Monthly Archives: January 2026

TPOR primary poll: Crockett 38, Talarico 37

Posted on January 31, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Add it to the pile. Texas Public Opinion Research (TPOR), a nonpartisan public opinion initiative that examines what Texans believe and the policies they support, today released a new poll focused on the 2026 Democratic Senate primary race between U.S. … Continue reading →

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Fort Worth ISD takes its own lessons from the HISD experience

Posted on January 31, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

The data has a lot to say. Houston is not destiny for Fort Worth, according to three University of Houston professors researching the impact Texas taking control of schools has had on enrollment and teachers in the state’s largest city. … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Chron picks Kamin for County Attorney nomination

Posted on January 31, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Their second endorsement for primary season. Now Democratic primary voters must decide who can best build on Menefee’s legacy. Luckily, they have two formidable candidates to choose from: Audrie Lawton-Evans, a civil litigation attorney and civil court at law judge, … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Jorge Garcia Diaz

Posted on January 30, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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Final early vote totals for the CD18 runoff

Posted on January 30, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Here they are, but they come with an asterisk: Important Notice: Daily in-person check-in numbers will not be available for the court-ordered extended early voting dates of January 28 and January 29. Final voter participation numbers will be reflected in … Continue reading →

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Starve yourself the Brooke Rollins way

Posted on January 30, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

I have a modest proposal here. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins took heat on social media [recently] over a comment that Americans can eat healthily for $3 a meal by consuming “a piece of chicken, a piece of broccoli, corn tortilla … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Judicial Q&A: James Hu

Posted on January 29, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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Paxton sues another mifepristone provider

Posted on January 29, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has accused a Delaware nurse practitioner of prescribing abortion-inducing drugs to Texas residents in what is now the second lawsuit the state has filed against an out-of-state provider over such medications. “The day of … Continue reading →

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Tesla sort of removes safety monitors from its robotaxis

Posted on January 29, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

There’s a catch. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Thursday that his company is now running a small number of its Robotaxi vehicles in Austin, Texas, without a human driver or safety supervisor on board. “Just started Tesla Robotaxi drives … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of January 26

Posted on January 29, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance stands with the people of Minnesota as it brings you this week’s roundup. Off the Kuff has interviews with Harris County Judge candidates Annise Parker and Letitia Plummer. Socratic Gadfly talked about the RRC stiffing Midland. … Continue reading →

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Interview with Abbie Kamin

Posted on January 28, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

I promised you two excellent candidates for Harris County Attorney. I gave you one on Monday and I’m giving you the second one today. You are surely familiar with Abbie Kamin, who is stepping down from Houston City Council District … Continue reading →

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Greg Abbott deserves no credit for this

Posted on January 28, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

So don’t give him any. The White House’s response to the latest Minneapolis killing is fomenting rumblings — including in Texas — from some of President Donald Trump’s staunchest supporters. The NRA, law enforcement groups, Fox News and even Republican … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Texas Monthly on Taylor Rehmet

Posted on January 28, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the first real in depth look at Taylor Rehmet and the SD09 special election I’ve seen. It was the last week before the start of early voting, in the runoff election for a vacated state Senate seat, and Democratic … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Judge Tanya Garrison

Posted on January 27, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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Lawsuit against lab-grown meat ban may proceed

Posted on January 27, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A federal judge in McLennan County delivered a setback to the State of Texas on Jan. 20, denying its motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the state’s ban on lab-grown meat sales. U.S. District Judge Alan Albright ruled from … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Lawsuit successfully filed to add back early voting days for CD18

Posted on January 27, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Seems reasonable. A pair of voting rights organizations filed a lawsuit Sunday seeking an emergency court order to extend early voting in Harris County past Tuesday after severe weather forced the closure of polling locations in the runoff election for Texas’ … Continue reading →

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Interview with Audrie Lawton Evans

Posted on January 26, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Harris County Attorney would not normally be on our ballot this year, but with Christian Menefee stepping down to run for Congress we need to fill the remainder of his term. Two excellent candidates are running, and I’m pleased to … Continue reading →

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How to stand with Minnesota against ICE

