TribCast: How the chair of Texas Democrats wants his party to govern
Kendall Scudder explains how Democrats flipped Texas in one election cycle — and how they’re hoping to hold onto those victories
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After Huffines’ defeat, Austin ISD halts cooperation with state investigation
Austin ISD officials question the state’s demands for library records and staff interviews as incoming Comptroller Sarah Eckhardt plans changes.
Trump’s Big Bend border wall construction can resume after U.S. Supreme Court ruling
In an 8-1 unsigned opinion, the justices overturned an El Paso federal judge’s order to halt construction, while the Trump administration seeks further Supreme Court review.
Democrats chart ambitious course as bill filing begins for a divided Texas Legislature
Proposals for the 2027 session include legalizing marijuana and abortion, limiting data centers and expanding Medicaid. Republicans look to end property taxes and government lobbyists.
Gov.-elect Hinojosa wants to expand Medicaid in Texas. An executive order won’t make that happen.
Texas Dems may craft a state “trigger bill” to activate Medicaid expansion if Congress repeals costly Trump administration restrictions.
Democrat Jon Rosenthal joins GOP-led Texas Railroad Commission with ideas, but faces an uphill fight
The oil field engineer’s technical expertise and perspective will give him influence in other ways, industry experts said.
Feds plan to take over Texas lawsuit against Planned Parenthood
As the state attorney general’s office transitions from Republican to Democratic hands, the Justice Department moves to intervene in the state’s legal battle over Medicaid payments.
Texas officials acknowledge problems with voter registration system, will work with locals on a fix
Election officials for more than a year sought fixes to TEAM, the state’s voter registration and management system.
With Democrats sweeping Texas, the GOP-led war on cities nears its end
Democrats are less likely to pick on cities the way Republican lawmakers have, observers said. But a fight over housing affordability will test that.
Texas’ school voucher program could be “unrecognizable, if not extinct,” says Democratic lawmaker
Democrats won back the Texas House for the first time in 24 years. Gov. Greg Abbott’s bullishness on vouchers turned off some Republican voters in rural communities that have historically been strongholds for his party, politicians said.
Texas appeals court cancels oral arguments in challenge to state hemp rules
The move clears the way for the three newly elected Democratic justices on the 15th Court of Appeals to hear the cases after they take office.
State-appointed managers in Texas takeover school districts brace for imminent removal
Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa is selecting a new education commissioner, who would have the power to replace any or all appointed board managers.
In historic first, women poised to hold top three leadership positions in Texas government
Texas made history Tuesday night by electing the first Latina governor and first female lieutenant governor. In January, the state House is expected to elect the first female Speaker.
Houston mayor limits police cooperation with ICE after Democratic wins
Houston police will stop contacting ICE during traffic stops when drivers aren’t arrested, even if they have immigration warrants. The change follows pressure from Gov. Greg Abbott to maintain cooperation.
Senfronia Thompson says she has the votes to become the first woman and first Black Texas House speaker
The 87-year-old Houston Democrat, known as Ms. T, has served in the Legislature since 1973. On Tuesday, her party won control of the Texas House for the first time since 2003.
Texas spent billions on border security. What happens to Greg Abbott’s mission when Dems take over?
After Abbott’s defeat, Texas’ new governor faces questions about Operation Lone Star, border security and the future of immigration enforcement.
As power shifts in Texas, the state’s economic strength is based on more than politics
Economists attributed Texas’ economic success to factors that have little to do with the political party that controls the state.
Leaders of powerful energy industry prepare to work with Democrat on Texas Railroad Commission
Associations that represent the oil and gas industry are calling on Jon Rosenthal, the first Democrat on the commission in three decades, to govern fairly and predictably.
Texas Democrats already angling to be the next House speaker
Rep. Senfronia Thompson, a Houston Democrat, and Rep. Eddie Morales Jr., D-Eagle Pass, have both announced their intentions.
Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa pledges bipartisan administration in first public appearance since win
Hinojosa said her transition into office would be “for the whole state of Texas,” not just the mostly Democratic coalition that elected her. She said Gov. Greg Abbott had been “gracious” about the process.
