Andrew Schneider

The state’s top Republicans swiftly praised the Supreme Court’s decision to allow Texas to use its controversial congressional map for the 2026 midterms. The map was designed to give Republicans as many as five new seats in the U.S. House.

A federal court in El Paso had earlier Tuesday placed a temporary block on the map that Republican lawmakers passed this summer and ordered the state to use the district maps from the last two elections.

Beau Whitney, a consultant to the hemp and cannabis industries, said, at a minimum, the new federal ban on THC-containing hemp products will displace more than 40,000 Texas workers and shutter more than 6,300 Texas businesses.

More than half of the constitutional amendments on the ballot this fall deal with taxation. The arguably most significant measures would raise homestead exemptions, which determine how much of a home's property value can be taxed to pay for public schools.

Rep. Gina Hinojosa, a 5-term Texas House member from Austin, announced Wednesday that she’s joining the field of Democratic candidates hoping to challenge Gov. Greg Abbott in his 2026 reelection bid.

After protests, a two-week quorum break and out-of-state pressure, the Texas House passed a new map for the state’s congressional districts on Wednesday. The bill now proceeds to the Texas Senate, which is weighing a slightly different redistricting map.

The new special session started Friday with threats to House Democrats, who have signaled their intention to return to Texas after leaving the state to block the passage of a new GOP-friendly congressional map.

Gov. Greg Abbott filed an emergency petition with the Supreme Court of Texas to remove state Rep. Gene Wu from office.

Early reports indicate that some of the Democrats have fled to Chicago, others to Albany and Boston — all to cities in Democrat-led states.

After an attempt to ban THC was vetoed by Gov. Greg Abbott last month, the Texas Senate has revived similar legislation in the state’s current special session. The chamber held its first hearing Tuesday on Senate Bill 5. The proposal, which is backed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, bans THC and puts regulations on products containing CBD and CBG.