We’re tracking all major polls in the U.S. Senate race to give Texans a fuller picture of where this race is headed. Paxton has been consistently trailing in the polls, but the margins are tight.    view article

Three conservative Republicans known for compromise on divisive topics did not seek reelection, while a seat representing the Rio Grande Valley could sway in either political direction. In the moments leading up to the Republican-dominated State Board of Education finalizing a rewrite of social studies lessons this summer, Will Hickman proposed a minor change. A majority of board members had preliminarily approved a requirement that public school students learn about the Prophet Muhammad’s “brutal military campaigns against Jewish and Christian tribes, the normalization of slavery, and the taking of female captives as harem slaves.”  Deviating from some of his GOP peers on the board, Hickman, a Houston Republican, sought to strike the word “brutal.”  view article

This month, Texas surpassed 19 million voters for the first time in at least two decades. As of Oct. 5th, Texas counted about 418,000 more registered voters than it did ahead of the 2024 presidential election and almost 6.5 million more than it did in the 2005 election.  The state’s population has grown too, but voter registrations have risen faster, helped in part by advocacy groups’ efforts to register young Texans. Since 2005, the population of Texas has grown by just over a third, while the number of registered voters has climbed by about half. view article

State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic candidate for Texas governor, is suing her gubernatorial opponent in order to review more than a thousand pages of communication between Greg Abbott’s office and Elon Musk’s representatives, which were deemed confidential due to their “embarrassing” and “intimate” nature. Nobody here is accusing Greg Abbott of having a torrid love affair with Elon Musk,” said Hinojosa in front of the Travis County courthouse Monday morning. “What this is about is we have the world’s only trillionaire getting massive tax breaks from this governor after giving him over $500,000 in campaign contributions.”   Abbott, after voting in Del Valle on Monday morning, called the suit an act of desperation from Hinojosa.   “What Gina is trying to do more than anything else is to try to get attention for her and her campaign,” Abbott said to reporters. “This election has slipped through her hands and she doesn’t have any ability to do anything else other than to grasp at straws to get attention.” view article

As Texas prepares for the 90th legislative session in January 2027, lawmakers face decisions on public school funding, declining enrollment, property tax reform and classroom policies. Raise Your Hand Texas outlines how proposed legislation and Texas Classroom Commission recommendations could affect school district budgets, teachers and students across the state.  As Texas school districts grapple with declining enrollment, rising operating costs and difficult budget decisions, the upcoming 90th Legislative Session in January 2027 will be a major moment for public education. Lawmakers will tackle property tax relief, school funding and recommendations from the newly established Texas Classroom Commission—decisions that could have lasting implications for classrooms statewide.   "Every session presents a critical choice between quick fixes and long-term planning," said Bob Popinski, dean of policy for Raise Your Hand Texas. "How we address these interconnected issues this session will determine whether our schools have the long-term fiscal stability needed to serve Texas students for decades to come."  Across Texas, school boards are making difficult decisions. According to Raise Your Hand Texas, approximately 170 public school campuses have closed or been slated for closure over the past three school years amid declining enrollment and budget deficits. view article

Early voting in Travis County runs Monday, Oct. 19, through Friday, Oct. 30, ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3. view article

Early voting in the midterm election starts next week, and for the first time in decades, Democrats are ahead in the polls in the biggest races in Texas. In the contest for U.S. Senate, state Representative James Talarico has consistently led his opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and even races down the ballot that were long assumed to be out of reach for Democrats now appear to be toss-ups. Three-term Governor Greg Abbott, who has won all his previous elections by double digits, is running neck and neck with his little-known and (until recently) little-funded Democratic challenger, state Representative Gina Hinojosa.  view article

Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows ordered 3% budget cuts to most Texas agencies. view article

Paxton also plans to create a new task force to uncover and stop foreign entities from owning Texas land.  A set of new rules proposed by Attorney General Ken Paxton seeks to strengthen Texas’ ability to protect state land from foreign adversaries like China.  According to the Friday announcement, these rules build upon those proposed earlier this year to enforce a newly passed state law banning land purchases by countries that have been deemed hostile.   Paxton’s latest proposal leaves most of the previous rules in place but adds additional protections and clarifications.   Soon anyone, not just individuals involved in real estate transactions, can submit a complaint to the attorney general’s office if they believe a violation of the law has occurred. view article

