Special Election News for February 21

Feb 21, 2021 | Special Elections

HD68 special: Just under 1K people voted early in person or by mail through Friday, the end of an abbreviated and weather-challenged early voting period. Outstanding mail ballots will likely push total early votes above the previous low of 1,037 for the 2016 special...

Spiller, Carter Advance to Runoff in HD68

Jan 23, 2021 | Special Elections

Jacksboro attorney and Jacksboro ISD trustee David Spiller will face Nocona boot manufacturer Craig Carter in a runoff election to fill the unexpired House term of Sen. Drew Springer (R-Muenster). Both are Republicans. Spiller at times flirted with an outright win but...

Abbott Orders January 23 Special Election for HD68

Dec 28, 2020 | Special Elections

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) ordered a January 23 special election to fill the unexpired House term of Sen.-elect Drew Springer (R-Muenster). Early voting begins January 11 – two weeks from today (Monday). Candidates must file with the Secretary of State by January 4. Cooke...

Springer Wins SD30 Special Runoff Election

Dec 19, 2020 | Redistricting, Special Elections

Rep. Drew Springer (R-Muenster) defeated Pilot Point salon owner Shelley Luther, 56%-44%, in today’s (Saturday’s) special runoff election. Springer will serve the unexpired term of Sen. Pat Fallon (R-Prosper), who is resigning to serve in Congress....

Rodriguez Withdraws from SD14 Runoff Election

Jul 27, 2020 | Campaign News, Special Elections

Note: This report has been updated since we sent our Breaking News alert. Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin) has withdrawn from the SD14 special runoff election. Former Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt (D) will succeed former Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Austin). “I have...

Gates, Birabil, Eastman Easily Win Runoff Elections

Jan 28, 2020 | Campaign News, Special Elections

Republican Gary Gates and Democrats Lorraine Birabil and Anna Eastman cruised to easy victories in today’s special runoff elections for HD28, HD100 and HD148, respectively. The results leave all three seats in the same partisan column as the 2018 general election....

Analyzing Tuesday’s Special Runoff Elections

Jan 25, 2020 | House Race Analyses, Special Elections

Special elections are strange animals, and anything can happen in them (e.g. Laura Thompson becoming the first independent to win a House since 1936), but an Eliz Markowitz victory on Tuesday must be considered an upset were it to occur. Markowitz faces Rosenberg real...

Markowitz Out-raises Legislative Runoff Candidates in Latest Reports

Jan 22, 2020 | Campaign Finance, Special Elections

The six candidates vying for three legislative seats in Tuesday’s special runoff elections were required to file their runoff campaign finance reports yesterday (Tuesday), and five of them were available online today (Wednesday). These disclose contributions received...

HD28: Republicans Likely Racing for Runoff Date with Markowitz

Oct 29, 2019 | House Race Analyses, Special Elections

Katy educator Eliz Markowitz, the lone Democrat in the eight-person field, out-raised the Republican candidates combined, $294K to $122K, from September 27 through October 26, the period covered by the candidates’ newly filed 8-day-out reports. She is...

HD148: Five Candidates, Plus Wildcards, Appear to Lead Large Field

Oct 29, 2019 | House Race Analyses, Special Elections

Fifteen candidates are vying to succeed former Rep. Jessica Farrar (D-Houston), and their 8-day-out campaign finance reports show a distinct first tier, at least in terms of resources. Candidates were required to file their 8-day-out reports, disclosing contributions...

Special Election Candidates’ 30-day-out Report Highlights

Oct 8, 2019 | Campaign Finance, Special Elections

Candidates in the three November 5 legislative special elections were required to file their 30-day-out campaign finance reports yesterday (Monday). Most of them became available online today (Tuesday). These reports disclose contributions received and expenditures...

Fields Set for Trio of Legislative Special Elections

Sep 4, 2019 | Special Elections

Today (Wednesday) was the deadline for candidates to file for the HD28, HD100 and HD148 special elections, which will coincide with the November 5 constitutional amendment election. Seven candidates filed to run for HD28, the seat being vacated by Rep. John Zerwas...

🎙️We Have a Podcast! 🎙️

Bills and Business is your go-to podcast for conversations related to Texas legislation and business. Hosted by Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege—an AI-driven legislative tracking software—we bring you in-depth analysis on economic trends, impactful legislation, and key developments shaping Texas business.

Subscribe on Youtube and Spotify for weekly episodes!

🔍 USLege - The Only AI-First Political Tracking Solution ✨

USLege helps you track legislation and find what you need faster from bills, committee hearings, floor debates, and state agency meetings faster.

Say goodbye to tedious tasks!

You can follow USLege on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.

🤝 Texas Association of Business 📈

Texas Association of Business (TAB) is the Texas State Chamber, representing companies of every size and industry. TAB’s purpose is to champion the best business climate in the world, unleashing the power of free enterprise to enhance lives for generations.

You can follow TAB on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.

Table of Content
  1. 01 First
Trusted by Government Affairs Professionals and Corporate Policy Teams
Blog & Articles

Read more news

Texas Political Spotlight
This is some text inside of a div block.

