State
Meet the Freshmen: Andy Hopper
As he prepares for the upcoming legislative session, Hopper plans to prioritize election integrity, water conservation, and border security.
Ken Paxton Tours to ‘Hold Republican Representatives Accountable’ Ahead of Speaker Vote
Paxton is visiting the districts of members he says are undermining the Republican Party by cutting deals with Democrats.
Online Sports Gambling Interests in Texas Scramble Ahead of 2025
Like casino special interests, sports gambling suffered setbacks in 2024.
Texas Supreme Court Dismisses ‘Unlawful’ Attempt to Discipline Leadership in AG’s Office
The case stems from the State Bar’s attempt to discipline AG Ken Paxton and First Assistant AG Brent Webster over Texas’ suit challenging the 2020 election.
State Archive
Analysis, State, Year in Review
A Year of Controversy and Scrutiny for the Texas Lottery
The Texas Lottery Commission has been playing fast and loose with the rules since 2020, and it caught up to the agency in 2024. This year, the lottery has been embroiled in multiple controversies and faces intense scrutiny as it enters 2025, a year it will undergo...
Meet the Freshmen: Matt Morgan
Matt Morgan, who defeated incumbent State Rep. Jacey Jetton in the Republican primary, is set to be sworn in as a member of the Texas House. Morgan says his campaign was driven by a desire to faithfully represent the will of his constituents and ensure their voices...
Texas on Track To Crack Down on Chinese Influence
Over the past few years, Chinese interference in Texas has come to light on multiple fronts, including with regard to the purchase of state land and the state’s power grid. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Chinese investors have acquired 383,935 acres...
School Choice Plans Gain Energy in 2025
With mass turnover in the Republican primary in favor of pro-school choice candidates, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's plan to prioritize school choice again in 2025 may face less pushback. School Choice While Texas officials said they would prioritize...
Republican Incumbents Knocked Off in 2024 Primaries
Republican voters successfully unseated several moderate Republican incumbents during the 2024 March primary election and the May runoff election. Texas House In the Texas House of Representatives, 15 incumbents were unseated. Nine challengers were victorious in the...
Conservatives Urge Abbott to Fast-track ‘Stop Sexualizing Texas Kids’ Legislation
Texans concerned about kids’ exposure to adult content are urging Gov. Greg Abbott to fast-track new legislation designed to protect children from sexually explicit material. Llano County parent and conservative activist Bonnie Wallace is gathering signatures on a...
DEI Training Requirements Imposed for Licensed Texas Counselors
Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive branch has been imposing diversity, equity, and inclusion training requirements for licensed counselors in Texas since December 2022. Former Republican Party of Texas Chairman Matt Rinaldi highlighted the requirements on social media...
Meet the Freshmen: Wes Virdell
Though Wes Virdell will be sworn in as a House member next month, he’s no stranger to Texas politics. As the former state director for Gun Owners of America, Virdell decided to challenge State Rep. Andrew Murr for a sizable district in West Texas. His decision was...
A Year of Turmoil for Texas’ Border
While 2024 has seen the border crisis continue under President Joe Biden, with President-elect Donald Trump taking office next month, Texans are hoping he will follow through with his promises to shut down the border. The year began with the Biden administration...