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February 6, 2026      10:07 AM

Trial set in Collin County for June 24 in the divorce of AG Paxton and Sen. Paxton

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February 5, 2026      5:20 PM

With a month to go before the primary, campaign finance reports show some of the bigger PACs holding back while Texas House Republicans face local skirmishes

Reporter James Russell breaks down the numbers on the PAC spending and the individual candidates we’re watching

The 30-day campaign finance reports have now fully trickled into the Texas Ethics Commission and, as Quorum Report readers were first made aware in December, the campaign cycle seems lower stakes than the past two cycles and these latest reports are proving it.

If there’s much real drama ahead, it’ll be reflected in the 8 day reports and in our reporting from the campaign trail over the next month or so.

As always, we want your feedback on which races interest you so that they’re included in our coverage now and moving forward.

As we go through the filings, let’s start with the PACs.

The rest of the story, subscribers only

By James Russell

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February 5, 2026      5:10 PM

LaHood takes down false ads about GOP challenger David McArther after news report in San Antonio

From the story today by reporter Bayliss Wagner at the San Antonio Express News

Several LaHood mailers inaccurately said McArthur was sued for patent and copyright infringement, apparently confusing him with the co-founder of the defunct internet music service Audiogalaxy. After Hearst Newspapers flagged the error, LaHood’s consultant Elliot Griffin blamed an opposition research firm and said the claim would not be repeated.

LaHood’s campaign also has claimed McArthur was sued twice for wrongful death, citing lawsuits over hazing in a University of Texas men’s organization he once led. One 1995 lawsuit named McArthur as a past president of the group, but the other, filed against the UT Cowboys and its alumni association in 2020, does not even mention him.

Since being contacted by Hearst, LaHood’s campaign has stopped referencing its outside opposition research about litigation regarding McArthur, Griffin said.

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February 5, 2026      1:56 PM

Poll shows Hunt pulling even with Paxton and Cornyn

“It shows Ken Paxton is beatable, with his lead narrowing to one point, but a three-way tie could yet gift him the primary.”

The poll was highlighted in the New York Post. Depending on your browser you might have to right click the link and open in a new broswer.

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February 4, 2026      4:20 PM

Kronberg on whether the Fort Worth special election means Texas Democrats are investible nationally

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February 4, 2026      4:19 PM

Gov. Abbott endorsed by 8 Houston area unions

It comes as Abbott pledges to spend up to $25 million to boost Republicans in Harris County; these unions say labor isn’t an R or D issue. “If you work with us we will work with you” is the message

The list of those groups in attendance endorsing Abbott today is here.

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February 4, 2026      4:11 PM

Poll shows Holly Jeffreys with double digit lead in race to succeed Chair Smithee in the Texas House

The polling memo is available to subscribers.

The rest of the story, subscribers only

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February 2, 2026      5:31 PM

Notes from the Campaign Trail: Sharpening the Long Knives Edition

Hittin’ rough water now in the Ag Commissioner’s race and the US Senate Democratic primary: Allred comes off the sidelines to slam Talarico for allegedly calling him a “mediocre black man,” Commissioner Miller set to debate GOP challenger Sheets, Texas opposition research leaks on ABC’s The View, and the Luke Warford phenomenon is explained

HOUSTON – Reporting again from H-town, the site of this week’s scheduled debate between Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and his GOP challenger Nate Sheets. It might be their only in-person exchange after Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaign went so hard in the paint for Sheets in recent weeks, calling Miller corrupt, among other things. But with only 15 days until the start of early voting, the Republicans aren’t the only ones ripping each other apart.

Just two days after Texas Democrats scored one of their biggest public relations victories in decades with an upset win in Tarrant County, the US Senate race on their side is starting to get about as nasty as I thought it would. One of the former candidates in that race, Colin Allred, is now coming for Rep. James Talarico after it was alleged that Talarico called Allred a “mediocre Black man” in a comment meant as a compliment to Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Talarico answered the allegation late in the day, arguing Allred is mischaracterizing what was said in a private conversation.

Let’s start with Miller vs Abbott, though.

The rest of the story, subscribers only

By Scott Braddock

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