioning, saying it puts operations at risk
TDCJ, which estimates climate control will cost $1.5 billion, said the federal judge’s order imposes “chaos and confusion” on the country’s largest prison system.
James Talarico returns to campaign trail at ACL festival after illness spurred GOP calls for “proof of life”
Republican Ken Paxton made hay over the Democrat’s nine-day spell between public appearances, while right-wing commentators ran with unverified theories and dismissed that Talarico's recovery could have been hindered by his Type I diabetes.
Ken Paxton took nearly 1,000 trips with state-funded security detail costing millions of dollars
The Texas attorney general’s use of a taxpayer-funded travel security detail stands out when compared with his predecessor and other state officials, our analysis found.
Mayes Middleton, running for Texas attorney general, wants to “put God back in government”
Middleton, a Republican, has long pushed for injecting Christianity into the public sphere. His Democratic opponent, Nathan Johnson, said those views make him unfit for office.
Houston Democrats push for guardrails on school takeovers
A commission led by area lawmakers recommended raising the bar for when the TEA chief can intervene and setting guardrails for state appointees during a takeover.
Firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter will be livestreamed, Pentagon says
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, who killed 13 people and injured 32 others, will take place at the military base on Dec. 3.
Trump slams Rep. Henry Cuellar for sticking with Democratic Party despite presidential pardon
Cuellar and his wife, charged with bribery, money laundering and conspiracy, were pardoned in December. In a social media post, Trump indicated he expected Cuellar to run as a Republican.
In attacking Talarico for campaign absence, Trump calls for debate that Paxton has avoided
The Democrat, off the trail with the flu, quickly accepted the president’s call to “immediately report to a Debate Stage” with Ken Paxton.
When a rural Texas school district struggled with growth, charter schools filled the void
The state has limited how much money it gives to fast-growing school districts, creating million-dollar gaps between what is owed and what's given.
“We have to suck it up”: Ken Paxton privately suggests cutting federal benefit programs to reduce national deficit
In a conversation that has been leaked in pieces to multiple publications, the GOP Senate nominee called for “reasonable cuts to mandatory spending,” which is driven by Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Democrat Nathan Johnson pitches back-to-basics attorney general’s office after 12 years under Paxton
Johnson is hoping enough moderates are tired of Paxton-era culture wars to cross party lines. His GOP opponent, Mayes Middleton, is running as the outgoing incumbent’s ideological heir.
How Texas candidates plan to lower the cost of gas, groceries and housing
From groceries to childcare, Texans are spending more to live here. Here’s how much costs have risen, why it’s happening and what candidates are proposing to fix it.
Texas carries out nation’s first execution since Tennessee’s botched attempt
Jamaal Howard's lawyers had sought a last-minute stay citing the inmate’s mental fitness, but their bid was denied by a state and federal court.
Most Texas Republicans ignore Democratic calls to debate in statewide races
The last U.S. Senate race in Texas to go without a debate was in 2000. Gov. Greg Abbott, meanwhile, debated his Democratic opponents in each of his last three campaigns.
STAAR rescoring requests triple after more Texas schools question computer grading
Thousands of STAAR reading results improved after humans rescored students’ written answers. Most of the initial grading was done by an automated engine.
Texas comptroller investigating spending in Austin ISD, other districts
Texas Comptroller Don Huffines announced the reviews, which were requested by Gov. Greg Abbott, on Monday. Results are due Dec. 31.
Texas agency sues to stop release of data center records that it says could aid terrorists
A lawsuit will test whether Texas officials can withhold data center location details under the state Homeland Security Act.
TribCast: Are Texas’ voter systems ready for a contentious election?
Votebeat's Natalia Contreras joins TribCast to explain the state of Texas’ voter rolls one month before election day.
Democrat Jon Rosenthal outraises Bo French in Railroad Commission race in latest report
A big chunk of Rosenthal’s haul came after French’s racist social media comments following a UT-Austin football game went viral.
Greg Abbott outraised Gina Hinojosa but burned through much of his campaign cash in Texas governor’s race
Abbott outspent Hinojosa 6-to-1 from July to late September, but the governor’s narrow polling lead was largely unchanged as he tapped a war chest that once topped $100 million.
Law enforcement Democrat, GOP Air Force vet upend partisan script in race for new San Antonio U.S. House district
The 35th Congressional District was redrawn to elect a Republican, but Latino voters’ brewing leftward shift has put the seat in play for Democrat Johnny Garcia, who faces Trump-backed Carlos De La Cruz.
Texas college campus protest law faces First Amendment challenge
A federal appeals court will consider whether restrictions on protests at Texas’ public universities and colleges violate constitutional rights.
These are the most competitive November races up and down Texas’ midterm ballot
Texas has an unusually large slate of competitive races for the state Legislature and U.S. House this year. Here’s our list of contests to watch.
Ken Paxton raises personal-best $18 million in third quarter for Texas’ U.S. Senate race
The attorney general more than doubled his second-quarter haul, but still is well short of past totals posted by Democrat James Talarico, who has yet to announce his July-to-September fundraising.
