Tag Archives: Election 2026

Fort Bend redistricts its Commissioners Court

Posted on October 19, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Was wondering when they were going to get around to this. The Fort Bend County Commissioners Court voted 3–2 Monday to adopt a new precinct map, replacing boundaries drawn in 2021 and reigniting debate over political representation in the county. … Continue reading →

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Paxton sues the guy attempting the Loving County takeover

Posted on October 17, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday filed a lawsuit against the leader of a group of people that recently moved into a wealthy far West Texas county with the expressed intent to wrest political control from the current office holders. Paxton also … Continue reading →

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Rep. Gina Hinojosa officially enters the Governor’s race

Posted on October 16, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Texas Rep. Gina Hinojosa on Wednesday announced she is running for governor in 2026, setting up a potential clash between Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and one of the Legislature’s most strident critics of his school voucher program. “Our fight … Continue reading →

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The latest UH/Hobby poll has some red flags for Republicans

Posted on October 12, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

First, the headline stories, which don’t interest me much. Ken Paxton and John Cornyn are effectively tied in the Republican primary race for U.S. Senate, with 34% of voters backing Paxton and 33% supporting Cornyn. 22% support Wesley Hunt. Jasmine … Continue reading →

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The latest Loving County shenanigans draws a response

Posted on October 12, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Are we sure this isn’t all just performance art? Local, state and federal officials have called for separate inquiries a week after a Houston Chronicle investigation detailed how a group of people from out-of-state was moving to wrest political control of … Continue reading →

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Three ridiculous voting and election stories

Posted on October 11, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

“Silly season” doesn’t begin to cover this stuff. Item 1: Paxton sides with Texas GOP, against secretary of state in lawsuit seeking to close primaries Last month, the Republican Party of Texas sued over a state law that allows anyone … Continue reading →

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The recall effort is out there collecting signatures

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck, you’re gonna need it. After more than a year of posting to social media and reaching out to news media, Ethan Hale stood alone — aside from a Houston Public Media journalist — at the Houston City College … Continue reading →

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Tarrant County redistricting map gets cleared

Posted on October 8, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Can’t say I’m surprised. An effort to stop Tarrant County’s new commissioner precincts was shot down Thursday. Multiple groups suing the county over the maps asked Judge Megan Fahey to enact an injunction against the county’s new maps, claiming that the … Continue reading →

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A brief news roundup from the current redistricting trial

Posted on October 5, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

What the label says, three news stories I could find that had coverage of the redistricting trial. From the Trib. When Texas first proposed redrawing its congressional map earlier this summer, critics decried it as a political power-grab to appease … Continue reading →

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Parker’s poll puts her in the lead

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: A poll recently conducted by LRP shows former Houston Mayor Annise Parker in strong position to win the March 2026 Democratic primary for Harris County Judge. Voters know and like Parker, which earns her majority support and … Continue reading →

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Talarico rakes it in

Posted on October 2, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Impressive. State Rep. James Talarico raised $6.2 million in the first three weeks of his bid for Senate, his campaign announced Wednesday, a massive haul that far outpaces the earliest fundraising numbers tallied by recent Democratic statewide hopefuls. The staggering … Continue reading →

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Rep. Gina Hinojosa said to be running for Governor

Posted on October 1, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

All righty. Texas state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, an Austin Democrat, has told at least two donors that she’s running for governor next year, Axios has learned. Why it matters: A Hinojosa win in the Democratic nomination would set up a battle … Continue reading →

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Redistricting trial 2.0 begins

Posted on September 30, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

And they’re off. This week, a trio of federal judges will consider whether Texas can use its new congressional map in the 2026 election, marking the first legal test for the districts produced by a summer of intense partisan clashing. … Continue reading →

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Rep. Rosenthal to run for RRC

Posted on September 30, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

A bit of a surprise, at least to me. State Rep. Jon Rosenthal, D-Houston, announced Monday that he is running for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission — the powerful agency that regulates the state’s oil and gas industry … Continue reading →

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Recall Houston says it will start collecting petition signatures

Posted on September 29, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Okay. Could Houston voters soon decide the fate of Houston Mayor John Whitmire? Experts say it’s an extremely long shot, but a group of Houstonians will start collecting signatures next week to remove the mayor from office. Mayor Whitmire has … Continue reading →

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State lawsuit on Tarrant redistricting has its hearing

Posted on September 28, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see what happens. A district court judge is expected to decide whether to grant a temporary injunction against Tarrant County’s new commissioner precincts next week. It’s part of a lawsuit filed by the League of Women Voters of Tarrant … Continue reading →

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State files its response to the redistricting lawsuit

Posted on September 27, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

They’re playing the oldies, not the new tune that the Trump Justice Department tried to woo them with. Texas officials acknowledged in a new court filing that the Justice Department’s rationale this summer for pushing them to redraw the state’s … Continue reading →