Inspector General Levi Fuller testified before the Senate Education Committee on the Texas Education Agency's implementation of SB 571.  State senators met this week to review the impact of legislation enacted last year to prevent “passing the trash” in Texas schools, and to consider what more can be done to protect students from sexual abuse by school employees.  Members of the Senate Committee on Education held an interim hearing on Tuesday that included an update on Senate Bill 571, a measure designed to strengthen the state’s educator misconduct reporting, investigations, and enforcement.  Data presented by the Texas Education Agency showed the measure is succeeding in getting a record number of bad actors out of kids’ classrooms, even as the agency deals with the expected flood of new reports.  “The child needs to be the focus in education,” said committee chair State Sen. Donna Campbell (R–Bulverde) at the outset of the hearing, which covered several topics. view article

Witnesses expressed concern about foreign-funded curriculum and Sharia influences in public schools.   A Texas Senate hearing on patriotic instruction in public schools turned to allegations of Sharia influence, with witnesses questioning foreign-funded curriculum and school-sponsored activities involving Islam.   The Texas Senate Committee on Education heard testimony Wednesday on the State Board of Education’s efforts to promote patriotic instruction, along with recommendations to restrict foreign influence in classrooms.  Kate Bierly of the Texas Public Policy Foundation raised concerns regarding the Arabic curriculum in Austin ISD that was supplied by foreign sponsors like the Qatar Foundation International (QFI). view article

Witnesses expressed concern about foreign-funded curriculum and Sharia influences in public schools.  A Texas Senate hearing on patriotic instruction in public schools turned to allegations of Sharia influence, with witnesses questioning foreign-funded curriculum and school-sponsored activities involving Islam.  The Texas Senate Committee on Education heard testimony Wednesday on the State Board of Education’s efforts to promote patriotic instruction, along with recommendations to restrict foreign influence in classrooms.  Kate Bierly of the Texas Public Policy Foundation raised concerns regarding the Arabic curriculum in Austin ISD that was supplied by foreign sponsors like the Qatar Foundation International (QFI). view article

Witnesses argued that schools are not fully observing the law when it comes to handling parental challenges to explicit library materials.  Texas school districts cannot keep prohibited library materials simply because no parent has challenged them, a Texas Education Agency attorney told senators during a committee hearing.  The Senate Committee on Education examined the implementation of Senate Bill 13 on Wednesday. The 2025 law establishes restrictions on library materials, requires school board approval for acquisitions, expands parental oversight of the library catalog including what library materials their children can access, and requires temporary restrictions on challenged materials.  Sen. Brent Hagenbuch (R–Denton) said that while developing the law, lawmakers thought that “rather than require a complete, exhaustive review, we’re going to rely on local people. Parents can have access to the library. They can challenge books.”  Yet parents have complained that despite the law, school districts are keeping explicit materials available to students.  However, Von Byer, general counsel for Texas Education Agency (TEA), noted that the wording of SB 13 prohibits the possession, acquisition, and purchase of harmful materials. view article

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.  In response to a question about reducing the federal deficit, Paxton said: “Making some reasonable cuts to mandatory spending — you’re gonna have to do it. Or there is no solution. That’s just the reality. We have to suck it up.”  Around three-quarters of mandatory federal spending went toward Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid in the most recent fiscal year, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Much of the rest covered aid to lower-income families, such as food benefits and unemployment insurance, and a mix of retirement and disability benefits for federal workers and veterans. view article

SAN ANTONIO—President Donald Trump rallied thousands of supporters Wednesday night, delivering a nearly two-hour speech that included repeated attacks on Democrat U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico. The rally at the Freeman Coliseum came less than a month before the November 3 election, with Trump urging Republicans to turn out for Attorney General Ken Paxton’s U.S. Senate campaign and several congressional races.  Throughout his remarks, Trump repeatedly referred to Talarico as “Talafreako,” criticizing his record on immigration, energy policy, and child gender mutilation.  “A vote for Talafreako is a vote to turn Texas into a dirty, failing, third-world country,” Trump told the crowd, contrasting that with his support for Paxton.  Trump also questioned Talarico’s recent absence from public campaign appearances.   “Where is he? Where the hell is he?” Trump asked. view article

The influx of money allowed Rosenthal to outraise French in this most recent filing period, reporting more than $488,000 to French’s nearly $440,000.   In the 12 days after French’s posts, Rosenthal received more than $349,000 in donations. In the more than 11 months of his candidacy before the day in which French disparaged the racial makeup of University of Texas students celebrating at a Longhorns football game last month, Rosenthal’s campaign had raised $366,000.  view article

