U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar is seeking a fifth term representing El Paso in Congress. Republican challenger Adam Bauman, a Navy veteran and former Border Patrol agent, is making his first run for public office. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/16/e...

Veronica Escobar touts record against first-time candidate Adam Bauman for Congressional District 16 seat

The Democratic incumbent is seeking a fifth term, facing the Republican Navy veteran and former Border Patrol agent in the Nov. 3 election. Early voting starts Monday, Oct. 19.

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Democratic incumbent Vince Perez faces Republican challenger Humberto Perez, a plumber and Army veteran, in the Texas House District 77 race. The candidates differ on party ideology and priorities, including veterans’ services and higher education. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/16/e...

Texas House District 77 pits incumbent Vince Perez against political newcomer Humberto Perez

Former El Paso County Commissioner Vince Perez is seeking another term in the Texas House. He faces Humberto Perez, a Republican plumber and Army veteran making his political debut.

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Three El Paso defense technology entrepreneurs call for an independent review of UTEP’s lost $160 million aerospace grant and urge UT regents to reconsider their support for President Heather Wilson. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/16/o...

Opinion: El Paso lost its moon shot. UTEP's president still owes the city answers.

UTEP’s lost aerospace funding warrants scrutiny of President Heather Wilson’s leadership and a public accounting of federal investments, El Paso aerospace entrepreneurs say.

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Three detainees have died at El Paso’s Camp East Montana ICE detention center. Attorneys are asking a federal judge to order sweeping changes and appoint independent monitors to oversee health care and living conditions. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/16/c...

Camp East Montana detainees seek independent monitors after deaths and alleged failures

Attorneys for Camp East Montana detainees are asking a federal judge to order improvements to healthcare and living conditions and appoint independent monitors at the El Paso ICE detention center.

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This week in El Paso: • Food inspection, pet adoption fees increase • City Council gains oversight of future license plate cameras • City tightens detention facility rules Read more in our weekly news roundup. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/16/e...

District 6 incumbent Art Fierro faces four challengers in the Nov. 3 election who question city spending, the Meta data center deal and how City Council responds to residents. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/15/e...

Incumbent Art Fierro faces four challengers in East El Paso District 6 race

Art Fierro faces four challengers for the District 6 City Council seat as voters weigh rising costs, the Meta data center deal and city spending.

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The race for the Texas House District 79 seat pits Democratic incumbent Claudia Ordaz, a former city representative, against Republican Jesse Romero, a retired Realtor and Navy veteran who previously ran unsuccessfully for a City Council seat. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/15/e...

Democrat Claudia Ordaz seeks third term as Republican Jesse Romero makes first run for Texas House

The race for District 79 pits the incumbent, a former city representative, against a retired Realtor and Navy veteran who previously ran unsuccessfully for a City Council seat.

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A Mexican judge this week closed the case against Francisco Garduño, former head of the country's immigration agency, for crimes related to the 2023 fire at a Ciudad Juarez detention center that killed 40 migrants and injured 30 others. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/15/j...

Two El Dorado High School graduates want to represent El Paso's Far Eastside. District 5 incumbent Ivan Niño points to road projects and a focus going forward on curbing drunk driving. Challenger Richard Genera promises more community meetings and public input. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/14/e...

City Council incumbent Ivan Niño and challenger Richard Genera differ on taxes, Meta data center, city spending

The candidates for District 5 comprising the Far Eastside identify traffic, property taxes and affordability as pressing challenges. Here’s where they stand on these and other key issues.

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Incumbent El Paso city Rep. Chris Canales faces four challengers for the District 8 seat: nonprofit executive Matthew Guzman, restaurant owner Arturo Alluin, former salesperson Laura Ochoa-Todd and former city employee Johnny J. Gonzalez. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/14/e...

In District 8 race, El Paso city rep candidates address business tax breaks, disagree on deck plaza

Incumbent Chris Canales faces four challengers as he seeks reelection to City Council.

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Catch this week’s top events across El Paso. 🎨 Third Thursdays 🎧 Party on the Plaza 🎻 El Paso Symphony 🍺 Brew at the Zoo 🐕 Días de los Doggies 🚒 Fire Fest 🏜️ Hueco Tanks Fair 🥾 Sunday Sunrise Hike Plan your week with our roundup. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/14/e...

Power plants proposed for Meta’s El Paso data center and Project Jupiter could emit as much greenhouse gas as roughly 2 million cars a year. Reporting by El Paso Matters, ProPublica and The Texas Tribune. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/14/e...

Podcast: Overtime spending at El Paso County's jails has more than doubled, even as the inmate population has declined. Sheriff Oscar Ugarte says extra officers improve safety but county commissioners have questioned the cost. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/13/e...

Podcast: Why is El Paso County's sheriff facing a budget deficit?

El Paso County sheriff faces a $6 million budget deficit driven by jail overtime. Staffing changes are reducing costs, but questions remain about safety and spending.

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For the first time since 2008, El Paso voters face multiple contested district judge races in a general election. Meet the candidates for the 120th and 168th district courts. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/13/e...

The four-way District 1 race comes as El Paso confronts higher public safety costs, pending police and fire union contracts, rising taxes and continued divisions over the Meta data center agreement and city spending. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/12/e...

