Here’s a quick recap of what happened over the last week:
Winter Storm Forces Closures, Delays
The massive winter storm that affected millions of people from New Mexico to New England forced business and school closures throughout the state and caused travel nightmares in the air and on the ground for several days. On Sunday morning, there were 213 million people in the country that were under some sort of winter weather advisory.
In Texas, from Austin and northward, most businesses closed Saturday night and were forced to remain closed for several days. The state Capitol closed to visitors Saturday afternoon and remained closed through Monday, although normal activity did not seem to resume there until Wednesday. Schools and universities canceled classes through Tuesday due to icy road conditions creating dangerous travel. Tens of thousands were left without power in several southeastern states, but most Texans were spared from outages, and the grid held up even in the bitterly cold temperatures that reached single digits in many parts of the state. East Texas was the only region to experience a loss of power for an extended period of time. The Deep East Texas Cooperative saw the most power outages in the state with about 25% of its customer base still without power yesterday, mostly in Panola and Shelby Counties near the Louisiana border. Crews expect to have all power fully restored by Sunday.
The biggest problem – in addition to the icy roads that prevented travel from Saturday night through Monday – was the number of flight cancellations due to the storm. In Dallas on Monday alone, 320 departing flights – 43% of all departures scheduled – were canceled at DFW airport and Love Field. An additional 158 flights faced significant delays. Another 389 due to land at Dallas airports were canceled. In Houston, a total of 50 flights were canceled on Monday between Bush Intercontinental and Hobby, with another 50 delayed and 40 incoming flights that were canceled. In Austin, there were only about 11,000 passengers that went through TSA each day over the weekend, roughly half of what the airport normally sees on an average weekend. Austin also saw 53 departures and 31 arrivals canceled, with 153 flight delays.
Nationally, air travel was a nightmare with the ripple effect of the weekend weather still being felt on Monday when 4,800 flights were canceled and another 13,200 were delayed. The worst day nationally was Sunday when – according to FlightAware – more than 11,000 flights were canceled, the highest number of cancellations since the COVID pandemic.
Temperatures have increased gradually over the week, but most of the state will see freezing temperatures again starting tonight. Good news though – this front is expected to be dry, so hopefully no more ice and snow!!
Jasmine Crockett vs. James Talarico
The Crockett vs. Talarico debate was the first major face-off in the Texas Democratic U.S. Senate primary ahead of the March 3, 2026 primary. Both are competing to be the Democratic nominee to try and flip a seat long held by Republican Senator John Cornyn. The debate took place on January 24th, at the Texas AFL-CIO COPE Convention in Georgetown, Texas– a gathering of union members and activists. This was a key Democratic audience in a deeply Republican state. The Democratic nominee who succeeds in the primary will go on to face the Republican nominee in the general election.
Unlike many political debates in recent years that quickly turn acrimonious, Crockett and Talarico largely avoided any direct personal attacks of character. Instead, they chose to articulate competing visions of leadership, agreeing substantively on many priorities, with differences in style and strategic appeal. Talarico and Crockett were aligned on priorities such as economic reform, health care, immigration enforcement reform, and tax reform. The contrast was mainly how they framed themselves as the best choice: Crockett as an impassioned “fighter” with national visibility and a legal background, and Talarico as the thoughtful Christian legislator with grassroots credibility & bipartisan appeal.
One of the clear contrasts in their debate was regarding the topic of the impeachment of President Trump. Crockett emphatically believes that there is more than enough evidence to impeach him, including his use of tariffs. Talarico framed it instead as a legal question that he would adjudicate for, given that the Senate’s role is the trial phase, not initiate. Both candidates condemned the recent federal immigration enforcement actions and called for reform.
On economic issues, the two were largely in lockstep. Both supported higher taxes on the wealthy and were in opposition of any tariffs that raise costs for consumers and farmers. They also agreed on the expansion of healthcare access, extending Medicare to all Americans. Their close alignment on key ideas underscores that there is not a fundamental ideological divide but instead that their differences are more interpretive and strategic. In follow-up coverage, both have expressed progressive views regarding the Supreme Court; with Crockett openly supported expanding the Supreme Court, and Talarico emphasizing ethics reforms and term limits for the justices.
Crockett’s brand is dramatic and confrontational — designed to energize the base. She also has the ability to engage Black voters and those dissatisfied with the political status quo. She will be able to get voters who might otherwise stay home to turn out and vote for her in the primary. Talarico’s appeal is steadiness, coalition-building, and battling Republicans where it matters legislatively. He positions his economic fight as moral and populist, suggesting he can attract rural and independent voters disillusioned with Republicans. The debate previewed the central tension not just for this primary, but for Democratic strategy in purple or red states nationwide.