Rev. Babs Miller calls evangelical churches “almost cult-like” and says white men in Texas fear losing control to “the blacks and browns.”  New undercover footage shows a minister at Democrat U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico’s longtime church describing evangelical churches as “almost cult-like” and claiming white men in Texas are afraid of black and Hispanic Americans gaining political power.  Rev. Babs Miller, Minister to the Parish at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Austin, also said some evangelicals treat the Bible as a “magic book” and are “slightly or maybe greatly misguided.”  In the footage obtained by Texas Scorecard, Miller was asked, “What is wrong with evangelicals?”  Miller responded that some people “pick words over people,” pointing to how evangelicals interpret the Bible. view article

East Texas State Rep. Gary VanDeaver of New Boston said Monday that he’s resigning from office, months ahead of the end of his term in Jan. 2027. “Serving in the Texas House has been one of the great honors of my life. The members and Speakers I have served with are some of the most outstanding servant leaders I have ever met. Texas is a better place because of the sacrifices these people have made to serve this great state,” VanDeaver said on Monday. view article

The comptroller is asking the Legislature to increase education savings account funding from $1 billion to more than $2 billion to meet student demand. view article

A proposed increase in lawmakers’ daily per diem would also raise the amount lobbyists can secretly spend wining and dining individual legislators before triggering detailed disclosure requirements.  The Texas Ethics Commission is scheduled to meet Wednesday to consider raising the legislative per diem from $221 to $290.40. Legislators receive the per diem for each day of a 140-day regular legislative session in addition to their regular salary.  The per diem amount is also linked to the amount lobbyists are permitted to spend on gifts to lawmakers without being required to identify the recipient lawmaker by name. Under current law, registered lobbyists must disclose the names of recipients when they spend more than 60 percent of the legislative per diem in a single day on food and beverages, transportation, lodging, or entertainment for a state official or employee.  That detailed reporting includes the name of the official who benefited from the expenditure, along with details such as the place, date, and amount. view article

McALLEN — A federal judge ruled against environmental and wildlife conservation groups trying to prevent a land exchange between SpaceX and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in South Texas.  U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. denied a request for a preliminary injunction filed by the conservation groups to prevent U.S. Fish and Wildlife from exchanging 715 acres of land in a wildlife refuge for 683 acres of private land that is adjacent to another refuge  The government and SpaceX executed the land swap agreement on Sept. 1 and expect to transfer the title on Sept. 22.   The conservation groups — the Center for Biological Diversity, Save RGV, the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas, and the South Texas Environmental Justice Network — filed a lawsuit in June to stop the deal from going forward, alleging that SpaceX’s presence in the area had begun degrading the land through rocket test launches that send debris onto refuge lands. view article

State Rep. James Talarico sat at the end of a long table in May 2021 and pleaded with his colleagues on the Texas House Public Education Committee.  State Rep. James Talarico sat at the end of a long table in May 2021 and pleaded with his colleagues on the Texas House Public Education Committee.  He wanted them to vote down a Republican bill prohibiting transgender student-athletes from competing on sports teams aligned with their gender identity.  “I know many of you don’t like this bill because you tell me you don’t like this bill, but you think it’s a compromise,” Talarico said. “But if history has taught us anything, it’s that you can’t compromise with hate.”.” view article

On the same day the Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ board of directors moved to nearly double its CEO’s salary, board members also signed off on a 30% pay bump for themselves, according to newly disclosed information about the raises. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is now calling on the ERCOT board to undo the raises. “My suggestion to them is to reverse their own increase,” Patrick, who helps in appointing ERCOT board members, wrote in a statement Thursday. “If they do not want to serve, I am sure there are plenty of public-service minded Texans who are willing to take their place.” view article

Texas officials have sued a Houston area postpartum center as well as investigated Rio Grande Valley hospitals over allegations of soliciting foreigners to have babies on U.S. soil. view article

Texas Secures Legal Victory Against ‘Birth Tourism’ Operation  De’Ai Postpartum Care Center was accused of importing foreign nationals to give birth in the U.S. solely for the purpose of attaining citizenship for the children, without any intent of living here. The center catered to Chinese nationals, communicating with clients through Chinese social media and websites. view article

Abbott Moves Forward With Three-Year Bachelor’s Degree Initiative.  A newly selected working group will develop recommendations for accelerated bachelor’s degrees intended to reduce college costs and address Texas workforce needs view article

