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January 30, 2026      3:02 PM

People on the Move

New lobby gigs, association news, advocacy, and a well-deserved recognition of a Texas icon

This is about the time that grizzled veterans of Texas campaigns start to say things like “well, this one’s basically over.”

Not quite yet but it’s true the 30-day campaign finance reports are due to come out next week – reporter James Russell will have complete coverage, of course – and candidates in competitive or spirited-but-not-necessarily-competitive races are back on the thawed out streets, knocking on doors, and talking with voters to shore up support ahead of March 3.

Here in Austin, some of the names and faces you know all too well announced new career moves this week to tell you about. There’s also a well-deserved recognition coming up stemming from the tragedy of the Hill Country flooding.

When you have career news to share with the Texas Capitol community, it’s become common knowledge that the Texas Capitol community hasn’t really been informed about it until the scoop is in the pages of Quorum Report. But it only works when you let me know what’s happening. Thanks so much for doing so week in and week out. If there’s news to share – it doesn’t have to be yours – send it anytime to ksbraddock@gmail.com and use POTM in the subject line for the fastest service.

Here’s the latest edition of People on the Move.

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By Scott Braddock

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January 30, 2026      2:23 PM

Patrick unveils first round of interim charges including his proposals on property taxes

Here’s the initial list.

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January 29, 2026      2:15 PM

With a runoff possible, Johnson and Jaworski duke it out in a spirited race for the Democratic nomination for Texas Attorney General

Former Galveston Mayor Jaworski tries to paint Sen. Johnson as “MAGA’s favorite Democrat” and a sellout to Lt. Gov. Patrick; Johnson leads in the money race, says Jaworski is a three-time loser, and boasts that only he has experience in unseating a Republican: “I know how to beat these guys and it's gonna be fun.”

RICHARDSON – While the contest to be the GOP nominee for Texas Attorney General is a wide open mess of a race nearly guaranteed to head to a runoff, the Democratic campaign for the same job is more clearly defined but could also end up in overtime after March 3. There are only two candidates with any name ID among the political chattering class: Sen. Nathan Johnson of Dallas and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski. But there is a lesser-known candidate who could serve as a spoiler. “Who is the third?” asked an Austin insider just this week.

We’ll get to that.

Of course, the boys in Vegas would still handicap the race for the Republicans in November. But Democrats argue it’s critical to put their best foot forward with a solid nominee for AG in an election cycle that could prove to be a wave year for the minority party here and around the country.

Without little room for doubt, the most aggressive campaigner in this contest is Jaworkski. But his critics say Jaworski’s tone and nonstop attacks on Johnson are making the race unnecessarily nasty.

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By Scott Braddock

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January 27, 2026      1:30 PM

Amid ICE controversy Kronberg notes many in the GOP on and off the ballot are distancing from President Trump

Quorum Report Publisher Harvey Kronberg and Texas Capital Tonight Host James Barragan talked on Spectrum News in Austin about the fallout from the latest Minnesota ICE shooting, the Democratic US Senate primary in Texas, and more

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January 27, 2026      1:15 PM

Abbott tells all state agencies to immediately freeze new H-1B visa petitions

QR first reported on Saturday that Abbott was gathering information to do this.

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January 27, 2026      11:57 AM

Crockett reportedly plans to start hitting Talarico with some contrast ads on TV

TV ads from the Crockett campaign would represent her first significant spending of the cycle; to date Talarico has dominated both on the airwaves and field operations

Punchbowl News in DC reported this morning:

During a private donor call, a top supporter of Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s (D-Texas) Senate run said the campaign is planning to start attacking state Rep. James Talarico on the air.

...During the Jan. 22 Zoom call, Crockett supporter Jason Lee — speaking alongside campaign pollster Terrance Woodbury and deputy campaign manager Karrol Rimal — said the campaign is “going to begin in earnest a very robust communication strategy.”

Lee also said "because her opponent is somewhat less well-known, people do need to hear certain information so they can make an informed decision … The other candidate needs to go through the same vetting.”

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January 26, 2026      7:00 PM

Notes from the Campaign Trail: Slowly Thawing Out Edition

Minimal campaign events canceled because of the ice storm, special election turnout is low although a Republican voting for a Democrat says there’s real energy around one of the races, and the Democratic US Senate debate was basically a wash

AUSTIN – Reporting from the Buzz Central home offices today after what had been billed as a potentially “catastrophic” ice storm swept across Texas over the weekend. Knock on wood, the power is still on here and there are enough rations to make it through as the streets start to thaw out in the Capital city.

QR was first to report that the Texas Capitol would be closed all day, according to an internal memo we obtained Sunday night. It had previously been reported that offices would be only closed through lunchtime today.

Meantime around the state, there were only a smattering of campaign event cancellations.

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By Scott Braddock

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January 26, 2026      6:35 PM

ABC 13 in Houston reports Tara Arnold and Shawna Collins are among the dead in the Arnold and Itkin private plane crash

Reporter Miya Shay notes the flight took off from Hobby Airport's Jet Aviation before the accident in Maine on Sunday

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January 26, 2026      1:15 PM

Gov. Abbott confirms he is investigating legal immigrant employees here on H1B visas at universities and public schools across Texas

Speaking to conservative talk show host Mark Davis, Abbott confirmed the Quorum Report story and went further, adding he is looking into those employees in more places than only the Texas A&M System as first reported

Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday morning confirmed the scoop in the Quorum Report over the weekend that his office is investigating the use of H-1B visas for the employment of some immigrants working at university systems and public schools around the state.

Reporter James Russell on Saturday unearthed internal emails showing Abbott’s office was demanding information about those workers at the Texas A&M System.

On a conservative radio talk show this morning, Abbott said his dragnet of legal migrants is more expansive.
Speaking on the Mark Davis Show on 660am radio in DFW, Abbott reminded listeners at that the H-1B program is federal – not state.

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By Scott Braddock

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January 26, 2026      11:00 AM

FAA says seven died and one survived in crash of Arnold and Itkin private jet

No names are being released at this time

The Associated Press has the latest details.

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January 25, 2026      6:08 PM

The Texas Capitol will be closed all day Monday, according to an internal memo circulated by DPS

It was previously thought that the building would be open at Noon Monday. Y'all stay warm.

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January 24, 2026      3:30 PM

Internal emails show Gov. Abbott is demanding info on immigrant workers using H1B visas at the Texas A&M University system

The emails reviewed by Quorum Report say Abbott wants info on this by close of business Monday

Gov. Greg Abbott is demanding leaders of all Texas A&M University System campuses to submit a list of all employees on H1B visas by end of day Monday, according to an e-mail obtained by Quorum Report.

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By James Russell

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