Interim Charges, Marijuana Legalization and New Speaker Bid
Welcome back, friends
In today's newsletter, we cover Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's new list of interim charges, his first endorsement this general election, fresh polling data ahead of the Trump-Harris presidential debate, Rep. James Frank Announces Bid for Texas House Speaker, and a bold campaign ad from a Texas House candidate advocating for marijuana legalization. Dive into the latest developments shaping Texas politics as candidates vie for support in the lead-up to the November election.
Today’s Insights:
- Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Endorses Mitch Little in Texas House District 65 Race
- New Poll Shows Trump Leading Harris by 5 Points in Texas
- Texas House Candidate Sally Duval Releases Campaign Ad Advocating for Marijuana Legalization
- Rep. James Frank Announces Bid for Texas House Speaker, Fourth Challenger to Dade Phelan.
- Texas House Committee Zoom Meeting Hacked During Security Hearing on Foreign Threats
- New Interim Charges Announced by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Endorses Mitch Little in Texas House District 65 Race
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has endorsed Mitch Little, a Republican candidate for Texas House District 65, in the upcoming general election in this competitive district that we have rated as likely Republican. Patrick praised Little as a strong conservative who upholds values such as freedom, family, and traditional Texas principles. This is Patrick's first endorsement for the general election.
New Poll Shows Trump Leading Harris by 5 Points in Texas
A recent analysis by Jim Henson and Joshua Blank at the University of Texas Austin highlights key dynamics shaping Texas public opinion ahead of the anticipated Trump-Harris presidential debate. Polling shows former President Trump maintaining a lead in Texas, with 49% support compared to 44% for Vice President Kamala Harris in a head-to-head match-up, based on an August 2024 University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll. The race mirrors past election trends, with Trump holding a smaller margin than his 2016 and 2020 victories. Harris has shown improvement in polling over President Biden's earlier performance, likely boosted by increased enthusiasm among Democrats. However, while Harris remains less defined among Texas voters, Trump’s popularity appears solidified, and he enjoys stronger trust on key issues like the economy, immigration, and inflation. The stakes are particularly high for Harris, who will seek to capitalize on her momentum and potentially sway undecided voters, especially independents, where she has made recent gains.
Texas House Candidate Sally Duval Releases Campaign Ad Advocating for Marijuana Legalization
Texas House candidate for House District 73, Sally Duval released a provocative campaign advertisement in which she is seen smoking marijuana, advocating for more clear regulation of cannabis. Duval, a reform candidate running on a platform of change, argues that Texans should have access to safe, tested marijuana products, positioning herself as a bold reform candidate. We have this district rated as Safe Republican, so she faces an uphill battle in unseating Rep. Carrie Isaac.
Rep. James Frank Announces Bid for Texas House Speaker, Fourth Challenger to Dade Phelan
State Representative James Frank (R-Wichita Falls) has officially entered the race for Texas House Speaker, joining three other Republican challengers aiming to unseat current Speaker Dade Phelan. Frank, known for his work on healthcare and family services, adds further complexity to the leadership struggle within the Texas House.
Texas House Committee Zoom Meeting Hacked During Security Hearing on Foreign Threats
During a Texas House committee meeting on securing the state from "hostile foreign organizations," a Zoom session was apparently hacked, displaying unauthorized content that seemed to be Russian Propaganda. This interruption derailed the meeting, forcing the legislators to shut down the stream. The committee recorded on-site audio of the remainder of the hearing.
New Interim Legislative Charges Announced by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for 2024
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has released additional interim legislative charges for Texas Senate committees. https://Click here to view interim charges.
