Dan Patrick (politician)

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.

Texas's 2026 elections feature unexpectedly competitive statewide races, a rarity in a state no Democrat has won statewide since 1994. The marquee contest pits state Rep. James Talarico against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton for U.S. Senate, with control of the chamber and the final two years of President Trump's term potentially at stake. Gov. Greg Abbott faces a tighter-than-expected challenge from state Rep. Gina Hinojosa despite a large fundraising edge. A recent University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll showed Democrat Vikki Goodwin narrowly ahead of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Nathan Johnson slightly leading Mayes Middleton for attorney general, with all surveyed races within the margin of error. Republicans' new congressional redistricting plan will also be tested.

Texas Democrats are testing whether anti-Trump sentiment can break the GOP's decades-long statewide winning streak, with no Democrat having won statewide office since 1994. The marquee race pits Democratic state Rep. James Talarico against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton for a U.S. Senate seat that could affect the chamber's balance. Gov. Greg Abbott faces an unexpectedly close challenge from state Rep. Gina Hinojosa despite a large fundraising edge. A University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll found several other statewide races within the margin of error, including lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, and a Railroad Commission seat. The elections will also test a Republican plan to redraw five Democratic U.S. House districts.

Dozens of Massachusetts lawmakers, including the House speaker and Senate president, are urging voters to defeat a November ballot measure that would roll back the state's marijuana legalization law. The push comes amid broader cannabis policy developments: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced medical cannabis dispensaries are now operating statewide, and a new North Carolina poll found majority bipartisan support for both recreational and medical legalization. Other state activity includes New Jersey advancing hemp drink and unlicensed-sales legislation, Oklahoma's new medical cannabis packaging rules taking effect November 1, and an Iowa psychedelic church securing a DEA agreement to import ayahuasca. These developments reflect continued momentum and regulatory flux across state-level cannabis and psychedelic policy.

A University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll of 1,200 registered Texas voters, conducted Sept. 25-Oct. 5, shows several statewide races within the margin of error ahead of Election Day. Democrat James Talarico led Republican Ken Paxton 50%-47% in the U.S. Senate race. In the governor's race, Democrat Gina Hinojosa led Republican Gov. Greg Abbott 49%-48%. Democrat Vikki Goodwin led Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick 49%-46%, and Democrats also held narrow leads in the attorney general and railroad commissioner races, while Republican Don Huffines narrowly led in the comptroller contest.

Inflation and the economy remained voters' top concerns, cited by 21% as Texas's biggest problem, ahead of political corruption/leadership (15%) and the economy generally (10%). President Trump's favorability in Texas stood at 42% favorable versus 50% unfavorable. Abbott's job approval was 44% approve/45% disapprove; Paxton stood at 35%/46%; Patrick at 33%/39%. All results carry margins of error of roughly 2.8-3.3 percentage points.

A letters roundup in the Austin American-Statesman reflects public frustration following a shooting by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent involving an unarmed person in Austin. Letter writers criticized Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton for what they described as silence on the incident, framing it as part of a broader pattern of prioritizing political power over public safety ahead of upcoming midterm elections.

Other letters in the same collection touched on separate but related state issues: the University of Texas removing ethnic and gender studies majors amid concerns over academic independence, a proposed data center facing an attorney general probe, and criticism of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's use of AI-generated campaign ads. Writers also referenced Paxton's impeachment, settled securities law case, and whistleblower settlement history. The recurring theme across submissions was distrust of Republican leadership in Texas and a call for voters to hold officials accountable in the midterms.