And here we go. On the first day of bill filing, reproductive rights champion Rep. Donna Howard filed HB 126, a measure for "repealing or replacing medically unnecessary and outdated health care restrictions" – including those w/ the state's criminal abortion ban: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/90R/...

From @edenshamy.bsky.social: “For over 30 years, you played my music at your weddings, your quinceañeras, and your carne asadas ... Tonight, you trusted me with something even bigger than a song. You trusted me with your future, and I will work hard everyday to honor it.”

Bobby Pulido, the New Scion of South Texas Democrats

The Tejano star ousted a two-term Republican incumbent, but now that the music’s over, what kind of congressman will he be?

texasobserver.org

From @edenshamy.bsky.social: “This is due to the work of young organizers on the ground. Republicans were trying to suppress the vote. They redraw the lines. They close polling locations. And this is what happens when you anger people. They turn out and they vote!”

'We Just Took Back Texas': Watching the Blue Tsunami from Talarico’s Victory Party

In a thoroughly historic night of statewide electoral upsets, led by the Democratic Senate candidate, Texans rejoiced.

texasobserver.org

Bobby Pulido's nostalgic 1990s hits became the soundtrack to a moderate, good-vibes campaign pushing back against the extremism of President Donald Trump, who previously won the predominantly Hispanic district by a stunning 18 points in 2024.

Bobby Pulido, the New Scion of South Texas Democrats

The Tejano star ousted a two-term Republican incumbent, but now that the music’s over, what kind of congressman will he be?

texasobserver.org

"Now that the music’s over, what kind of congressman will he be?" www.texasobserver.org/bobby-pulido...

Bobby Pulido, the New Scion of South Texas Democrats

The Tejano star ousted a two-term Republican incumbent, but now that the music’s over, what kind of congressman will he be?

texasobserver.org

New from @edenshamy.bsky.social: Tejano star Bobby Pulido crushed incumbent Republican Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz by 24 points last night in a fierce blue backlash against gerrymandering, immigration crackdowns, and the high cost of living in South Texas.

Bobby Pulido, the New Scion of South Texas Democrats

The Tejano star ousted a two-term Republican incumbent, but now that the music’s over, what kind of congressman will he be?

texasobserver.org

From @edenshamy.bsky.social: “We just proved that all the money in the world is no match for the people of Texas. We just showed that a politics of division is no match for a politics of love.”

'We Just Took Back Texas': Watching the Blue Tsunami from Talarico’s Victory Party

In a thoroughly historic night of statewide electoral upsets, led by the Democratic Senate candidate, Texans rejoiced.

texasobserver.org

Y'all be sure to read all the @texasobserver.org's election coverage from @byjustinmiller.bsky.social @gaigedavila.bsky.social @michellepitcher.bsky.social @edenshamy.bsky.social + more! Start w/ this from @gusbova.bsky.social: "[O]ur state officially faces the unthinkable: Democrats who govern."

Texas Observer@texasobserver.org · last wk.

New from @gusbova.bsky.social: There are a few ways to summarize Tuesday’s results. For example, as in the headline above: “Holy shit.” Or: “This is impossible.” Or: “I think I’m accidentally on some kind of drug you typically have to forage deep into a remote jungle to find.”

"It’s over! It’s over!" shouted a man in the crowd while people around us wept and jumped for joy. “Trump is probably smashing everything up in the Oval Office right now!” Read more about last night's astonishing Talarico watch party @texasobserver.org www.texasobserver.org/talarico-sen...

'We Just Took Back Texas': Watching the Blue Tsunami from Talarico’s Victory Party

In a thoroughly historic night of statewide electoral upsets, led by the Democratic Senate candidate, Texans rejoiced.

texasobserver.org

New from @gusbova.bsky.social: There are a few ways to summarize Tuesday’s results. For example, as in the headline above: “Holy shit.” Or: “This is impossible.” Or: “I think I’m accidentally on some kind of drug you typically have to forage deep into a remote jungle to find.”