Several polls have been released in the race, and all but one – an internal poll released by Talarico – has shown Crockett ahead comfortably. But yesterday, a new poll showed the two in a dead-heat. The poll conducted by the non-partisan group Texas Public Opinion Research showed Crockett leading Talarico by one point – 38% to 37%, with 21% still undecided. The group polled 1,290 likely Democratic primary voters – a healthy sample – from January 14th-21st. With the margin of error at 3.7%, the poll puts the two candidates in a virtual tie.
More Negative Ads from Cornyn, Paxton Confident of Runoff
Many of you have seen the most recent commercial running on behalf of incumbent John Cornyn that lays a vicious attack on challenger Ken Paxton. The ad hit the airwaves last week and hits Paxton for his alleged extra-marital affairs, his firing of Attorney General office employees for reporting abuse of office allegations to the FBI, and his increase in personal wealth since being elected state Attorney General in 2014. The ad buy is funded – to the tune of $2 million – by Texans for a Conservative Majority, a pro-Cornyn PAC established earlier this month. The ad is entitled “Too Weird” and will run through the March 3rd primary election day. So far, Cornyn and pro-Cornyn forces have spent nearly $47 million in advertising, mostly attacking Paxton.
On the other hand – with a little over four weeks to go before election day – Paxton and his affiliated groups have spent virtually nothing on advertising. Even though Paxton and his campaign surrogates will admit they have lagged behind Cornyn in fundraising, they say they are more than happy where they stand in the race. When asked about the latest Cornyn ad, a spokesman for the pro-Paxton Texas Lone Star Liberty PAC responded, “We feel good about where we are, and will spend our resources when it’s necessary, and not before.”
The third major candidate in the primary – Houston Congressman Wesley Hunt – has spent about $8 million on advertising so far, with a good balance of trying to boost his familiarity among voters and attacks on Cornyn.
With three well-funded and well-known candidates, the race is almost certain to end up in a runoff after the March 3rd primary. According to all major polls done for the race – and there have been a lot – Paxton has led in every one of them. Last fall his lead was substantial – as much as 20 points. But the advertising by Cornyn has cut Paxton’s lead to single digits. Some polls show Hunt in 2nd, but most polls show Cornyn pulling very close to Paxton. The most recent results from Real Clear Politics – which averages the results of all credible polls – shows Paxton at 29.3%, Cornyn at 29%, and Hunt at 19%.
Paxton and his supporters are ultimately confident that getting the incumbent in the runoff is exactly where they want to be. Paxton’s high name recognition and reputation as a conservative leader among the party activists put him at a definite advantage in the runoff, where turnout is dominated by the most partisan and conservative voters.
Governor Abbott Calls for Data Reporting on H-1B Visa Users
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed public K-12 schools, public universities, and state agencies to provide detailed information on their use of H-1B visas– the federal work visas that allow employers to hire highly skilled foreign workers in specialized occupations. This includes professors, researchers, physicians, and IT specialists. He has formally ordered institutions to turn over data on who is sponsored under H-1B visas, including information on many visas were filed/renewed in 2025, the number of current H-1B employees, their job titles/countries of origin, their visa expiration dates, and documentation of efforts to hire qualified Texans first before bringing in foreign workers.
Abbott’s request was not just informational, it came alongside a directive to freeze new H-1B visa petitions from public universities and state agencies through May 31, 2027– unless they receive special written approval from the Texas Workforce Commission. Abbott is framing this action as a part of his efforts to protect Texas jobs, respond to concerns about “abuse”/fraud, and align with federal visa scrutiny. He says he wants to make sure that taxpayer-funded positions are being given to Texans first, ensuring that foreign hires are not replacing domestic workers. Abbott has also proclaimed he does not “see any reason why we need any H-1B visa employees in our public schools in the state of Texas”. He cites reports and conservative commentary alleging abuse of the system (overstays, misuse of visas), claiming that he wants to build an “action plan” once the data is collected. The Trump administration has also been reshaping the H-1B system with stricter criteria and higher fees.
The controversy over the request sits at the intersection of immigration policy, workforce shortages, and state-federal power struggles. It would implement immediate effects on schools and universities having to comply with Abbott’s detailed data reporting request quickly, as well as cause a hiring freeze. New H-1B visa petitions cannot be filed by those public institutions unless the Texas Workforce Commission grants permission. Experts and advocates warn against longer-term consequences like worsening staff shortages, and increased difficulty for universities to compete globally for top faculty and researchers. Texas public institutions– especially universities and medical schools– have relied on H-1B workers for STEM faculty, researchers, medical residents/physicians, and specialized language/science instructors.
