Welcome to 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.
July semiannual campaign finance reports are in! Dive into our elections insights app to view the latest campaign finance report numbers.
Today’s News
Biden drops out
Biden announced he will no longer seek reelection and endorsed VP Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination. Four Democratic US Representatives, including Marc Veasey (TX-33), had released a joint statement last week calling for Biden to step down from the nomination.
Following Biden’s announcement, Speaker Dade Phelan posted on X: “President Biden’s decision confirms what Republicans have known for a long time: the Biden-Harris Administration is unfit for four more years in the White House.”
Rep. James Talarico said in a KXAN interview: “I think just in the last couple hours, Vice President Harris’ candidacy is energizing Democrats across the state of Texas, across the country.”
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee
Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee of TX-18 died on Friday at age 74. In 2021, Jackson Lee authored the legislation establishing Juneteenth to honor the day when the last slaves in Texas received news of their freedom. The Congressional Black Caucus, which Jackson Lee chaired, said in a statement that she “was a titan and stalwart member of Congress who served the Houston area and our country honorably for nearly 30 years in the U.S. Congress … [she] was a fierce advocate for social and economic justice, national and homeland security, energy independence, and children and working families.”
HD 87
Republican House candidate Caroline Fairly’s campaign report shows nearly $500,000 of campaign contributions from her father, a businessman and prolific GOP donor. In a February interview, Fairly said she wasn’t receiving financial help from her father. Fairly recently responded that her previous interview answer had been a mistake, as she had no been aware of her father’s donations at the time. She also said that she took out a loan to respond to attacks from special interest PACs, and that her father repaid that loan.
Abbott Campaign Finance
Democratic Sen. Nathan Johnson responded to Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaign finance reports, which showed $10M in total contributions from pro- school choice, Pennsylvania-based mega-donor Jeff Yass this primary cycle. “Our kids should not be pawns in these grotesque power-of-money games,” Johnson said. “But here we are.”
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🎙️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!
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#43 - Wes Benedict: Bridging Policy and Community with Texans for Reasonable Solutions
Welcome to Episode #43 of Bills & Business. In this episode, Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege, sits down with Wes Benedict, Grassroots Manager at Texans for Reasonable Solutions.
Wes brings years of advocacy experience and a steady, practical approach to community engagement. The conversation explores how Texas communities can navigate political tension, build cross-partisan coalitions, and create space for meaningful dialogue in an increasingly polarized environment.
They dive into the organization’s focus on key statewide issues including housing, infrastructure, water, and the evolving relationship between local and state governments. Wes breaks down why these policies matter for both everyday Texans and the business community, and how reasonable, bipartisan solutions can move conversations forward.
The episode closes with insights on how individuals can get involved, what success looks like in grassroots policy work, and what Texans should be watching as the special session unfolds.
Don’t forget to subscribe to Bills & Business on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for more deep dives into Texas policy and business news.
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🎬 Produced by USLege
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Texas Political Spotlight
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!
Texas Political Spotlight
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!
Texas Political Spotlight
Welcome back, friends
Texas voters approved one of the largest property tax relief packages in state history on Tuesday, raising the homestead exemption to $140,000 and granting new tax breaks for seniors, people with disabilities, and small businesses. In Austin, residents rejected Proposition Q, a plan to fund public safety, homelessness programs, and city facility initiatives through a property tax hike, forcing city leaders to rework the budget and brace for service cuts. Meanwhile, Bexar County voters narrowly passed Propositions A and B, greenlighting up to $311 million in tourism-funded support for a new downtown Spurs arena and upgrades to the Freeman Coliseum grounds.
We hope you enjoyed today’s read!
Texas Political Spotlight
Welcome back friends,
Former Vice President Dick Cheney, one of the most influential and controversial figures in modern American politics, has died at 84, remembered by former President George W. Bush as a “patriot” whose intellect and conviction shaped decades of U.S. policy. In Texas, the Education Agency announced a sweeping takeover of Fort Worth ISD, the state’s second-largest intervention, citing years of academic underperformance and plans to install new local managers. And in Washington, a United Airlines flight was evacuated after a bomb threat, prompting an FBI investigation that later found no explosives, allowing operations to resume safely.
We hope you enjoyed today’s read!
