Texas politics

The former El Paso congressman tells Texas Standard he wants to "get us past the very small, divisive politics of this moment and of the current governor."

The bill would bring an estimated $30 billion or more of infrastructure spending into the state. That includes money for federal highway programs, public transit and the state’s electric vehicle charging network.

The Lone Star State’s so-called red, rural wall has helped Republicans dominate statewide elections for decades. Rural Democratic organizers say it’s time to change that.

"Obviously, everyone who moves to Texas might not align with Gov. Abbott's recent legislation, but they kind of do see [it] as a lot of political noise."

Most elections, experts warn, could be over during primaries — which means fewer voters will be choosing candidates.

Both parties gerrymander, but the left’s push for nonpartisan commissions to draw maps could cost them, says an Atlantic reporter.

"The answer to that is not necessarily, what you need to do is then push to the right. The answer to that is ... invest more in the ground game; invest more in outreach."

Elected republican leaders in the state say they are concerned about censorship, but actions silencing other voices paint different picture.

For some energy experts, the increase in donations for the officials at the close of the session looks like a reward for not passing more stringent regulations and raises questions about whether lawmakers let the oil, gas and the broader energy industry off easy for its massive failures.

Former State Senator Don Huffines and former state GOP chairman Allen West are both seeking to outflank incumbent Greg Abbott on the right, but they could end up canceling each other out.