Abbott’s move is part of a broader trend of states asserting influence over immigration-adjacent policies, even when they do not control visas themselves. Similar strategies have been used in Texas on border enforcement, asylum transport, and employment verification. Seen in that context, the data request is not just administrative– it is setting the groundwork for future policy changes, restrictions, or legislative action at the state level. It reflects a broader philosophical divide over immigration and labor, tensions between economic competitiveness and political ideology, and ongoing efforts from Texas leadership over public education institutions.
Abbott Calls for Ban on Islamic Group
Gov. Abbott sent a letter to Attorney General Ken Paxton this week demanding he take legal action on behalf of the state to ban the Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the country’s largest Muslim civil rights organization. Last year, Abbott declared CAIR a foreign terrorist organization that is “masquerading as a nonprofit”.
In his letter to Paxton, Abbott said CAIR “can no longer be allowed to use its nonprofit status as a shield to promote terror and advance radical Islamism in Texas”. Under Texas law, the Attorney General has the sole responsibility of regulating nonprofits and has the authority to audit their activities and can subsequently strip their nonprofit charter. Abbott’s demand to Paxton also included accusations of CAIR being tied to the terrorist group Hamas and cited a 2008 case in which CAIR was identified as funneling money to Hamas.
Representatives of CAIR responded to the demand from Abbott, calling him a “voice to silence the critics of Israel.” CAIR is also suing Abbott and the state of Texas for the previously mentioned designation of CAIR as a foreign terrorist organization.
While Paxton has taken no action on CAIR, he has used his powers as state Attorney General to investigate several nonprofits in the border region – including Catholic charities – that are purposed to serve immigrants in need of basic necessities such as food and housing.
Anti-Islamic rhetoric has dominated many races in Republican primary battles during this election cycle. Many candidates at both the state and federal level have focused on stopping the spread of Islamic law – also known as Sharia – as a cornerstone of their campaigns.
Texas Officials Are Commenting On ICE Operations in Minneapolis
For broader context of the situations that have been unfolding regarding immigration enforcement in Minnesota, the federal government deployed thousands of enforcement agents (ICE & Border Patrol) to Minneapolis, Minnesota in January 2026. This was a part of a large immigration effort referred to as Operation Metro Surge, an operation aimed to arrest and deport people living in the US without authorization, especially those with criminal records, according to federal authorities. The effort has quickly become highly controversial and sparked energized conversations after two people have been fatally shot by federal agents during enforcement actions.
Widely publicized were the fatal shootings of 37-year-old VA ICU nurse Alex Pretti, and Renee Nicole Good, by Border Patrol agents. These incidents have sparked large protests, political backlash, nationwide scrutiny of ICE tactics, as well as public distrust of the integrity of the operations. These shootings have drawn reactions across the political spectrum, with some lawmakers calling for investigations, others defending the agents’ actions, and local officials urging for de-escalation.
Texas officials– widely known for supporting the actions of federal immigration agents and Border Patrol– have begun to speak on the issue. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has now weighed in publicly on the Minneapolis ICE situation; while he has not condemned ICE outright, he has called for a “recalibration” of the agency’s mission following the shootings, specifically the death of Alex Pretti. His remarks have focused on restoring public respect for law enforcement and returning ICE to its core purpose– removing unauthorized immigrants. Abbott has urged the White House and ICE leadership to adjust how the agency operates so that it regains public trust. He has also blamed local Democratic leaders in Minnesota, like Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey, for contributing to the unrest.
Ted Cruz has also chosen to comment, urging the Trump administration to rethink its handling of the recent shooting of protestors by ICE officers in Minnesota. He is publicly stating that the rhetoric being pushed around the shootings– particularly immediately labeling victims like Renee Good as “terrorists” – as overly aggressive and undermining credibility. He argued that such language can inflame tensions and turn public opinion against law enforcement efforts. Cruz has also called for investigations into the shootings by federal agents to determine exactly what happened and to restore public trust. His main concern stems from a threat to public trust in authorities, as well as hurting broader GOP political goals due to involvement with the operation.
Texas Republicans are typically among ICE’s strongest defenders, so when conservative leaders like Ted Cruz and Greg Abbott speak out, it indicates displeasure with the current administration. This is a meaningful shift in tone, especially for the Texas GOP, with officials framing their comments strongly around public trust. Their comments are attempting to preserve ICE’s legitimacy, prevent public backlash from spiraling, and avoid ICE becoming a political liability instead of an asset.
