Tag Archives: Election 2026

UH/Hobby poll: Parker 54, Plummer 36

Posted on May 15, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

More primary runoff polling. Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker holds an 18-point lead over Letitia Plummer, a former Houston City Council member, in the Democratic runoff for Harris County judge, according to a poll published Thursday by the University of … Continue reading →

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More on the Carla Wyatt DUI

Posted on May 15, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

More details emerge. Harris County Treasurer Carla Wyatt told a Texas City police officer she was “in heaven” before she was arrested and accused of driving while intoxicated early Saturday morning, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by the … Continue reading →

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The Republican data center problem

Posted on May 15, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

What do you do when your business interests want one thing and your voters want the opposite? What do you think? As the massive, digital information-processing facilities proliferate, Republicans are caught between a zealous president and governor bent on Texas … Continue reading →

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Okay, we need to say “no” to Maureen Galindo

Posted on May 14, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Good Lord. San Antonio Democratic congressional candidate Maureen Galindo is facing heat after an article and an op-ed, both appearing over the weekend in the New York Times accused her of spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories on social media. In response to the reports, Galindo … Continue reading →

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The far right attacks on Frisco

Posted on May 14, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Fascinating. Far-right activists are seizing on a new example of the America they fear. It’s a booming, Texas city home to the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility and a PGA golf resort. The activists’ problem? The city’s population of Indian immigrants … Continue reading →

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Two Congressional runoff polls

Posted on May 13, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Make of them what you will. Rep. Christian Menefee leads Rep. Al Green by 7 percentage points heading into the final days of the runoff, according to a new poll of the closely watched race between two Houston Democratic members … Continue reading →

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Interview with Rep. Al Green

Posted on May 12, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

For my final interview of the 2026 primary cycle, I’m pleased to bring you a conversation with Rep. Al Green. He is the longtime member of Congress from the historic CD09, which was moved to the east end of Harris … Continue reading →

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Today is the last day of early voting for the District C runoff

Posted on May 12, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Runoff Day itself will be Saturday, May 16. Voting locations for both today’s early voting and Saturday’s Runoff Day voting can be found here. For what it’s worth, early voting turnout through the end of the day … Continue reading →

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Interview with Rep. Christian Menefee

Posted on May 11, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

If you live in CD18, which as of this latest round of redistricting I no longer do, you’re still in the process of picking your member of Congress. The Democratic primary runoff, for which early voting begins on May 18, … Continue reading →

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Carla Wyatt arrested again

Posted on May 11, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

This is getting to be more than just sad. Harris County Treasurer Carla Wyatt was arrested Saturday in Texas City and charged with driving while intoxicated, her third arrest during her time in office, authorities say. Wyatt, 56, was stopped … Continue reading →

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Local coverage of Quentin Wiltz

Posted on May 10, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story on the election of Quentin Wiltz as the first Democrat to be elected Mayor of Pearland in decades, and the first Black person to be elected as its Mayor. Quentin Wiltz ran for office in Pearland … Continue reading →

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Profile of Johnny Garcia

Posted on May 8, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

The runoff for the Democratic nomination in CD35 is one of the more interesting stories for May, featuring two different types of candidates who present contrasting theories of how to win this hardly insurmountable district. Here’s a story from the … Continue reading →

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When not to bet on yourself

Posted on May 7, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Dude… Texas GOP congressional candidate Zeke Enriquez bet on the outcome of his own election on Kalshi, the prediction market said in a press release Wednesday, marking the latest sign of the industry’s newfound prevalence in the state’s politics. Enriquez, who … Continue reading →

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New UH/Hobby poll has Paxton beating Cornyn in the Senate runoff

Posted on May 6, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

As long as they keep beating each other up, it’s all good. Attorney General Ken Paxton leads Sen. John Cornyn by three percentage points in a new poll of Texas’ U.S. Senate Republican runoff, suggesting the May 26 contest will … Continue reading →

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SCOTUS puts administrative stay on unhinged Fifth Circuit mifepristone ruling

Posted on May 5, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

On hold for now. The Supreme Court on Monday restored nationwide access to a widely used abortion medication in a temporary order that will, for now, allow women to once again obtain the pill mifepristone by mail. In a brief … Continue reading →

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Quentin Wiltz elected Mayor of Pearland

Posted on May 5, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a result from Saturday I missed originally. A Democratic-backed candidate has won a closely contested mayoral race in Pearland, Texas, a Republican-leaning suburb of Houston in Brazoria County that has consistently voted for President Donald Trump since 2016. Winning … Continue reading →

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What to expect with redistricting in Texas in 2027

Posted on May 4, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

It’s too soon to say. “When the U.S. Supreme Court rules in the Louisiana v. Callais case that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional, Texas will take up redistricting again (Congressional, Texas Senate and Texas House),” Rep. … Continue reading →

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Fifth Circuit invents new law to block mifepristone