Welcome back, friends,

Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered a statewide freeze on new H-1B visa applications at Texas public universities and state agencies. In the Democratic race for lieutenant governor, steelworkers union leader Marcos Vélez is gaining traction with major labor backing and fresh scrutiny over fundraising ties linked to Texas Majority PAC as the primary nears. Lastly, Abbott says the White House is developing a plan to “recalibrate” ICE enforcement after fallout in Minnesota, as Texas simultaneously weighs billions more for Operation Lone Star and its ongoing border strategy.

We hope you enjoyed today’s read!

Stay connected with TXLege News on X and LinkedIn!

Texas Political Spotlight
This is some text inside of a div block.

Welcome back, friends

Texas is facing a pivotal legal test over its election system as Republicans seek to end open primaries, a move that supporters frame as protecting party autonomy and critics warn could create new barriers to voter participation. At the same time, federal officials are considering a land exchange that would allow SpaceX to expand its South Texas launch site, renewing debate over how to balance economic growth with the preservation of sensitive wildlife habitat along the Gulf Coast. Lastly, a federal judge has blocked a new Texas law regulating children’s access to app stores, underscoring the ongoing uncertainty over how far states can go in policing online safety without infringing on constitutional rights.

We hope you enjoyed today’s read!

Stay connected with TXLege News on X and LinkedIn!

#44 - Hope Osborn: Building Community for Women in Texas Politics with Pink Granite
This is some text inside of a div block.

Welcome to Episode #44 of Bills & Business. In this episode, Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege, sits down with Hope Osborn, Co-Founder of The Pink Granite Foundation.

Hope brings more than a decade of experience across the Texas Capitol, having worked in both chambers, both parties, and in the advocacy world. She shares the story behind The Pink Granite Foundation and how it has grown into a nonpartisan force for uplifting, connecting, and supporting women in Texas politics. From its grassroots beginnings to the impact of the 2025 Pink Granite Party, Hope provides an inside look at how the organization strengthens the political ecosystem.

Laura and Hope explore the nonprofit’s mentorship programs, year-round community-building efforts, and the unique pressures women face working under the dome. Hope offers insight into why women’s leadership in politics matters, how to break down persistent barriers, and what the future looks like for the next generation of female leaders in Texas policymaking.

Don’t forget to subscribe to Bills & Business on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for more deep dives into Texas policy and business news.

📲 Follow Laura Carr

🐦 Twitter: @Laura_USLege https://x.com/Laura_USLege

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurauslege/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thereallauracarr/

🛍️ ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/shop/lauraluise?Section_title=latest-finds&tab=collections

✍️ Substack: https://lauraluise.substack.com/

🔗 Links: https://lauraluise.carrd.co/

📲 Follow USLege

✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uslege.ai/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USLegeai

🐦 Twitter: @USLege_ai https://x.com/USLege_ai

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uslege-ai/

🎧 Subscribe to Bills & Business

🌐 Website: https://www.uslege.ai/

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BillsandBusiness

🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/22ZWg9VVb2AEGqyV14osNi?si=effe3795f8414171

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/bills-and-business-by-uslege/id1781059329

🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uslege

📲 Follow Hope Osborn

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hopeosborn/

🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/HopeOsbornTX

🎬 Produced by USLege

📞 Want to see USLege in action? Schedule a demo today! https://www.uslege.ai/demo

Texas Political Spotlight
This is some text inside of a div block.

Welcome back, friends,

Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered a statewide freeze on new H-1B visa applications at Texas public universities and state agencies. In the Democratic race for lieutenant governor, steelworkers union leader Marcos Vélez is gaining traction with major labor backing and fresh scrutiny over fundraising ties linked to Texas Majority PAC as the primary nears. Lastly, Abbott says the White House is developing a plan to “recalibrate” ICE enforcement after fallout in Minnesota, as Texas simultaneously weighs billions more for Operation Lone Star and its ongoing border strategy.

We hope you enjoyed today’s read!

Stay connected with TXLege News on X and LinkedIn!

Texas Political Spotlight
This is some text inside of a div block.

Welcome back, friends

Texas is facing a pivotal legal test over its election system as Republicans seek to end open primaries, a move that supporters frame as protecting party autonomy and critics warn could create new barriers to voter participation. At the same time, federal officials are considering a land exchange that would allow SpaceX to expand its South Texas launch site, renewing debate over how to balance economic growth with the preservation of sensitive wildlife habitat along the Gulf Coast. Lastly, a federal judge has blocked a new Texas law regulating children’s access to app stores, underscoring the ongoing uncertainty over how far states can go in policing online safety without infringing on constitutional rights.

We hope you enjoyed today’s read!

Stay connected with TXLege News on X and LinkedIn!

Texas Political Spotlight
This is some text inside of a div block.

Welcome back, friends

Michael and Susan Dell’s unprecedented $6.25 billion pledge to expand federal “Trump Accounts” aims to boost long-term savings for 25 million American children. In Lubbock, Texas Tech’s new classroom restrictions on race, gender identity, and sexuality have ignited an immediate clash over academic freedom and curriculum control. And in Northeast Texas, Rep. Gary VanDeaver’s decision not to seek reelection opens a pivotal Republican primary.

We hope you enjoyed today’s read!

Stay connected with TXLege News on X and LinkedIn!