Hemp-friendly candidates win in Texas, but don’t expect to see THC products on shelves any time soon
THC-friendly lawmakers and hemp advocates hope for a legal framework that finally protects their industry from another ban by either state agencies or the federal government.
Texas Democrats won big with little-known underdogs. Here’s how they pulled it off.
Going into the election, half of voters didn’t know anything about the Democratic statewide candidates. Now, Democrats are going to run the state’s most important agencies.
Democrats inheriting Texas colleges the GOP overhauled in conservative push
Universities were a political target of Texas Republicans. As Gina Hinojosa and other Democrats prepare for office, here’s a look at the turning point facing college campuses.
GOP state senators could emerge as last protectors of party power in Texas
Republican state senators will still hold a majority in the Capitol’s upper chamber. They have the ability to significantly weaken the role of the lieutenant governor.
Texas Dems vowed seismic education change. Here’s how schools could change for millions of students.
The end to GOP dominance in Texas will likely have major implications for K-12 education policies, including the future of school vouchers and state takeovers.
Rio Grande Valley celebrates daughter Gina Hinojosa’s historic gubernatorial win
Hinojosa’s victory has injected a surge of pride in the South Texas region where the Austin lawmaker was born and raised.
Attorney General-elect Nathan Johnson says he won’t sue out-of-state doctors who mail abortion pills to Texas
Current Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued multiple out-of-state doctors for illegally mailing abortion pills, which abortion advocates say has chilled access.
Republicans lost ground in rural Texas, adding to historic wipeout
James Talarico ran up the score in the Panhandle, while rural Texans living along the Louisiana border stayed home.
With Democrats unexpectedly in control, Gina Hinojosa will have more power than she ever imagined
Hinojosa was careful while campaigning not to overpromise what she could deliver, assuming she’d be fighting against GOP majorities. Now she and her Democratic allies will control the government.
Surge in voter turnout in urban, border counties carried Texas blue wave
Meanwhile, rural counties saw the smallest growth in turnout.
After historic rout, Texas Republicans train fire on Trump, Paxton and each other in search for answers
Many Texas Republicans entered Tuesday’s election having known November as a formality. They ended the night in the political wilderness trying to make sense of what went so wrong.
Gina Hinojosa’s win could change Austin ISD’s fate. But state law may stand in the way.
Texas’ next governor and former AISD trustee has vowed to replace the state’s education commissioner, but a replacement would be bound by law that requires intervention.
Meet Vikki Goodwin, Nathan Johnson and the other Democrats who’ll run Texas
Overshadowed and outspent, newcomers will fill statewide offices from lieutenant governor to agriculture commissioner.
Gina Hinojosa won the governor’s race. What happens to Texas data centers now?
The governor-elect has called for a data center moratorium to last until the Texas Legislature meets in January to pass “real protections so Texans can have a seat at the table.”
After supporting Trump in 2024, Texas border counties fueled Democrats’ big night
Counties along the U.S.-Mexico border saw the largest surge in voter turnout compared to any other region in the state.
Ken Paxton survived scandal after scandal. He couldn’t survive a Senate race.
The attorney general ran for Senate as a grudge match, and in the process helped give Democrats their first win in decades.
Texas Democrats break Republican hold on statewide courts
The GOP will still have a 5-4 advantage on the Supreme Court and was trending toward a 6-3 lead on the Court of Criminal Appeals.
Texas Dems celebrate flipping State Board of Education, brace for potential recount
The race determining the balance of power on Texas' education board could go to a recount as fewer than 600 votes separate candidates.
Photos: Texans cast their ballots resulting in a historic Election Day
State Rep. James Talarico defeated Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, and state Rep. Gina Hinojosa was elected to become Texas's first Democratic governor since Ann Richards lost her reelection bid in 1994.
Democrats seize power in Texas, ending decades of GOP dominance
Texas’ governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and every other statewide candidate fell, upending the state’s political power structure in one night.
Democrats seize power in Texas, ending decades of GOP dominance
Texas’ governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and every other statewide candidate fell, upending the state’s political power structure in one night.
