Texas Politics

Houston weakened limits on cooperation with ICE after Texas Governor Greg Abbott threatened to cut more than $110 million in state funding. The City Council voted 13-4 to amend the policy, removing strict limits on prolonging stops for ICE-related purposes and allowing extended detentions when another legitimate law enforcement reason exists. Abbott set a Wednesday deadline for repeal or softening of the ordinance and demanded repayment if Houston did not comply with his funding ultimatum.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued ActBlue, alleging the Democratic fundraising platform allowed fraudulent and foreign donations.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to withhold $110 million from Houston over a city policy limiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer holds. The threat followed a Houston City Council vote that removed a prior requirement to hold arrestees for ICE at least 30 minutes. The change became politically urgent after the alleged sledgehammer killing of carpenter Juan Antonio Salinas Leija at a north Houston renovation site. Authorities arrested 19-year-old Venezuelan national Josue Abraham Chirino-Leonice in east Houston after he was seen driving the victim's truck, and ICE lodged a detainer with the Harris County Jail urging officials not to release him.

Democrat James Talarico raised more campaign money in Q1 2026 than his Republican opponents in the Texas Senate race. According to reporting by the New York Times, Talarico's Q1 haul topped those of Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton. The piece said much of his money came from small-dollar donors and out-of-state supporters, giving his campaign a nationalized fundraising base. It also contrasted a split Republican field, noting Cornyn and Paxton were dividing GOP contributions and that cash-on-hand figures painted a different picture of short-term strength. The New York Times article included quotes from Talarico and Republican campaign officials disputing what the numbers mean for competitiveness.