A longtime minister at Democrat U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico’s Austin church was caught on undercover video claiming he is moderating his positions on transgender issues to win the election and will “change his tune back” afterward.  The footage, first reported by The Daily Wire, features Rev. Babs Miller, a minister at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, where Talarico has long attended and preached. The outlet reports that Miller has been part of the church community since the 1990s and was ordained there in 2014.  During the conversation, an undercover journalist brought up Talarico’s previous statement that “God is non-binary” and noted that Talarico had recently walked back the remark. view article

The commission doesn't have anything to do with railroads. It regulates Texas’ oil and gas industry. Here’s where 2026 candidates Bo French, Jon Rosenthal and Arthur DiBianca stand.  About the elected seat: The Railroad Commission, one of Texas’ oldest regulatory agencies, has not regulated railroads since 2005. Instead, it oversees a constellation of energy infrastructure across the state. Its elected commissioners and staff are tasked with regulating oil and gas production, natural gas facilities, hydrogen, pipelines, coal and uranium surface mining. With several field offices across Texas, the commission inspects facilities, enforces penalties and reports to the Texas Legislature. More recently, the agency has also taken on regulating hydrogen storage and carbon dioxide injection and storage, as companies look to create alternate sources of energy and take advantage of federal financial incentives to recapture carbon dioxide that contributes to climate change. view article

Appointing a deputy comptroller who graduated from Texas A&M three years ago is just one of numerous shake-ups at an agency responsible with some of the state’s most important business.  As Don Huffines settled into his new post this summer as the new Texas comptroller overseeing the state’s finances, he arranged meetings to introduce himself to top level staff and to get to know their work. Often, he was accompanied by his second-in-command.   Call him “Mr. Betz,” Huffines instructed in one such meeting, referring to his fresh-faced top deputy.   Mr. Betz is Noah Betz, a Gen-Z political wunderkind who graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in business administration in 2023 and is now holding the second-most powerful position at the state agency with 3,000 employees. Betz did not disclose his age. Public records suggest he is either 24 or 25 years old.  view article

Rove, a former adviser to President George W. Bush and longtime Texas GOP political consultant, made the comments at a private lunch in Austin, according to attendees.  Karl Rove, former adviser to President George W. Bush and longtime Texas GOP political consultant, said he will vote for Jon Rosenthal, a Houston Democrat running to serve the Texas Railroad Commission, after Republican Bo French posted racist comments on Sunday about South Asian students at the University of Texas at Austin.   Rove made the comments at a members-only lunch event at the Headliners Club in Austin, where he called French a “bigot,” according to three attendees to whom The Texas Tribune has granted anonymity to discuss the conversation.  Rove said he has only ever voted for one Democratic candidate, Texas Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock, who was up for reelection in 1994. view article

Oversight of the state lottery was moved to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation when the Lottery Commission was disbanded following a series of scandals. Most notably, an international gambling ring rigged a 2023 jackpot, aided by online lottery ticket resellers and the Texas Lottery Commission.  view article

Gov. Greg Abbott is directing the Texas Water Development Board to penalize data centers that have not complied with legally required water-use reporting. As Brandon Waltens reports, those penalties could include potential criminal referrals and permit disqualifications. In a letter sent yesterday to the TWDB leadership, Abbott wrote that major water users, including data centers, "appear to have committed civil and criminal violations" by failing to provide information required under the Texas Water Code.  view article

The Public Utility Commission of Texas on Friday gave its approval to a controversial, 370-mile-long transmission line project,  The Howard Solstice transmission line, as it is known, will transport electricity through South Texas to the oil and gas industry in the Permian Basin. The changes the commission seeks should reduce construction through grassland, the commission said.  The line will stretch across 14 counties, including Uvalde, Kerr, Bexar and Medina counties. The five-panel commissioners directed the two transmission companies to work with landowners to make further route modifications after residents expressed concerns that the lines would significantly damage their properties. view article

Dallas lawmakers and civic leaders preview the major issues up for debate for The Texas Legislature and what’s at stake for Dallas residents view article

It is not clear if Patrick’s campaign sought permission from three Texas universities to use their trademarks in a college football-inspired ad that appears to be AI-generated.   Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick used three of Texas college football’s best-known traditions to mock Democratic candidates in what appears to be an AI-generated campaign ad ahead of November’s elections.   The universities restrict how outsiders can use their brands, including in political campaigns and advertising. Patrick’s ad tests whether they will enforce those rules. view article