Posted on January 26, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

This is both good and terrible to know. We cannot resist tyranny alone. If you’re outside Minnesota, here are things you can do to help.·  · Call your elected officials. ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are the “jackbooted government … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Harris County joins anti-ICE amicus in Minnesota lawsuit

Posted on January 26, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Harris County has joined an amicus brief in the case Minnesota v. Noem, supporting the state of Minnesota and the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul in a lawsuit against the federal government’s “Operation Metro Surge” … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for January 25

Posted on January 25, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

“Heated Rivalry Is Getting Conservatives Hot and Bothered“. Not in the fun way, of course. “MTV Rewind is an absolute wonder. It collects over 33,000 music videos, shows, and exclusive concert footage spanning the station’s four decades. Want Pop Up … Continue reading →

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January 2026 campaign finance reports – City of Houston

Posted on January 25, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

PREVIOUSLY: Harris County There’s not supposed to be any city of Houston electoral action at this time, but between the At Large #4 special election last year and the upcoming District C special election, things are a lot busier than … Continue reading →

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Full Fifth Circuit hears SB4 appeal

Posted on January 25, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

As always, brace yourselves. Three years ago, Texas lawmakers passed a landmark law that would let state police arrest people suspected of having entered the country illegally by crossing the border. Such authority has long been the sole responsibility of the federal … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Parker gets the ball rolling

Posted on January 25, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron kicks off its endorsement season with a strong recommendation for Annise Parker in the Democratic primary for Harris County Judge. If you want to understand the real differences between former mayor Annise Parker and former Council Member Letitia Plummer … Continue reading →

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SCOTx to hear cable franchise fees appeal

Posted on January 24, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

This is a big deal, with direct impacts on the finances of multiple cities. Texas Supreme Court justices will decide whether two state laws are giving unlawful discounts to cable and telecommunication service providers, resulting in millions in lost revenue … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of the District Clerk race

Posted on January 24, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Pretty comprehensive and worth the read. Eight Democrats will battle it out in the March primaries for a chance to succeed Harris County District Clerk Marilyn Burgess, who announced in September she would not be seeking reelection. Whoever gets a … Continue reading →

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South Carolina is where the measles action is now

Posted on January 24, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

I wish I didn’t feel the need to keep following these stories, but unfortunately I do. South Carolina on Friday reported 124 new measles cases in the last three days, bringing the total number to 558 in the state’s fast-growing … Continue reading →

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No CD18 early voting on Sunday

Posted on January 24, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth announces changes to voting operations for the Congressional District 18 (CD-18) Special Runoff Election due to severe winter weather conditions. All early vote centers will remain open today, Friday, January 23, and … Continue reading →

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Interview with Matt Salazar

Posted on January 23, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

I promised you three Democratic candidates for Harris County Judge, and I’ve got the third one for you right here. Matt Salazar is a native of Lubbock who has worked as a youth pastor and general contractor. A graduate of … Continue reading →

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Dallas still needs to remove its rainbow crosswalks

Posted on January 23, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

They’ve tried to delay it but are probably running out of road. The Texas Department of Transportation gave Dallas until Jan. 31 to remove its decorative crosswalks, which include LGBTQ+ rainbow and Black Lives Matter designs, according to a memo … Continue reading →

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Former Uvalde officer acquitted

Posted on January 23, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. A former police officer was acquitted Wednesday evening of charges he failed in his duties to confront the gunman at an Uvalde, Texas, elementary school during the critical opening minutes of what would become one of the deadliest school … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Judge Leah Shapiro

Posted on January 22, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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How’s that medicine taste?

Posted on January 22, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

I laugh. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has called a special election for California’s vacant 1st Congressional District to coincide with the state’s regularly scheduled primary on June 2, with a second round of voting on Aug. 4 if needed—the latest dates allowed … Continue reading →

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Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones elected to the Hall of Fame

Posted on January 22, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to them. Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones have gone from center field to center stage. Beltrán and Jones were elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in results revealed Tuesday night … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of January 19

Posted on January 22, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance stands with the people of Minneapolis as it brings you this week’s roundup. Off the Kuff has interviews with three Democratic candidates for CD38 – Melissa McDonough, Theresa Courts, and Marvalette Hunter. SocraticGadfly at least in … Continue reading →

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