Shouting, honking and dancing: Revelers descend on Texas Capitol to celebrate Democratic wins
The election marked the first time many had witnessed a Democrat win a major election in Texas.
Katy Padilla Stout, Democratic newcomer, flips West Texas congressional seat
Padilla Stout is the first Democrat to hold the seat in over a decade, besting right-wing Youtuber Brandon Herrera.
Texas Republicans’ gerrymander backfires as Democrats gain ground in U.S. House delegation
Republicans lost two U.S. House seats they already controlled and flipped only one of their five gerrymander targets.
League City voters reject continued use of Flock cameras
The police department for the Houston-area suburb operates a system of 55 cameras.
Greg Abbott lost because he became a RINO, Trump says
The president’s late-night rebuke came the same day he praised Abbott as “strong and highly respected.”
Clayton Tucker becomes first Democratic agriculture commissioner in nearly 40 years
Tucker will usher in a new era for the agriculture department as the agency’s first Democratic commissioner since Jim Hightower in 1990.
Democrat Vikki Goodwin declares victory over Dan Patrick to become Texas lieutenant governor
The race became unexpectedly close in the final weeks of the cycle, with the incumbent naming his opponent and releasing attack ads unlike in his previous contests.
Sarah Eckhardt unseats GOP Comptroller Don Huffines in historic victory for Democrats
Sarah Eckhardt won the Texas comptroller race on Election Day, becoming the first Democrat in decades to oversee state revenue forecasts, tax collections and government purchasing.
Jon Rosenthal wins Texas Railroad Commission race, the first Dem to hold the role in 32 years
Rosenthal defeated Bo French in a race that drew national attention for French’s racist remarks. The position regulates Texas' oil and gas industry.
Tejano musician Bobby Pulido unseats GOP Rep. Monica De La Cruz, flipping key South Texas district
The self-styled “conservative Democrat” recaptured the 15th Congressional District four years after it flipped red, a blow to Republicans who tried to draw themselves more seats in the Rio Grande Valley.
In major upset, Nathan Johnson takes Texas attorney general’s office for Democrats
In a stunning upset with repercussions across the national legal landscape, Democrat Nathan Johnson claimed victory in the race to be Texas’ next top lawyer. Johnson, a Dallas state senator and corporate litigator, is the first Democrat elected attorney general since 1994. He defeated Mayes Middleton, an oil and gas…
South Texas congressional Democrats Vicente Gonzalez and Henry Cuellar glide to reelection
Ahead of the 2026 election, Texas Republicans redrew congressional boundaries in a gambit to help the GOP keep control of Congress.
Democrats flip Texas House amid generational wave
Democrats needed to flip 14 seats to win the lower chamber, which has been under Republican control since 2003. They were on track to easily clear that threshold.
Tarrant County redistricting backfires as Democrats dominate ballot top to bottom
Tim O’Hare, the GOP incumbent and firebrand conservative, was ousted as county judge. For Texas Senate, Taylor Rehmet declared victory over Republican Leigh Wambsganss.
Democrat Gina Hinojosa topples Greg Abbott to become first Latina governor of Texas
Hinojosa’s victory over Abbott, a three-term incumbent, triggers a political earthquake in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the governor’s mansion since 1990.
James Talarico defeats Ken Paxton, giving Democrats their first U.S. Senate win in Texas since 1988
The Austin state lawmaker ran on a message that America’s true fault line is between not the left and the right, but the wealthy and everyone else. He had not yet been born when Texas last elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate.
Talarico, Hinojosa usher in new era as Texas Democrats oust several top Republicans
Texas Tribune reporters provide live updates as Democrats stun Republicans, taking several statewide offices for the first time in decades.
Here’s what to watch as Texas wraps its most competitive electoral season in years.
Democrats have forced Republicans to compete from U.S. Senate to railroad commissioner, and early turnout hit a modern-day midterm record. Tuesday night could reshape Texas politics.
See November 2026 midterm election results as votes come in across Texas.
Texans are voting in several high-profile races, including contests for U.S. Senate, governor, several legislative seats and more.
