Governor of Texas

Early voting is underway in Texas's midterms through Oct. 30, ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Gov. Greg Abbott faces Democrat Gina Hinojosa, while in one of the most expensive nonpresidential races on record, Republican Ken Paxton battles Democrat James Talarico for U.S. Senate, with ad spending topping $442 million and Republicans outspending Democrats roughly three to one. Polls, including recent FOX News and New York Times/Siena surveys, have shown Talarico consistently ahead since September, raising the possibility Texas could elect a Democrat statewide for the first time since 1994. Trump made three campaign visits backing Paxton, who faces past fraud indictments and an impeachment acquittal. Prominent Texas attorney Thomas J. Henry, who had previously backed Paxton with a $600,000 super PAC donation, has now endorsed Talarico after meeting with him, a notable crossover in the closely watched contest.

Texas state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee challenging Gov. Greg Abbott, filed suit in Travis County seeking full access to emails between Abbott's office and Elon Musk. Abbott had previously released over 1,300 pages to a records request, but nearly all were redacted after his office cited exemptions including "intimate and embarrassing" content. Hinojosa, invoking a Texas law letting legislators inspect confidential records, argues Abbott is violating a mandatory legal duty; she has offered to keep the material confidential. Abbott's office calls the suit "baseless" and politically motivated. The dispute cites Musk's roughly $366 million in Republican election spending, including $500,000 to Abbott's campaign, as the November 3 election nears.

A letter signed by 70 Latino officials urges Democratic Governors Association chair and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear to direct campaign funds toward Gina Hinojosa's bid for Texas governor, warning that a failure to invest could cost Beshear Latino support in a future presidential run. The letter cites Texas's large Latino electorate and concerns about Republican gains with Latino voters in the last election cycle.

The DGA has so far not spent money on advertising in Texas, instead prioritizing races in Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, and Wisconsin, which the organization apparently views as more competitive. Texas has not elected a Democratic governor since Ann Richards left office in the 1990s, when the state was far less reliably Republican. Whether Hinojosa can replicate Richards's appeal, particularly among suburban women, remains an open question. The dispute highlights an internal Democratic debate over where to allocate limited resources ahead of upcoming gubernatorial contests, and whether Texas represents a genuine opportunity or a distraction from more winnable races.

Dallas is drawing renewed national political attention, a shift Bloomberg describes as the city's return to prominence after roughly four decades away from the center of the action. The city's growing role reflects Texas's broader rise as a political and economic force, fueled by its energy sector, expanding finance and tech presence, and its weight in national Republican politics.

Coverage tied to this trend touches on figures including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, alongside broader themes like the 2026 midterm elections, the state's business climate, and its increasing pull for corporate relocations and investment. The renewed focus underscores Texas's outsized influence on national policy debates spanning energy, finance, and technology, and signals why political observers and markets are watching the state's institutions and leaders more closely heading into upcoming election cycles.

Texas heads into its Nov. 3, 2026 election with several races drawing unusually close national attention. Democratic state Rep. James Talarico is running competitively against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton for U.S. Senate, a race polling shows within margin of error — the closest Texas Senate contest since Democrats last held the seat in 1993. Gov. Greg Abbott, seeking a fourth term, holds a smaller-than-usual lead over Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, who would be the state's first Democratic governor in over 30 years and first Latina governor if elected. Down-ballot races for lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, and other statewide posts are also tighter than in recent cycles.

The election marks the first test of Texas's new congressional map, redrawn last year at President Trump's urging to net Republicans five additional U.S. House seats after Supreme Court approval. Ten open House seats add further uncertainty. Affordability, property taxes, and growing bipartisan backlash against data centers are emerging as major voter concerns statewide.

The Texas State Board of Education voted 8-4 on Friday to approve changes to state-mandated social studies curriculum that add new content on early Islamic history, including material on Muhammad taking female captives, military campaigns against Jewish and Christian tribes, and the normalization of slavery in early Islam. The changes will be taught in four high school courses -- U.S. History, World History, World Geography and U.S. Government -- and take effect in 2030.

The vote followed months of debate and testimony from dozens of Muslim speakers opposed to the language. Board member Brandon Hall pushed for describing Muhammad as the "Prophet of Islam" rather than "the Prophet Mohammed," arguing not all Texans accept him as a prophet. The revisions also emphasize Christianity's historical role in the country's founding.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) criticized the standards as distorted and indoctrinating rather than educational. Texas designated CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist and criminal organizations in 2025, adding further friction to the dispute over the curriculum's framing of Islam.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is calling for a special Commissioners Court session to revisit the county's Flock Safety license-plate reader program, saying officials renewed the contract in May without full public debate or added oversight safeguards that had been discussed at the time. Hidalgo wants a public accounting of the county's Flock contracts, a discussion with experts and residents, and a pause on the program until stronger privacy protections are in place. The original renewal passed 4-0, with Hidalgo abstaining, after officials credited the cameras with aiding arrests and solving violent crimes, while residents warned the system logs every vehicle, not just suspects.

The dispute reflects broader unease across Texas: Gov. Greg Abbott has cut certain state funding for Flock cameras, and allegations of misused searches have surfaced at several Houston-area police departments. In Magnolia, the police chief has decided not to renew his department's contract over similar data-privacy concerns and budget constraints, despite acknowledging the cameras' investigative value. Harris County commissioners meet Tuesday, though Flock was not yet on the posted agenda.

ICE agent Christian Castro was released Thursday from a Cameron County, Texas jail, hours after a federal judge rejected Minnesota's bid to compel Gov. Greg Abbott to sign an extradition warrant and keep Castro detained past Texas's 90-day limit. U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., a Trump appointee, ruled the case was not yet "ripe" because Abbott had not denied the extradition request, only ordered an investigation into whether Castro qualifies as a "fugitive." Sheriff Manuel Trevino said Texas law required Castro's release once the 90-day window lapsed. His whereabouts afterward were unknown, and it was unclear if he has legal representation.

Castro faces assault and false-reporting charges in Minnesota after shooting Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis during a January 14 Minneapolis ICE operation. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, calling Texas a "sanctuary state for violent criminals," cited jailhouse calls about fleeing to Mexico and vowed to keep fighting. Abbott's office said the ruling affirmed his authority to review extradition requests before acting.