Elections

The U.S. Supreme Court will now make a final decision on whether Texas can use its new congressional map, which was drawn this summer to benefit Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections. The outcome could have a huge impact on which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives in the future.

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.

The congressional redistricting Texas Republicans pushed forward this summer didn’t just reshape two of Houston’s most historically diverse districts: It also changed which voters there have the power to choose who will represent them in Washington.

Paxton announced Wednesday he has filed the necessary paperwork to enter the 2026 race. The Republican first declared his intentions to run earlier this year.

While most proposed amendments on this year's ballot focused on taxes, voters also showed strong support for investing in Texas’ network of technical colleges and dementia and Alzheimer’s research.

"Austin voters made their decision, and they did so clearly," Watson said shortly after early voting totals were released on Tuesday.

From tax bans and exemptions to dementia research funding, Texas voters will decide 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution.

The constitutional amendment comes before voters at a time when Texas' population of older adults is growing faster than any other age group.

Nate McGuire went from concerned citizen to the center of a dust-up over city and state election laws.

Find out what's on your ballot, how to check your registration, where your nearest polling place is and more.