Holy Shit, Texas Democrats Are Gonna Govern

You're not hallucinating. Or, even if you are, either way it really happened.

texasobserver.org

My off-the-cuff take on just what we saw happen last night here: the end of Red Texas, everywhere all at once. www.texasobserver.org/down-goes-re...

And Poof. There Goes Red Texas.

From the most powerful GOP state in the nation to blue, in one fell swoop.

texasobserver.org

To close out our coverage for the night, a moving dispatch from the Talarico watch party by @edenshamy.bsky.social: www.texasobserver.org/talarico-sen...

'We Just Took Back Texas': Watching the Blue Tsunami from Talarico’s Victory Party

In a thoroughly historic night of statewide electoral upsets, led by the Democratic Senate candidate, Texans rejoiced.

texasobserver.org

"After two years of being ground zero for the Trump administration’s nationalist policies, the region dramatically swung for Dems after flipping red in 2024." www.texasobserver.org/inundated-by... from @gaigedavila.bsky.social

Inundated by ICE and Rising Costs of Living, South Texas Returns Home to Democrats

After two years of being ground zero for the Trump administration’s nationalist policies, the region dramatically swung for Dems after flipping red two years ago.

texasobserver.org

New from me: The fallout of the dummymandering of Texas was vast www.texasobserver.org/yep-texas-go...

Yep, Texas Got Dummymandered

Republicans’ mid-decade redistricting—fueled by hubris and fealty to Trump—bit them in the ass.

texasobserver.org

Top story: It's Election Day and Texas is once again on center stage. Here's the view from the campaign trail in the nation's most expensive, most highly anticipated 2026 contest.

'I’m Feeling Some Trepidation': Will Talarico Pull Off a Generational Upset over Paxton?

It's almost Election Day and Texas is once again on center stage. Here's the view from the campaign trail in the nation's most expensive, most highly anticipated 2026 contest.

texasobserver.org

It's been an amazing experience covering competitive races for the @texasobserver.org this year. For the last of my coverage, I'll be speaking with dedicated Talafreakos at tonight's watch party as the votes roll in!

Gus Bova@gusbova.bsky.social · last wk.

Very proud of the @texasobserver.org's elections coverage this season--which was more comprehensive than it's been in years thanks to a stable newsroom and leadership of @byjustinmiller.bsky.social. Big shout-out to star intern @edenshamy.bsky.social too. Link: www.texasobserver.org/topics/polit...

Paxton rally-goers danced the Y.M.C.A. and prayed to defeat the Antichrist spirit in James Talarico by bringing forth a red wave. Read more about the final days on the campaign trail in my coverage for @texasobserver.org www.texasobserver.org/texas-senate...

'I’m Feeling Some Trepidation': Will Talarico Pull Off a Generational Upset over Paxton?

It's almost Election Day and Texas is once again on center stage. Here's the view from the campaign trail in the nation's most expensive, most highly anticipated 2026 contest.

texasobserver.org

If elected, Kristian Carranza has promised to increase per-student allotment of funds and said she would vote to end school vouchers, the STAAR test, and state takeovers of local school districts.

School Vouchers Take Center Stage in Texas’ Most Flippable State House District

On San Antonio’s South Side, a progressive Democrat faces off with an architect of Texas' private school voucher program.

texasobserver.org

“This is the latest in the cycle that I can remember thinking our statewide [candidates] still had a chance.” New from @edenshamy.bsky.social: Texas hasn’t sent a Dem to the Senate since 1988. With Election Day closing in, the state is looking at the closest thing to a toss-up race in a generation.

'I’m Feeling Some Trepidation': Will Talarico Pull Off a Generational Upset over Paxton?

It's almost Election Day and Texas is once again on center stage. Here's the view from the campaign trail in the nation's most expensive, most highly anticipated 2026 contest.

texasobserver.org

I was honored to see Dolores Huerta while covering the TX Dem Convention for @texasobserver.org in June. With her passing, and Election Day closing in, I'm reminded of her words. "The eyes of the world are going to be on Texas. Every single person has got to commit. Organize, organize, organize."