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The Loving County takeover attempt

Posted on September 27, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

This is bonkers, and I am here for it. Sheriff Dave Landersman said he started hearing about the group aiming to take over his county a few months ago. It began with locals reporting unfamiliar faces around the Loving County … Continue reading →

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Andrew White makes it official

Posted on September 26, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

As expected, Andrew White made his encore effort for Governor official on Wednesday. I got two different impressions of it, based on which news story I read about it. From the Chron: Andrew White, a Houston businessman and son of … Continue reading →

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The “who’s running for Governor” question again

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

It’ll be there until there’s a final answer. Even as some Texas Democrats are optimistic about their chances in next year’s midterm elections, the party’s most recognizable names are so far avoiding the chance to take on Gov. Greg Abbott, … Continue reading →

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District Clerk Marilyn Burgess not running for re-election

Posted on September 24, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

A bit of a surprise. Marilyn Burgess, the elected Harris County district clerk, is not running for a third term in 2026, she said in a statement days after voting for her own pay increase amid a salary grievance. Burgess, … Continue reading →

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Talarico passes the first test

Posted on September 24, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Fundraising. What did you think I was going to say? In his first public appearance after launching his U.S. Senate bid, state Rep. James Talarico said he had sprinted over the highest hurdle a first-time candidate for statewide office must … Continue reading →

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The revenue cap squeeze on first responders

Posted on September 22, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Great story, and an even better illustration of a couple of points I’ve been making for quite some time. Just weeks after flash flooding killed more than 100 people in Kerr County, many of the first responders who served on … Continue reading →

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How the hemp industry wooed Greg Abbott

Posted on September 21, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Some interesting stuff here, and a reminder that some things are eternal. Colton Luther, a 29-year-old from Houston who hosts the cannabis podcast “Puff and Prosper,” isn’t your typical Austin lobbyist. But in July, Luther sat across from Gov. Greg … Continue reading →

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Sen. Sarah Eckhardt may run for CD10

Posted on September 21, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Of interest. Democratic state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt of Austin said Wednesday she is seriously considering a run for Congress in the GOP-leaning district being vacated next year by 20-year Republican Michael McCaul, saying its time for candidates in her party to … Continue reading →

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The Trib profiles Talarico

Posted on September 20, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Good stuff. About 20 minutes into his appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, Texas Rep. James Talarico started making his case that the Bible sanctions abortion. In the Book of Luke, the Austin Democrat noted, Mary has a vision from God … Continue reading →

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Erica Lee Carter withdraws from County Judge race

Posted on September 19, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

A bit of a surprise, at least to me. Former Congressman Erica Lee Carter announced Wednesday that she will not be running for Harris County Judge after previously signaling interest in the seat. Back in July, Carter had stated over social … Continue reading →

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Bobby Pulido officially in for CD15

Posted on September 19, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Our main target to flip next fall. Tejano musician Bobby Pulido is running for Texas’ 15th Congressional District, he announced Wednesday, giving Democrats their best — and potentially only — opportunity to flip a Republican-held seat in 2026. Pulido, a … Continue reading →

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Andrew White to run for Governor again

Posted on September 18, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

A second go-round. Houston’s Andrew White, son of the late Gov. Mark White, on Tuesday filed initial papers to run for governor again, hoping to stop Gov. Greg Abbott from winning a fourth term in office. “It’s time for a … Continue reading →

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Judge Hidalgo will not run for re-election

Posted on September 17, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

We have our answer. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced late Monday that she will not be seeking re-election in 2026. The decision, announced exclusively during ABC 13’s evening broadcast, marks an end to the progressive Democrats tenure as Harris … Continue reading →

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One request to halt the Tarrant County mid-decade redistricting is denied

Posted on September 17, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

There is a second chance still in play. A federal judge based in Tarrant County denied a request to keep the old commissioners precinct map in place until the redistricting lawsuit is finished. Judge Reed O’Conner, who presides over the … Continue reading →

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Nirenberg’s choice

Posted on September 16, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I know what I’m rooting for. Former Mayor Ron Nirenberg is mulling his political future, even as he’s adjusting to his new day job — lecturing Trinity University students on communications. The two main paths he is considering are Bexar … Continue reading →

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The redistricting litigation strategy

Posted on September 16, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

It’s what we’ve got. Outgunned in the national redistricting war, Democrats are launching a multipronged legal battle to try and prevent GOP gains ahead of next year’s midterms. It stands to be a grueling, lengthy and costly process for Democrats … Continue reading →

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A brief note about another poll

Posted on September 14, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

From Texas Public Opinion Research: Hey y’all, welcome back! In today’s TPOR installment, we’re diving into the findings from our latest poll on the 2026 Senate race—tracking voter preferences in a hypothetical Democratic primary, and examining the state of play … Continue reading →

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