Texas voters turned out in historic numbers Tuesday, delivering victories for State Rep. James Talarico and forcing a runoff between Attorney General Ken Paxton and incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the state’s U.S. Senate contest that claimed national attention. The total early-voting turnout of more than 2.5 million marks the highest ever for a midterm primary election. The results also kicked off the 2026 midterm cycle.
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Behind the scenes of Texas politics, statewide officials oversee the state’s finances, agriculture industry, energy regulation and highest criminal court. As the March 3 Republican primary approaches, voters face decisions in several contested races that will shape how Texas governs for years to come.
Early voting turnout for the 2026 Texas primary elections has surged to levels never before seen in a midterm cycle, with statewide total turnout on pace to more than double the figures recorded during the 2022 primaries.
At a Waco debate hosted by Those Meddling Kids, Democratic hopefuls J. Gordon Mitchell, Milah Flores and Casey Shepard sparred over policy, political pasts and what it would take to flip a longtime Republican seat.
The final pages of the primary ballot give voters a chance to weigh in on healthcare, housing, taxes, public safety and more. Faculty experts explain what each proposal could mean for Texas and for students.
As Election Day nears on Nov. 4, Texans will vote on 17 proposed constitutional amendments, most related to taxes. Dr. Paul Mason, Baylor accounting professor, said many aim to help specific groups but come with financial trade-offs.
The U.S. stock market just got a Texas-sized addition. The Texas Stock Exchange received approval from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission to launch a new stock exchange, with TXSE set to begin trading stocks by early 2026.
Lilia Gonzalez, director of nurses, said Health Services would remain available to monitor potential measles outbreaks and help students. Though the Texas measles outbreak has ended, Health Services continues providing preventative measures for other potential outbreaks.
When Camp Mystic staff members found themselves trapped on the roof of “Cozy Cabin,” they weren’t listening to the roaring flood quickly inching upward or the thundering storm above — they listened to the faint singing of worship songs from the recreation hall and the whispered prayers of friends beside them.
MSPL follows the model “Pray, Stay, Raise and Go” when facing disasters, according to Sarah Walker, BearAid senior coordinator for service. Directly following the disaster, BearAid stays in Waco, allowing first responders to do their jobs and praying for those affected. Now, BearAid and MSPL are in the raise phase.
Texas Senate Bill 3 (SB 3) proposes a sweeping ban on all forms of THC, including hemp-derived compounds like Delta-8 and Delta-9. It aims to restrict the cannabinoids that can be legally sold, impose stricter licensing and testing requirements and introduce criminal penalties for non-compliance, according to Texas Policy Research.
School vouchers, also known as school choice, have been a controversial subject in Texas education for the past four years. The program uses Texas’ state funds to help parents pay for their children’s homeschooling or private school education. Many educators on both sides of the political aisle have spoken against the program. Other politicians argue that it gives Texas children the opportunity to learn in the best quality environment.
On Feb. 19, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 9, which eliminates cashless and low-cost bail options for certain defendants, including those charged with murder, aggravated assault and fentanyl-related homicide, according to Texas Border Business.
Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey recently went viral for their Super Bowl “True Detective” parody ad where they were both calling for a larger investment into Texas film studios. However, like the first season of “True Detective,” things are a lot more complicated, as the money from these investments come with some tight strings attached.
Texas has earned a reputation around the country for its power grid failing under various conditions. Whether it’s power outages due to Hurricane Beryl or winter freezes, the power grid has failed Texans before, and now many experts worry about if its infrastructure can handle the strain of these new data centers.
First-generation Texans now ask themselves, what does it mean to be an American whose roots sprouted up somewhere thousands of miles away, and what does it mean to put down new roots during a time when border control and deportation are among the new administration’s top priorities?
“This is an exhibit that shows us a truly turbulent moment in the history of the United States-Mexico borderlands,” Hinojosa said. “It shows us not only the tragedy of its history, but also the resiliency of its people. As a state, we have not done our duty in documenting and teaching those realities. This exhibit sheds light on that complex history, and it is public education at its best.”
Three of the positions in the cabinet could be filled by Texans — one has secured confirmation, and two others await a decision. With these picks, Texas joins New York and Florida as the states with the most members tapped for the new cabinet.
“It’s about more than dollars and cents,” Hilliard said. “It’s about making sure people feel safe driving their cars.”
The question many Californians now have is how the state will rebuild and adapt for the next wildfire season. As of late, the wildfires have not been obeying the typical laws of nature. The wildfire season, which typically runs from May to October, has become more of a suggestion than a hard-set date.
“There’s an awareness that the words you share could be used by God to shape the future of thousands of lives,” Pokluda said. “My desired goal is always to point people to Jesus and to remind them that their lives matter in His story. Speaking at Passion is an opportunity to pour into the next generation of leaders, and that responsibility is one I don’t take lightly.”
Trump won the state across border security and economic lines on top of his perceived toughness on some cultural issues like “wokeness,” a return to conservative values and more.
When mental health issues are not adequately considered, defendants may not receive the compassion and context their situations deserve, resulting in harsher sentences or wrongful convictions.
“We need to carry our Christian values into many aspects of the law,” Curry said. “We need God back in our in our government.”
Framed by the legislature’s ongoing debate over school vouchers, the State Board of Education election will also have major ramifications on curriculum updates.
With issues like the death penalty, bail reform and wrongful convictions in the spotlight, the results of this election will have significant implications for Texas’s legal landscape. Moreover, with rising public interest in how courts affect social justice, civil rights and public safety, voters are more likely to tune in to this critical race in 2024.
The historically red Texas Supreme Court battles to maintain its conservative tradition in the ballot box next month, making this election especially important for Texas Democrats.
This week on Lariat TV News, we bring you a major update regarding men’s basketball. Next, a historic total solar…
This week on Lariat TV News, we bring you the tournament on everyone’s mind as Baylor men’s and women’s basketball…
Texas was one of 15 states to hold its Super Tuesday primary election for local, state and federal offices on March 5 — and it saw incumbents cruise to victory.