The race between Ken Paxton and James Talarico remains nail-bitingly close, and the GOP and their surrogates are trying everything to take down Talarico. New today, @stevanzetti.bsky.social investigates attempts at an "October Surprise," including the anti-transgender mailers flooding into Texas.

Ken Paxton's 'October Surprises' Are Pure Disinformation

For Paxton and the influencers around him, shoddy work in the election’s home stretch is getting rapidly exposed—though some mystery still surrounds a deceptive mail campaign.

texasobserver.org

Out today: “We’re seeing questionable ads that are using various AI technologies all around the country, but the ads in Texas take it to a different level. This kind of synthetic content creation really messes with people’s traditional sense of what they can trust.”

Inside the New AI Slop Era of Texas Politics

As synthetic attack ads blur the line between political satire and deception, the Lone Star State is becoming a testing ground for the limits of election law and free speech.

texasobserver.org

I went into this story for the @texasobserver.org wondering if it's possible to put guardrails on the use of AI in political ads, or to ban it entirely, because most Americans find it deeply concerning. I spoke with media law expert @amykristinsanders.bsky.social to find out...

Texas Observer@texasobserver.org · 2w ago

New from @edenshamy.bsky.social: AI is transforming the political landscape and contorting conventional ideas about truth, free speech, and fair elections. Experts say the law is failing to keep pace as candidates and consulting firms use the rapidly evolving technology to caricature the opposition.

“You’re not going to put that genie back in the bottle,” says one political consultant on using AI for attack ads. www.texasobserver.org/ai-slop-era-... by @edenshamy.bsky.social

New from @edenshamy.bsky.social: AI is transforming the political landscape and contorting conventional ideas about truth, free speech, and fair elections. Experts say the law is failing to keep pace as candidates and consulting firms use the rapidly evolving technology to caricature the opposition.

Inside the New AI Slop Era of Texas Politics

As synthetic attack ads blur the line between political satire and deception, the Lone Star State is becoming a testing ground for the limits of election law and free speech.

texasobserver.org

Presenting the November/December 2026 issue of Texas Observer magazine, with cover story by @candicequestions.com. Cover photograph by @jordanvondy.bsky.social. Members get six issues of our magazine, every year. Visit our website to join.

In a state that barred nearly all abortion care months prior to the fall of Roe v. Wade, some Texas Democrats are placing abortion rights on the back burner, instead focusing on the economy. But abortion access is inextricably tied to affordability, especially in Texas, say repro rights advocates.

Texas Observer@texasobserver.org · 3w ago

“We have been encouraging candidates like Gina Hinojosa to speak about abortion access unapologetically and with clarity. When we don’t explicitly use the word abortion, we produce greater stigma and shame.”

“The civilized keep records to purge their wickedness from the national soul, recollected in tranquility.” Review of Fady Joudah’s "Exhibit G: Poems, Essays, and Photographs of Gaza": www.texasobserver.org/after-genoci...

From August: “I have to say, I voted for Greg Abbott, and I had to learn that that was the wrong choice, so that other people can admit it too.”

Will a Coalition of ‘MAGA Moms’ Rally Behind Gina Hinojosa's Bid for Texas Governor?

Some Republicans say they won’t give Governor Greg Abbott a fourth term after what he’s done to the public education system in Texas.

texasobserver.org

Congressman Brandon Gill’s proposals follow the anti-immigrant MAGA playbook: scapegoat, constrict legal pathways, eliminate birthright citizenship, and outright ban migration from certain countries. Now he's eyeing a top oversight role. @texasobserver.org www.texasobserver.org/brandon-gill...

Is Brandon Gill the Future of MAGA in Texas?

The young-ish Republican has rapidly gone from freshman lawmaker to one of Trump’s top attack dogs.

texasobserver.org