Here’s how 2026 midterm election votes will be tallied and reported in Texas
Results from early voting should start rolling out after polls close at 7 p.m. It will be hours before all races are called.
Ken Paxton and James Talarico close their Senate campaigns on home turf
To win, Paxton needs to keep the margin close in Collin County, his political home base. Talarico must earn epic returns in Travis County, the bluest part of the state.
ICE agent accused of hitting immigrant in Houston with an SUV turns himself in
Houston ICE officer Mario Alberto Morales turned himself in after being indicted on a felony assault charge for striking a man with his SUV.
Paxton vs. Talarico: Five things to watch in Texas’ tight U.S. Senate race
A swing back among Latino voters, Harris County turnout and Republicans skipping the Senate race are among the trends we’ll be tracking as returns come in.
Inside the booth: Faith, economy and immigration inspired these Texans’ votes
Several races in Texas drew national attention. On the eve of the election, Texans share what mattered to them.
In volatile Tarrant County, both political parties are on the prowl for moderate Republicans
The Fort Worth area, no longer solidly red, is a midterm election wild card as Democrats and Republicans jockey for supremacy.
Ken Paxton appears to cancel final rally of his “Come and Take It” tour at the Alamo
Paxton’s campaign initially said he would close his get-out-the-vote push at the landmark. Instead, his campaign schedule lists events in North Texas on the eve of Election Day.
More than 7.7 million Texans voted early in 2026 election, surpassing 2018 record
More than 40 percent of voters cast a ballot during the early voting period, passing the modern-day record set in 2018.
Texas parks department fights to withhold draft agenda amid fears of Boca Chica sale to SpaceX
The Texas Tribune reviewed a copy of a draft Texas Parks and Wildlife agenda that included discussion about ceding control of 1,300 acres in Cameron County, home to Boca Chica Beach and SpaceX’s launch site.
With U.S. Senate control at stake, Republicans fear the once-unthinkable: a blue Texas
Ken Paxton and James Talarico are neck-and-neck in the country's most expensive U.S. Senate race on record. The outcome's ripple effects will extend years.
This young Latino mayor went all in for John Cornyn. But Ken Paxton is a sore subject.
Erik Gomez, a rising GOP star in South Texas, has modeled his career after Republicans like Cornyn. He’s wrestling with the idea of voting for Paxton.
El Paso ISD releases student data to state comptroller, prompting concerns over undocumented students
Texas Comptroller Don Huffines’ office requested the number of El Paso ISD students using a Social Security number and those using alternative identification numbers.
Texas Supreme Court blocks deposition intended to identify group behind transgender mailers
The ruling came 15 minutes before a Wyoming-registered group was scheduled to answer questions in a deposition ordered by a Travis County judge.
Rick Perry loses reelection to board of Fermi, the data center company he co-founded
A spokesperson for Fermi says Perry can remain on the board until his successor is elected, and he remains eligible for reelection.
Use our updated database to see what state employees in Texas are paid, as of October 2026
The Texas Tribune’s database of state employees’ compensation has been updated to include salaries as of October 1.
Texas ICE agent indicted for striking fleeing Houston pedestrian with vehicle
A Harris County grand jury indicted a federal immigration agent caught on video striking a pedestrian during a vehicle pursuit.
An Hinojosa win would be a political feat, but she wouldn’t inherit the power Abbott holds
Even if a Democrat were in the Governor’s Mansion, Republicans would likely control the Legislature. Divided government could mean limited political control.
Voting rights groups in Texas have cut back on outreach efforts amid threat of criminal penalties
State lawmakers passed strict restrictions in SB1 that criminalize paid workers helping voters with mail ballots.
Suburban Houston voters will be the first in Texas to decide the fate of Flock cameras
Tuesday’s election will determine if League City can keep its 55 cameras operating along city roads.
National GOP women’s group denies involvement in transgender youth texts
A company that sent the messages named a Republican organization and an individual as the senders. The texts about LGBTQ+ support materials drew intense backlash.
Harris County, Texas AG’s office reach agreement on removal of get-out-the-vote ad tags
Despite the agreement in which both sides declared victory, the lawsuit the AG filed against the county over the ads is only on pause through Nov. 3.
