Austin, Texas

A group of 15 Texas Republican House members, led by Rep. August Pfluger, is threatening to derail the more than $1 trillion farm bill over a Senate provision expanding ethanol blending requirements. The lawmakers argue the measure, backed by Midwestern senators and corn-state interests, would raise costs for Texas oil refineries and push fuel prices higher. The dispute revives a long-running fight between the agriculture and oil industries over federal ethanol mandates dating to 2005. The House already passed its version of the farm bill in April; the Senate has yet to act before the current congressional session ends in January, and Texas farm groups worry the ethanol dispute could further delay final passage.

Project 50, a political group founded by Illinois abortion-rights veterans including former state Sen. Heather Steans and ex-HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, is working to replicate Illinois' decades-old shift toward abortion access by targeting state legislative races in conservative states with bans or heavy restrictions. After early setbacks in Arizona, the group refocused on culturally conservative states in 2023, winning three races in its first three years and four more in 2025, including in Virginia. It has raised over $3.7 million from donors such as Michael Bloomberg and Gov. JB Pritzker. Organizers say the strategy targets voters uneasy with total abortion bans, not broad support for unrestricted access. Abortion-rights opponents call its electoral impact limited so far.

A dispute over public records tied to SpaceX's planned "Terafab" semiconductor facility in Grimes County, Texas, has grown into a multi-party legal fight. Resident Marie Egyed and the Grimes County Citizens for Responsible Development sought documents on tax abatements and the county's approval process; the Texas Attorney General's Office largely sided with releasing them, but SpaceX sued to block disclosure, citing security risks as a defense contractor. Austin attorney Bill Aleshire has now filed to intervene, seeking a court order forcing Grimes County to release the records. The case, moved to Travis County District Court, could set precedent for transparency around large Texas development deals.

Interim Texas Comptroller Don Huffines has broadened an audit of Austin Independent School District and three other districts to examine diversity, equity and inclusion practices, foreign worker hiring, and compliance with library book restrictions. The move follows Senate Bill 13, passed last session to let parents challenge school library books and sit on review committees. Critics, including an Austin letter writer, argue officials are targeting districts whose parents have not flagged books as objectionable, calling the effort selective enforcement under the banner of "parent empowerment." Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has backed the broader review, intensifying debate over state oversight of local school district policy and curriculum content.

Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, the Venezuelan man shot by an ICE officer in Austin on Sept. 20 during a traffic stop, has pleaded not guilty to a federal charge of assaulting, resisting, impeding and obstructing a federal officer. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. A hearing revealed one ICE agent's body camera footage did not clearly show the alleged assault, and the agent who fired the shot was not wearing a camera and has not been interviewed. A judge ruled Garces Perez a flight risk, ordering him held in custody, pausing his bid for deportation protection and a U-visa tied to a separate criminal case.

President Trump traveled to Corpus Christi and Lubbock, Texas, to boost Ken Paxton's Senate bid against Democrat James Talarico, part of a final midterm push through traditionally Republican states. Texas has not elected a Democrat statewide in 32 years, but Talarico has gained traction amid Paxton's legal troubles. Elon Musk has poured significant money into stopping Talarico, a point Democrats are using to highlight wealthy influence in politics, echoing a parallel fight in the governor's race between Greg Abbott and Gina Hinojosa. Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined the trip, fueling speculation about his 2028 ambitions, while Vance and Trump also focus on tight races in Michigan and Alaska.

With Election Day a week away, Illinois Democrats are campaigning beyond state lines to aid party allies nationally. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi backed Texas Railroad Commissioner candidate Jon Rosenthal; Sen. Tammy Duckworth campaigned for Sherrod Brown in Ohio; Rahm Emanuel canvassed in New Hampshire; and Rep. Danny Davis and successor nominee La Shawn Ford campaigned for Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate David Crowley. Gov. JB Pritzker is focused on his own reelection, holding a large cash advantage and backing fellow Democrats financially.

Big money is also flowing into Illinois races, including Chicago school board contests, with GOP megadonors Dick and Elizabeth Uihlein and wealthy Democratic-aligned groups both spending heavily to shape outcomes from Springfield to Chicago.