Texas Politics & News
The Daily Signal highlights Texas as a leader in conservative policy and governance, covering Lone Star State legislation, elections, border enforcement, and energy dominance.
-
opinion
Supreme Court Explains Contours of Sixth Amendment’s Right to Counsel in Villarreal v. Texas
The Sixth Amendment has long guaranteed a criminal defendant the right “to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.” But what does that right entail in practice—particularly when a defendant takes the witness stand in his own defense? And by taking the witness stand, what limitations, if any, exist with respect to his right… -
news
‘FIND THE COURAGE’: Roy Calls on Congress to Pass Immigration Moratorium After Austin Shooting
In the wake of a shooting in Austin, Texas, by a man investigators believe could be an Islamic terrorist, House Republicans have renewed efforts to pass a bill that would pause all federal immigration programs. Early Sunday morning, 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne allegedly opened fire at an Austin area bar while wearing a hoodie that read… -
news
‘Potentially an Act of Terrorism’: Texas Shooter Was Wearing ‘Allah’ T-Shirt
The suspect gunman who killed two people at a bar in Texas early Sunday was wearing a hoodie that said “Property of Allah,” and another shirt with an Iranian flag design, the Associated Press confirmed. The mass shooter that left two dead and 14 others wounded has been identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne. Diagne was… -
news
Vicious Attacks Look to Turn the Tide in Texas Primaries
New attack ads from candidates in the race for Texas’ Senate seat, along with recent polling, have brought the race to a boiling point. Republican Candidates Get Vicious On Wednesday, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, released an ad against his primary opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, for “cheating on his wife” and “now sleeping around… -
news
Republican Attorneys General Win $29.5M Settlement From Vanguard Over Climate Push
REUTERS—Vanguard Group will pay $29.5 million and bolster its passive investing approach in order to settle a suit by 13 Republican state attorneys general claiming the fund manager and rivals violated antitrust law through their climate activism. The suit in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas has been closely watched as a test… -
news
Texas AG Contest Includes Cruz-Backed Candidate vs. Paxton-Endorsed Contender
Two former chiefs of staff for Sen. Ted Cruz, who also had senior roles under Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, sparred Tuesday evening over who would be the Lone Star State’s next top law enforcement official. Paxton is currently competing in a high-profile GOP Senate primary against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Wesley Hunt…. -
opinion
3 Months In: Is Texas Winning the War Against Islamization?
In November, a “WarRoom” clip exposed two Sharia courts in Texas, operating for years and handling hundreds of cases. While legal if both parties agree, Muslim women often face strong pressure to use Sharia courts over county courts. Under strict Sharia, women inherit less, divorce is difficult, and testimony counts for less. Refusal can lead… -
news
‘Islamic Extremism Has No Place in Our State’: Texas Reps. Back Abbott as CAIR Plans to Sue
Republican Reps. Chip Roy and Keith Self of Texas voiced their support for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s efforts to crack down on Islamic groups accused of having ties to terrorist organizations. On Wednesday, Abbott urged an independent school district to sever ties with the Council on Arab Islamic Relations after administrators planned to hold the… -
news
Texas Poll Shows Tough Primary for Cornyn and Crockett
A new poll on the Texas Senate primaries reveals incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is facing tough Republican competition, and Democrat Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s path to a nomination will not be easy, either. The Senate race, which pits recognized Washington politicians against Austin-based rivals, could determine the ideological direction of both political parties. A Tight… -
news
Here’s Why Steve Bannon’s Focused on Texas
Steve Bannon, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, is targeting Texas politics ahead of primary elections that could reshape politics in both Austin and Washington. Bannon, who hosts the “War Room” podcast on the network Real America’s Voice, announced Friday at a conference in Grapevine, Texas, that he would be covering politics in the Lone… -
news
Texas GOP Set to Limit Its Primaries to Registered Republicans Only
The Texas Republican Party voted over the weekend to limit GOP primaries in Texas to registered Republican voters. The rule change would mandate that voters register as Republicans with the Texas Secretary of State prior to voting in the primaries. The move comes as senior Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is facing a primary challenger in… -
news
Democrats Attempt to Turn Texas Blue
Leftist billionaire George Soros is in pursuit of the long-sought political “white whale” for Democrats: finally turning Texas blue. Soros is pouring millions into a super PAC called Texas Majority PAC to flip the state in the 2026 midterms and beyond. He donated $1 million this past April and $2.1 million in 2024. Texas is… -
news
Federal Immigration Database Reveals How Many Noncitizens Potentially Voted in Texas
Just two weeks after the Trump administration released federal immigration data to states, Texas identified 33 potential noncitizens who voted in the November 2024 election and referred them for criminal investigation. The state is only in its “early stages” of analyzing data, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson said, so this could be the first… -
news
Texas Is First State to Authorize Statue on Capitol Grounds Honoring Pregnant Mother and Child
Texas will erect the Texas Life Monument, a statue honoring mothers and the sanctity of life, after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a resolution Tuesday authorizing the monument be built. The legislation passed with a large majority of support in the Texas Legislature. According Tim Van Dohlen, co-founder of the St. John Paul II Life… -
opinion
DOJ Sues Texas to Enforce Law Prohibiting States From Offering Illegal Aliens In-State Tuition—and Wins
On Wednesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Justice Department finally did what every prior administration (including Trump 1.0) for the past three decades refused to do—enforced the federal immigration law that bans states from providing in-state tuition to illegal aliens unless they provide the same benefit to citizen-students from any state. That same day, Texas cried… -
news
Texas Rounds Up Public Officials in Alleged Vote Harvesting Scheme
A small county allegedly has a Texas-sized voter fraud problem, as a grand jury indicted six people, including local officials. The six were charged in an alleged vote harvesting scheme in Frio County, Texas, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office announced Wednesday. Several states have cracked down on ballot harvesting, which is when political operatives distribute and collect large quantities… -
news
Texas Lawmaker Targets Medicaid Expansion
FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—Rep. Chip Roy is taking on Medicaid expansion, introducing a bill Friday that he says will prevent “able-bodied adults” from taking advantage of Obamacare expansion. The Texas lawmaker’s bill comes as his fellow Republicans are debating how they will reach an $880 billion cut over 10 years in their budget markup… -
news
Texas Democrat Beto O’Rourke Eyes Yet Another Bid for Office
DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—A thrice-failed Democrat political candidate in Texas is considering taking on a Republican Senate seat in the consistently right-leaning state if voters want him to. Former Texas Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke said at a town hall in Denton, Texas, on Saturday that he would be open to launching a new Senate campaign for the… -
opinion
Texas and the Promise of ‘Universal’ School Choice
With a stroke of his pen this Saturday, Gov. Greg Abbott will make every school-aged child in Texas eligible for education choice. It’s a historic victory for education freedom, long sought after by the school choice movement. Following Idaho, Indiana, Tennessee, and Wyoming this year, Texas is now the 16th state to enact a “universal”… -
news
Texas House Considering Changes in Law Protecting Free Speech
Texas lawmakers are considering a bill that critics say would threaten freedom of speech with frivolous lawsuits, by altering the state’s so-called anti-SLAPP law. The Texas House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee heard testimony late Wednesday evening from numerous witnesses on House Bill 2988 that would make changes to the state’s anti-SLAPP law, by allowing…