Dr. Veerinder Taneja resigned as director of the El Paso Department of Public Health, leaving a gap once again in the city’s top health leadership. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/11/e...

This week in El Paso: • Doctor arrested after UMC patient alleges groping • UTEP teacher residency shows student gains • County weighs $1 million in sheriff overtime • City names new Public Works director Read more in our weekly news roundup. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/09/e...

El Paso doctor faces assault charge; UTEP teacher program shows student gains

This week: An El Paso doctor is arrested, UTEP’s teacher residency shows gains, and sheriff’s overtime spending returns to county scrutiny.

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Republican Leo Arcos and Democrat Annette Griego want to represent El Paso County Precinct 4. Property taxes and infrastructure are major concerns among residents in West and Northeast El Paso and nearby unincorporated communities. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/09/e...

Arcos, Griego vie for El Paso County Precinct 4 commissioner seat

The first-time candidates bring different backgrounds to the Precinct 4 race, while voters weigh property taxes, infrastructure, public spending and concerns about county services.

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El Paso Electric is getting a new CEO. Kelly Tomblin is retiring after six years, with former Entergy Texas chief Eliecer Viamontes taking over Nov. 9. He inherits billions in planned infrastructure investments and growing concerns over electricity costs. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/09/e...

El Paso Electric CEO Kelly Tomblin retires; Eliecer Viamontes named new leader

Kelly Tomblin is retiring after six years leading El Paso Electric. Her successor, Eliecer Viamontes, takes over amid major construction projects, rising electricity demand and concerns about…

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Precinct 2 candidates of El Paso County Commissioners race offer property tax solutions that would be difficult to impossible to implement under current state laws. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/08/e...

The next county judge will help decide how El Paso County balances taxpayer concerns with rising service and public safety costs. The race pits Democratic incumbent Ricardo Samaniego against Republican challenger Minerva Torres Shelton. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/07/e...

Could rooftop solar help with your El Paso electric bill? Sam Silerio explains how a free group-buying program lets homeowners compare solar and battery options before deciding. Registration closes Oct. 14. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/07/o...

Opinion: Switch Together program brings deals on rooftop solar and home batteries

A free program offers homeowners a solar proposal that accounts for El Paso Electric’s new demand charge, with registration open through Oct. 14.

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The Canutillo ISD trustee election comes while the district is working on a $379 million bond and is trying to boost its academic rating after getting a C for two consecutive years. The candidates are running three full terms and one unexpired term on the board. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/07/e...

Retired superintendent, ex-trustee, fired principal among Canutillo ISD school board candidates

Four at-large seats on the Canutillo ISD board will be on the Nov. 3 ballot – including three full terms and one unexpired term. Here’s who’s running.

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Catch this week’s top events across El Paso. 🎻 Pro-Musica’s America 250 premiere 🎶 Mission Trail Music Festival 💧 TecH2O Fall School Break Series 🎭 “La Vida Inútil de Pito Pérez” Plan your week with our roundup. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/07/e...

The Texas Comptroller’s Office will conduct a detailed review of how EPISD spends state education funds after Gov. Greg Abbot called for school districts to direct more state funding toward classrooms, students and teachers rather than administration. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/06/e...

Texas comptroller to review El Paso ISD spending - El Paso Matters

The review will examine El Paso ISD and three other Texas districts to determine whether state education funds are being spent as required by law.

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Early voting for tax rate elections in Socorro and Ysleta ISDs begins Oct.19 and runs through Oct. 30. Both districts are asking voters to approve rates to boost revenue and stabilize finances. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/06/e...

Socorro, Ysleta school districts hold tax rate elections to boost revenue

Socorro ISD expects to generate $49.2 million in revenue and Ysleta ISD expects $5.5 million if voters approve tax ratification proposals known as VATRE on the Nov. 3 election ballot.

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Rebecca Guerrero experienced miscarriages in El Paso and Juárez. She explains why she felt safer receiving care across the border — and why reproductive health should matter to Texas voters. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/06/o...

Podcast: Behind El Paso’s surge in ICE arrests are thousands of individual stories. Editor Cindy Ramirez discusses families facing deportation and what her reporting shows about who is being arrested by federal immigration authorities. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/06/p...

Republicans made historic gains in El Paso in 2024. A new poll suggests those gains are fading, with Democrats leading roughly 2 to 1 in the Senate and governor’s races. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/05/e...

Analysis: Poll suggests El Paso Republicans are shedding their 2024 gains

A poll of El Paso County adults suggests Republicans’ 2024 gains are fading, with Democrats holding roughly 2-to-1 leads in the U.S. Senate and governor’s races.

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Opinion: Extreme heat is reshaping life in El Paso, from children’s classrooms to families’ utility bills. Isabel K. Latz urges voters to choose leaders who take those costs and health risks seriously. elpasomatters.org/2026/10/05/o...

In this midterm election, El Pasoans can’t afford leaders who ignore extreme heat

Extreme heat threatens El Pasoans’ health, strains household budgets and disrupts learning, making climate preparedness a priority voters should demand from candidates, Isabel K. Latz writes.

elpasomatters.org