The charges are:
Business and Commerce Committee
- Non-Compete Agreements
Criminal Justice Committee
- Supporting Victims of Sexual Assault
- Retail Theft
- Financial Crimes
Education Committee
- Improving K12-College Pathways
- Monitoring:
Finance Committee
- School Enrollment Trends
- Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program
Health and Human Services Committee
- Protecting Vulnerable Texans in Emergencies
Higher Education Subcommittee
- Stopping DEI to Strengthen the Texas Workforce
- Core Curriculum Course Accessibility
State Affairs Committee
- Impeachment Reform
- Runoff Elections
- Lottery
- Unmasking Protestors
- Stop Noncitizen Voting
- Beverages with THC
- Public Trust in Government
- Addressing Homelessness
- Election Audit Reports
- Monitoring
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Texas Political Spotlight
In solidarity with the Texas Hill Country, please visit TXBiz News’ page to see ways to support our state through this hardship: Hill Country Flood Relief
Welcome back, friends
Governor Abbott has called a high-stakes special session packed with issues ranging from flood response to redistricting, abortion, and THC regulation, just weeks after deadly storms swept Central Texas. Meanwhile, Sen. Angela Paxton announced her divorce from Attorney General Ken Paxton amidst a heated US Senate GOP primary. Lastly, in Boca Chica, SpaceX’s newest project is drawing attention from environmental advocates worried about its impact on coastal dunes.
Today’s Insights:
- Governor Abbott Officially Sets Special Session Agenda
- Sen. Angela Paxton Announces Divorce from Attorney General Ken Paxton Amidst Heated US Senate GOP Primary
- Space X Set To Build Liquid Oxygen Plant in South Texas
Governor Abbott Officially Sets Special Session Agenda
Governor Greg Abbott has called Texas lawmakers back to Austin for a July 21 special session with an 18-item agenda including issues such as natural disaster preparedness, abortion restrictions, THC regulation, and congressional redistricting. The top four items address the catastrophic flooding across Central Texas that left over 100 people dead and more than 160 still missing. Abbott is urging swift action to improve early warning systems and emergency communications, and to provide financial support for flood-impacted areas. “We must ensure better preparation for such events in the future,” the governor said while visiting Kerr County, one of the hardest-hit regions.
While flood response dominates the immediate urgency, the governor's agenda also reopens contentious debates that stalled during the regular session earlier this year. These include efforts to eliminate the STAAR test, limit abortion access, particularly regarding medical abortion, and regulate hemp-derived THC products without imposing a full ban. Abbott’s recent veto of a GOP-led THC ban signaled a more measured approach focused on potency limits potential regulation. At the same time, he is calling for legislation to “further protect unborn children and their mothers,” in what could become another high-profile ideological fight at the Capitol.
Perhaps the most politically consequential item is mid-decade redistricting. Abbott cites constitutional concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice, but critics, including Texas Democrats and advocacy groups, argue the effort is designed to redraw key districts in favor of Republicans ahead of the 2026 elections. Civil rights groups have also raised concerns about the inclusion of legislation to “protect women’s privacy in sex-segregated spaces,” interpreting it as a revival of what critics referred to as "bathroom bills". With lawmakers convening for up to 30 days, and the possibility of additional sessions, Texans can expect legislative action for a while.
Sen. Angela Paxton Announces Divorce from Attorney General Ken Paxton Amidst Heated US Senate GOP Primary
Sen. Angela Paxton announced Thursday she is filing for divorce from her husband, Attorney General Ken Paxton. In her statement, the McKinney Republican said she had “earnestly pursued reconciliation,” but that recent discoveries made continuing the marriage untenable. The couple have long been prominent figures in Texas politics, with Angela Paxton holding the Senate seat her husband once occupied. Ken Paxton attributed the separation to the “pressures of countless political attacks and public scrutiny.”
The announcement comes as Ken Paxton mounts a high-profile primary challenge against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.