Posted on May 3, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

This is bullshit. A federal appeals court packed with conservatives has handed abortion opponents a major victory against the US Food and Drug Administration, reinstating an in-person dispensing requirement for the abortion medication mifepristone and shutting down telemedicine providers—at least temporarily—from prescribing the … Continue reading →

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Ligon wins SD04 special election

Posted on May 3, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Not a surprise. The only question was by how much. He was up 75-25 in early voting and was at that margin with a bit over half of the precincts reporting, running ahead of the Trump 2024 margin. I had … Continue reading →

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Today is Election Day for the SD04 special election

Posted on May 2, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Election Day for the May 2, 2026, Special Election to fill the vacancy in Texas Senate District 4 is tomorrow. The district includes all of Chambers County and portions of Galveston, Harris, Jefferson, and Montgomery counties. There … Continue reading →

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Texas Politics Project poll: Talarico leads again

Posted on May 1, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

It’s becoming a trend. Democrat James Talarico leads both Republicans vying to face him in the November U.S. Senate contest, according to a new poll released Wednesday. Talarico led U.S. Sen. John Cornyn 40% to 33% in a potential matchup, and held … Continue reading →

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RIP, Voting Rights Act

Posted on April 30, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

JFC. Wednesday’s 6–3 party-line decision in Louisiana v. Callais will go down in history as one of the most pernicious and damaging Supreme Court decisions of the last century. All six Republican-appointed justices on the court signed onto Justice Samuel … Continue reading →

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TPOR poll: Talarico leading both Cornyn and Paxton

Posted on April 29, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

This will never get old. Democratic state Rep. James Talarico is leading both of his prospective Republican opponents in a new poll of Texas’ U.S. Senate race — though the result is within the margin of error in either scenario, … Continue reading →

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Early voting for the May 16 District C runoff starts today

Posted on April 29, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

It’s now time for Election #2 of 3 in the month of May. This one is the runoff for Houston City Council District C, between Joe Panzarella, who led with about 33% of the vote in April, and Nick Hellyar, … Continue reading →

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Texas Medical Board sanctions doctors in Ngumezi and Crane cases

Posted on April 29, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not enough, and it’s also not anywhere close to addressing the real problem. The Texas Medical Board has disciplined three doctors ProPublica previously investigated whose patients died after receiving delayed or inappropriate pregnancy care under the state’s strict abortion … Continue reading →

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SCOTUS approves Texas redistricting map

Posted on April 28, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

I mean, obviously. Texas’ newly redrawn congressional map is officially cleared for use, after the U.S. Supreme Court formally overturned a lower court’s ruling Monday. In November, the high court allowed the map to be used temporarily. Monday’s ruling maintains … Continue reading →

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Virginia Supreme Court hears redistricting challenge

Posted on April 28, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Monday was redistricting day in court. The Virginia Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday on the legality of a constitutional amendment voters approved last week that allows Democrats to implement a more favorable congressional map ahead of the midterm elections. … Continue reading →

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Some insight into Ken Paxton’s finances

Posted on April 27, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Fascinating. In 2019, hostile attorneys questioned Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton about his conduct as a lawyer: Had he turned over a former client’s communications to an attorney suing that client? Paxton acknowledged that he had, one of the nuggets … Continue reading →

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Dallas gets to keep voting centers for the primary runoff

Posted on April 27, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Good, but perhaps not the end of the story. A North Texas appeals court rejected a petition from a Dallas County republican trying to force the county to hold a precinct-specific Election Day for the upcoming primary election. The petition … Continue reading →

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Some poll news and other tidbits

Posted on April 26, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

From Somos Votantes: Today, Somos Votantes released new polling data showing Latino voters in key states and districts are rejecting President Trump and Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterms, driven by mounting economic pain, widespread disapproval of Republican’s tariff and healthcare policies, and … Continue reading →

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The Book-Loving Texans’ Guide to the May 2026 elections

Posted on April 25, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

More valuable insights from Franklin Strong. GCISD Parents PAC has gotten the message: Book-banning and attacking students from marginalized groups won’t win school board elections in Texas. Year after year after year after year, I’ve written recaps after school board elections in Texas. And—after the initial … Continue reading →

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Unelected HISD Board votes to fire HISD union leader

Posted on April 25, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

What the hell are we doing here? Houston ISD’s appointed board of managers voted Thursday to terminate a teacher union leader even though an independent hearing examiner initially recommended that the district reinstate the longtime educator. All six members who … Continue reading →

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Everyone’s talking about the CD23 special election

Posted on April 24, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Except for Greg Abbott, of course. It’s been about a week since now-former Rep. Tony Gonzales resigned from Congress after the Texas Republican admitted to having an unethical sexual relationship with at least one former aide, who later died by suicide. Yet … Continue reading →

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Virginia approves its new Congressional map

Posted on April 23, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

How’s that plan to hold onto the Republican majority in Congress going? In yet another loss for president Trump and his floundering gerrymandering blitz, Virginia voters approved a Democratic-led redistricting measure on Tuesday that will likely give Democrats four additional congressional … Continue reading →

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