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January 19, 2026      5:17 PM

On MLK Day, Paxton issues rare if not unheard of unrequested legal opinion blasting Cornyn over Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Cornyn fired back, arguing Paxton is incompetent and questioned whether the "bogus" move amounted to "an illegal, in-kind contribution to his campaign" from his government office: "Inquiring minds (and the Federal Election Commission) want to know”

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, of all days, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sen. John Cornyn – locked in a Republican US Senate primary – spent their time sparring over the issue of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

That was after Paxton’s office took a direct shot at the senior senator, arguing in a strange legal opinion that Cornyn allowed DEI “to flourish” for years in Texas.

Cornyn was quick to call the allegation “bogus.”

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By Scott Braddock

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January 19, 2026      4:59 PM

Internal poll shows former Sen. Huffines with commanding lead in race for GOP nomination for Texas Comptroller

The poll promoted by the Huffines camp suggests he’ll be in a runoff regardless of whether it’s against Hancock or Craddick

A new poll out from national pollster Chris Wilson shows former Sen. Don Huffines has a commanding lead in the race to snag the GOP nomination for Texas Comptroller.

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January 19, 2026      9:00 AM

TLR is pulling out of races in which the group had just endorsed challengers to GOP Texas House incumbents

Several sources connected to campaigns that were expecting funding from TLR will now not receive that backing

At least three challengers to Texas House GOP incumbents who were expected to receive the financial backing of Texans for Lawsuit Reform will now not receive it, Quorum Report learned Friday night.

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By Scott Braddock

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January 19, 2026      8:56 AM

In new TV commercial, Middleton slams Roy as someone President Trump does not trust

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January 16, 2026      6:00 PM

With the perceived frontrunner largely sidelined from the campaign trail, three Republicans hustle for a runoff spot against Roy in GOP primary for Texas Attorney General

Congressman Roy thinks he can win outright, Chair Huffman stresses she’s earned the trust of Lt. Gov. Patrick, Sen. Middleton attacks “taxpayer funded lobbyists” at almost every turn, Reitz argues legislators don’t have the requisite experience to do the job

HOUSTON – For the first time since Gov. Greg Abbott ascended to the Governor’s Masion in Austin more than a decade ago, the race for Texas Attorney General is wide open. With four Republicans and two Democrats vying for a shot to succeed AG Ken Paxton, the shape of the race is hard to determine even when taking a closer look at the candidates.

Let’s focus first on the Republicans, since they’re running in the election of consequence in this state: The GOP primary.

Without a doubt, this four-way battle features some of the fieriest rhetoric of any of this year’s statewide contests. One candidate, for example, is gaining traction by repeatedly portraying the race as chance to fight the “dark forces of the left” while another slams “taxpayer funded lobbying” at every turn. Voters are being told there’s a "threat of Sharia law” creeping into Texas and the perceived frontrunner is constantly under attack for opposing President Donald Trump in the days after the January 6 insurrection.

At campaign events, on the airwaves, and online, voters across Texas are inundated by messages from candidates shouting for attention but perhaps not holding much of it.

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By Scott Braddock

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January 16, 2026      5:07 PM

People on the Move

Power players, TLR, lobby promotions, a veteran of Austin media begins a national chapter, and lots of congrats are in order

After the first week on the road this year for primaries ramping up across Texas, you can already feel it’s a grind for the candidates in districts from DFW to Houston, San Antonio down to the RGV, and everywhere in between. It’s not the panicked atmosphere of 24 months ago, fer sure. Instead, candidates are doing the daily work of raising money, spending it, and getting out their field operations ahead of March 3, hoping to avoid runoffs where that possibility is in play.

It was cool to see so many of your smiling faces at the Houston Junior League for this week’s GOP AG candidate’s forum. Most of the latest episode of the Quorum Report Radio podcast, which drops tonight, was recorded on the road in H-town this week. And a living legend made a surprise appearance this week. Check out the links to subscribe to the show on the homepage. The podcast continues from the road in the months ahead, coming your way from Dallas-Fort Worth next week and probably San Antonio the week after. Stay tuned.

Meantime, back in Austin there are some significant hires and promotions to tell you about. Plus, some of our friends were honored in various ways that deserve big congratulations.

When you’ve got – or you hear about – career news at the Texas Capitol, send it to ksbraddock@gmail.com anytime and use POTM in the subject line. That way it all stays where I need it to be in my inbox.

Thanks so much and here’s the latest edition.

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By Scott Braddock

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January 16, 2026      8:59 AM

Paxton hits Cornyn with ad featuring AI video of Cornyn dancing with Crockett

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January 15, 2026      5:11 PM

Abbott announces nearly $106 million cash on hand

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January 15, 2026      4:29 PM

Significant cash flowing in open statewide races while Texas legislative campaign fundraising looks a bit anemic

West Texas billionaires showing up big for Bo French for RRC; acting Comptroller Hancock’s benefitting from Abbott adjacency; Texas House members scramble in individual races

Compared to two years ago, the January semi-annual legislative campaign finance reports might seem a little boring. But that might be welcome news after the political fire drill and ensuing panic that played out in 2024 as Gov. Greg Abbott punished Republicans for opposing school vouchers and Attorney General Ken Paxton went on a retribution tour following the impeachment proceedings against him in the Texas House.

But there are some curiosities that stand out.

Let’s get into it.

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By James Russell

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January 15, 2026      2:30 PM

Lt. Gov. Patrick has $38 million cash on hand

That's after raising $3.5 million

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January 15, 2026      9:28 AM

Kronberg says Cornyn is stuck in place while Talarico is just now being discovered and stands to gain the most from live debate with Crockett

On Spectrum News in Austin, Texas Capital Tonight host James Barragan and QR Publisher Harvey Kronberg handicap the US Senate race with the primary truly now underway

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January 14, 2026      5:08 PM

Local governments and nonprofits to grapple with fallout after Trump Administration nixes billions in grants for addiction and mental health

NPR reported the number nationally could be as high as $2 billion in loss of funds for those programs.

The info on Bexar County, for example, is here.

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January 14, 2026      4:53 PM

Fort Bend County Judge candidate Dexter McCoy raises more than $1 million

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