Disappointed by Trump, dubious of Talarico: This Rio Grande Valley health official mulls his midterm vote
Dr. Ivan Melendez aligned with Democrats for years before moving to the right in recent elections. Ahead of the midterms, he’s weighing his options.
High housing costs cut into Texans’ income gains in 2025, new Census data shows
Incomes grew in some parts of the state and fell in others, according to new U.S. Census Bureau figures. Meanwhile, homeowners are paying more to keep a roof over their heads.
Texas elections aren’t official until they get certified. Here’s how it works.
The typically low-key process has come under scrutiny since Jan. 6 rioters sought to halt certification of the 2020 presidential election.
A conservative senator reshaped Texas colleges. He wants the rest of the country to follow.
Writing laws to restrict DEI on campuses was just the start. Now as Texas Tech chancellor, Brandon Creighton wants to push the limits on what professors teach.
Panhandle Republican group wants all Texas ballots hand counted in the Nov. 3 election
The Potter County Republican Party lawsuit argues, without providing proof, that voting machines could be vulnerable. Texas law already requires a portion of paper ballots to be hand counted.
Group behind trans mailers must answer questions under oath, Travis County judge rules
The organization, which argued that the order violates its First Amendment right to speak anonymously, will appeal.
As Dems target the Texas House, GOP Speaker Dustin Burrows is campaigning like his gavel’s at stake
Flipping 14 seats would give Democrats control of the lower chamber, but even putting a major dent in the GOP's margin could complicate Burrows’ ability to govern, or even remain speaker.
Trump says more FEMA aid is coming to Texas after 2026 floods
Trump promised more federal money after FEMA denied individual assistance for Texas flood survivors. State officials have appealed FEMA’s decision.
Comptroller Don Huffines did not disclose his role managing firm investing in SpaceX
On state-required disclosure forms, Huffines omitted his leadership role in Huffines Enterprises Science & Technology, a firm that invests in Elon Musk’s company that has received tax breaks from the state.
High schooler pulled from musical over Texas’ anti-DEI law sues, alleging discrimination
A female Grand Prairie teen lost the lead role in “Little Shop of Horrors” because the role was male. Administrators cited the state’s ban on diversity, equity and inclusion as the reason.
Dolores Huerta, trailblazing advocate for migrant farmworkers, dies at 96
Huerta co-founded several organizations to support Texas farmworkers. She was also an ardent advocate for women and immigrant's rights.
Six charts that explain how Texas’ suburbs became a midterm battleground
The state’s fast-growing suburban counties have gotten bigger, more diverse and bluer over time.
Elder Black Texans pass the baton to next generation to keep up fight at ballot box
For Democrats to win in Texas, young Black voters must vote in record numbers. Harris County advocates are betting on it.
With dueling Trump-Talarico rallies, Lubbock became the center of the political universe
Lubbock, the second most populous city in West Texas, has been a reliable Republican stronghold. Democrats, like Talarico, hope to close yawning gaps in rural areas that have kept them out of power.
U.S. Supreme Court leaves in place limits on when deportation cases can be paused
The court declined to block a settlement between Texas and the Justice Department that effectively restricts when judges can use their discretion in how quickly immigration cases are resolved.
Austin man shot by ICE officer pleads not guilty to federal assault charge
Wilber Rafael Garces Perez entered the plea a week after a grand jury indicted him on one count of assaulting, resisting, impeding and obstructing a federal officer.
Greg Abbott, Gina Hinojosa each post biggest fundraising hauls yet in final leg of Texas governor’s race
The third-term GOP governor’s burst of fundraising and spending was especially notable, signaling how seriously he is taking the once-overlooked race.
Bo French, Jon Rosenthal raise more than $1M combined in second-highest fundraising haul
The candidates for railroad commissioner are using the money in advertising, mailers and consulting fees.
Coalition in deep East Texas aims to build tech workforce, connect region
Led by community members from 11 counties, the group plans to address major concerns about broadband expansion and provide training on how to use technology.