Space X Set To Build Liquid Oxygen Plant in South Texas
Cameron County commissioners have approved a construction permit allowing SpaceX to build an air separator facility near the sand dunes of Boca Chica Beach, a decision that has sparked environmental concerns among local residents. The facility—described as a compact industrial plant with 20 structures on 1.66 acres—will separate nitrogen and oxygen from the air to support rocket launches, reducing the need for over 200 truck deliveries per launch from Brownsville. Although SpaceX agreed to mitigation measures and shifting construction further inland to minimize dune disruption, critics remain skeptical, citing limited public input and concerns over the project's impact on vegetation and wildlife. The permit requires SpaceX to restore or replace any damaged dunes, with enforcement authority resting with the Texas General Land Office.
“I think that it’s clearly true today how the government of Cameron County is kind of falling over to please SpaceX”
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TXElects Election Updates
We bring you latest candidate filings, campaign finance information and more for all candidates running for statewide, legislative and congressional offices.
Senate Race In Monday’s Austin press conference on the 2-year anniversary of the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, Democrat Colin Allred included his wife Alexandra Eber as a featured speaker on abortion issues. Eber discussed challenges faced by pregnant women and said that “Politicians in Texas, like Ted Cruz, have done the unthinkable, which is to make it ever harder for women in those unthinkable moments.”
The Texas Politics Project’s June polling found that 45% of Texans believe abortion laws should be less strict, with 23% preferring no change, and 20% preferring stricter abortion laws.
Cruz leads Allred 45% to 34%, according to the Texas Politics Project’s June poll. Allred leads Cruz among Hispanic voters, 38% to 34%, while Cruz led 18-29 year olds 32% to 30%.
Speaker Race The Republican Party of Texas listed “No Democrat Chairs” as its fourth highest legislative priority in its recently released 2024 platform. Last regular session, Speaker Dade Phelan appointed 9 of the 37 House committee chairmanships to Democrats. Phelan defeated challenger David Covey by 366 votes in the runoff primary election and currently faces two challengers for the speakership: Rep. Shelby Slawson and Rep. Tom Oliverson.
Dade Phelan spending Speaker Dade Phelan made $5M in contributions to Texas House 2024 primary candidates and PACs. His largest 20 expenditures were:
Explore our databases and analysis tools for more election insights.
TXElects Election Updates
We bring you the latest candidate filings, campaign finance information and more for all candidates running for statewide, legislative and congressional offices.
Texas campaign spending
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC contributed at least $10M in total to Texas Legislature primary and runoff races. The top 20 expenditures were:
Texans United for a Conservative Majority contributed at least $7.7M in total to Texas Legislature primary and runoff races. The top 20 expenditures were:
Gov. Greg Abbott spent nearly contributed almost $9M in total to Texas Legislature primary and runoff races. The top 20 expenditures were:
Senate Race
UT Tyler’s June 11-20 Texas Registered Voter Survey shows Sen. Ted Cruz leading Democrat challenger Colin Allred 43% to 39%. Respondents listed securing the border as the most important policy issue facing Texas, followed by inflation and reproductive rights.
HD 70
In a Dallas WFAA Inside Texas Politics interview, incumbent Democrat Rep. Mihaela Plesa responded to claims that her district is one of the likeliest to flip. “We do the work, they said that last cycle and we were out-funded 4 to 1 … and we won.” The interview also covers school choice, the Speaker race, IVF, grid infrastructure, and other issues.
Biden debate performance
The Texas Tribune reported on down-ballot discussions following President Biden’s debate performance last Thursday. Former Republican Congresswoman Mayra Flores, currently challenging incumbent Democratic Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, wrote in a text message that “Gonzalez has supported Joe Biden every step of the way … Now is not the time for feeble leadership from Biden or blind yes men like Gonzalez.”
Democratic State Rep. Ron Reynolds of Missouri City wrote on Instagram that he was “very disturbed” by the debate and supported the nomination of VP Kamala Harris in place of President Biden. Democratic Congressman Marc Veasey took an alternate stance, encouraging members to not “say anything that they will regret later before everybody’s had a chance to just kind of chill a little bit.”
Explore our databases and analysis tools for more election insights.