2025 Census Numbers
One thing I always find interesting that I like to include is the periodic census number updates. The US Census Bureau this week released new census numbers estimates for 2025. Texas gained 391,243 residents, the most of any state in the US. The state’s population is now estimated to be 31.7 million. With the increased number of residents, the state grew at a rate of 1.2%, the slowest rate increase since 2021. Texas has added 2.6 million residents since 2020.
The reason for the slower increase was the fewer number of immigrants settling in Texas. In 2025, Texas added 67,475 new residents from other countries, a 48% decline from the 319,569 immigrants added in 2024. Another alarming reason – according to the data – is the cost of living in our state that continues to increase year over year. Incomes of residents in the state have not kept pace with the average overall growth, and housing prices have increased at a faster pace than people’s incomes. Housing here still remains cheaper than other states like California and New York, but the rising cost of living has stunted the state’s economic growth.
Texas has a median household income of $78,400, which is an increase of 3.1% over the last five years. Nationally, the median income is $80,700, which grew at a pace of 4.4% over the same five-year period. During that time, housing costs rose 9% in Texas.
Nationally, the population grew at a rate of .5%, with the national population coming in at 341.8 million. As in Texas, the immigration rate fell nationally as well. The number of immigrants entering the US fell by 55% with 1.3 million entering the US from abroad in 2025. That is down from the 2.7 million that entered in 2024. With the policies of the Trump administration, the bureau estimates that the number of those entering from other countries will continue to fall. They are estimating the number of immigrants to enter the US in 2026 to be below 1 million people.
The fastest growing states by population increase percentage were South Carolina, Idaho, and North Carolina.
Texas Grid Demand to Increase in Water Supply
Last week we discussed the growing number of data centers being planned and built in Texas with an emphasis on supporting the Artificial Intelligence boom, cloud computing, and large-scale enterprise digital operations. Not only will there be increased demand for electricity and the stress on the state’s power grid, but these centers will also consume billions of gallons of water. In 2025, the Houston Advanced Research Centerfound that data centers consumed 25 billion gallons of water. According to data center intelligence firm Baxtel, there are already 575 data centers operating in Texas.
Data centers use water for cooling their server on-site and off-site for additional electricity generation. With the increased number of centers already being planned, the total consumption of water just by data centers could reach as high as 161 billion gallons by 2030, which would account for 3% of the state’s total consumption.
The legislature is trying to address the acute water shortage already faced by many Texas communities due to the ongoing drought and aging infrastructure that has plagued cities and other local governments for years. In 2025, lawmakers allocated $20 billion for new infrastructure projects to try and assist communities and water utilities already facing shortages. But that plan did not necessarily consider the growing data center industry that Texas is experiencing. If the projected numbers are true, then the state will have to coordinate with the local entities to find additional sources or alternatives to the amount of water being consumed by data centers. Look for committees on both the House and Senate sides to take a hard look at how the state regulates data centers and their energy and water consumption during the interim.
Political Notes
Endorsements for Republican challenger Nate Sheets in the race for Texas Agriculture Commissioner continued as the Texas Farm Bureau threw their support to Sheets over incumbent Sid Miller. Sheets gained the endorsement of Gov. Abbott last week and can tout the support of several members of the state Senate and other ag related groups such as the Texas Cattle Feeders.
Early vote turnout was heavy in the race to fill the unexpired term of former Senator Kelly Hancock in state Senate District 9 in Tarrant County. The runoff between Republican Leigh Wambsganss and Democrat Taylor Rehmet saw over 25,000 votes cast in the first two days of early voting, which doubled the number of votes cast in the first two days of early voting in the first round of voting in November. Overall, just shy of 44,000 votes were cast during the early vote period which ended Tuesday. High turnout will likely favor the Republican in the red leaning seat. Election day is tomorrow.
Early voting in the race to fill the unexpired term of the late Sylvester Turner in Congressional District 18 in Harris County was extended two days due to the winter weather that forced the closure of several polling locations Sunday and Monday. Advocacy groups sued the county to extend the early voting period, and the county did not resist. Early voting was scheduled to end Tuesday but was extended through 7PM Thursday. Both candidates – Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee and former Houston City Councilwoman Amanda Edwards – agreed with the decision to extend the early voting period. Election day is also tomorrow.
What’s Next??
The primary election is just 34 days away. The last day to register to vote is February 2nd. Early voting starts February 17th.
With the letter from the chamber leaders requesting interim study requests, we now have a timetable on when interim charges may be issued, which should be shortly after the primary election.
The first interim hearing will be on February 10th, when the House Natural Resources Committee holds a hearing to discuss management of groundwater and aquifer supply.
In the meantime, we could have other interim hearings on major issues including property taxes, that could not only include discussions on property tax relief, but also how to further regulate and restrict local governments regarding appraisals and procedures for local option elections.