Texas’ glitchy voter registration system makes it harder to clear backlog, election officials say
Frustrated officials say “unacceptable” technology glitches with Texas’ TEAM system are impeding work to resolve a backlog of hundreds of thousands of records.
Harris County’s cashless bail policy for misdemeanors upheld
The policy dates to a 2019 settlement after the county’s cash bail system was found to exacerbate poverty while not “meaningfully” promoting public safety.
Texas city charges $2 million for Flock records as agencies make it harder to see how cameras are used
High invoices and challenges to accessing data on how departments use the surveillance cameras have hindered requests by privacy advocates and journalists.
Institute launches in East Texas to address the region and state’s largest water challenges
The new institute plans to help solve Texas' looming water crisis through research, data and training future workforces.
Tribune’s sample ballot tool now includes local elections for 16 million Texas voters
The updated 2026 election ballot tool is a major expansion and part of The Texas Tribune's mission to help Texans shape the future.
2026 Texas attorney general race: Who is running and what to know
Republican Mayes Middleton, Democrat Nathan Johnson and Libertarian Tom Oxford are running to replace Ken Paxton. Here’s where they stand.
In TV ad, Angela Paxton urges voters to back “the Republican ticket” that includes her estranged husband
The ad is funded by a super PAC that has spent well over $100 million boosting Senate GOP nominee Ken Paxton, whom Angela Paxton accused of adultery in filing for divorce last year.
Trump to visit San Antonio next week for rally with Paxton, De La Cruz
The campaign trip will be Trump’s third to Texas in a month, underscoring the state’s importance in the fight for control of both chambers of Congress.
Judge halts border barrier construction in Big Bend
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone’s ruling means federal contractors can’t continue construction in the national park or surrounding areas until a lawsuit opposing the work is resolved.
Paxton ally opposes Talarico’s request to unseal AG’s depositions from investing dispute
Talarico’s campaign in August asked the court to unseal a pair of years-old depositions Paxton sat for, arguing the transcripts are “of immense public importance.”
A 650-acre ranch on Lake Palestine will become Texas’ next state park
The ranch has been owned by an East Texas family for more than 80 years and is expected to be transferred to the state next year for development into a park.
Texas 15th Court of Appeals race: Who is running and what to know
Three seats on Texas’ 15th Court of Appeals are on the ballot in November. The court hears challenges to state laws and other consequential civil cases. Here’s what to know about the candidates.
Republicans are spending big to boost Ken Paxton on the airwaves, but not in Spanish
Nearly 7 in 10 Latino voters said in a recent statewide survey that when they see a political candidate on Spanish-language media, it “makes me feel they want to earn my vote.”
Betting that Abbott will soon restore funding, some Texas agencies accept Flock’s offer to keep cameras on
Some local officials have suggested they expect Abbott will reinstate funding for the surveillance cameras, which are politically unpopular, after the election.
Austin man has surgery 11 days after being shot by ICE agent
The surgery on the Venezuelan national, who has been in custody since his Sept. 20 run-in with an immigration officer, removed the bullet lodged in his back.
Texas DPS’ voter registration problems were flagged months before notice went out to local election officials
County elections administrators have received at least 500,000 applications that need to be processed before Monday’s registration deadline.
Texas seniors are getting a huge property tax break. Everyone else is picking up the tab.
State lawmakers passed generous homestead exemptions that have allowed some 60% of Texas homeowners age 65 and up to pay $0 in school property taxes.
Texas governor 2026: Who is running and what to know
The governor is Texas’ chief executive, with a hand in everything from enforcing laws to setting budget priorities and responding to crises. Here’s a look at where GOP candidate Gov. Greg Abbott and Democratic candidate Gina Hinojosa stand.
ICE officer shoots, injures man in Austin, officials say
The shooting in Austin, which injured Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, came more than two months after an ICE officer fatally shot a man in Houston.
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.
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.
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.
T-Squared: Erin Thornton establishes the John Thornton Founding Fund
Her $1 million gift — including a $500k match — honors Tribune Founder John Thornton's vision, and asks the next generation to see themselves as founders too.
Top Texas Republicans knew Bo French’s history of racist comments. They supported him anyway.
The Railroad Commission candidate is under fire from fellow Republicans for a post that said a picture of college students celebrating a football victory shows “how many Americans have been displaced by foreigners.”
Texas land commissioner 2026: Who is running and what you need to know
The General Land Office oversees investments that earn billions of dollars for public education, manages state lands, operates the Alamo and administers disaster recovery funds and benefits to Texas veterans. Here’s a look at who’s running in the 2026 race and where they stand.
One group has stayed mostly mum on Bo French’s racist post — Texas’ oil and gas industry
One of the state’s largest oil and gas industry groups condemned French’s comments about South Asian students. They have not pulled their endorsement.
John Cornyn says he won’t vote for Bo French as backlash to racist post rises
The outgoing U.S. senator called the Texas Railroad Commission candidate “an embarrassment to the Republican Party.”
Texas freezes installation of Flock cameras along state roads
Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the state Department of Transportation to stop issuing permits for automated license plate readers.
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.