While I don't know much about the governor race, I have kept a close eye on the senate race and the two candidates. My question is: how in the hell is this race so close? The difference in quality and capability of candidates between Talarico and Paxton is staggering. Is Texas really just that deeply red when it comes down to it that even with a candidate as poor as Paxton, it's still a toss up? I'm just saying, as a Mainer, if it was Troy Jackson versus Ken Paxton, I like to think Jackson would have a clear edge, just different circumstances.

San Antonio Express-News endorses Sarah Eckhardt for Texas Comptroller.

FTA:

We strongly recommend Eckhardt, a Democrat, who is supremely qualified for this office.

She is far superior to her Republican opponent, interim Comptroller Don Huffines, a former state senator appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott this past summer.

Huffines is a self-proclaimed “MAGA Warrior” who has pledged to use his office to "DOGE  Texas," referring to President Donald Trump's so-called Department of Government Efficiency that slashed federal spending, often at great cost. We know the damage DOGE has inflicted on our nation and should be grateful to Huffines for warning voters.

Eckhardt offers a compelling alternative vision for the state. She is in her second term as a state senator representing the Austin area. An attorney, she previously served as a prosecutor, county commissioner and county judge. She has a master’s degree in public affairs with a concentration in public finance and tax policy.

As Travis County judge, she managed billions of dollars in public assets, dealt with natural disasters, and negotiated labor and employee health contracts.

During our candidate meeting, Eckhardt said she would be a watchdog of public dollars and government programs.

“When elected, my priorities would be to follow the law and follow the money,” she said.

She would audit the school voucher program, and call for a “deep dive” on tax exemptions and no-bid contracts, with an emphasis on the sales tax exemption for data centers, which has grown to $3.2 billion for the next biennium.

Eckhardt’s financial acumen, integrity and concern over how taxpayers’ money is spent makes her an ideal choice for comptroller.

Ken Paxton bingo:

• not in the US
• not doing his job
• cheating on his wife
• being corrupt

The Houston Chronicle editorial board, which endorsed Abbott in 2018, comes out with a strong endorsement of Gina Hinajosa for governor. Here's a key quote:

An offhand remark as Hinojosa prepared to leave the editorial board meeting stayed with us. “I think people are tired of fighting,” she said. 

We agree. After a dozen years under the leadership of a governor keenly attuned to the needs of the privileged and the powerful, we look forward to a successor dedicated to serving her fellow Texans. 

As a lawmaker, Hinojosa has proven herself to be a smart, pragmatic and resourceful public servant, one who has realized during her decade in office that if she was going to get anything done, she had to work with the opposition, not divide and denigrate. We’re confident she’ll be a smart, pragmatic and resourceful governor. Gina Hinojosa has our wholehearted endorsement.

CORRECTED: I requested my mail-in ballot August 5 and received it only yesterday. After they finally sent it, on October 2, so it took 10 days to get from Austin to Chattanooga, TN! I’m not going to trust USPS to get it there on time so I’m sending it FedEx.

I sent in my voters registration on voters registration day. I sent it from my new county, with my new address, and new zip code. Everything indicating that I live at this location.

They sent it to where my ID was created instead, where I used to live five hours away. Will I not be able to vote now because of this? I’m so confused. It’s my first time voting and it’s so frustrating for them to do this when I made it explicit I didn’t live there anymore.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton faced major state and federal charges—primarily related to securities fraud and abuse of office—though his criminal and civil securities cases were resolved through pretrial agreements and dismissals, and he was acquitted in a 2023 state impeachment. [1, 2, 3]

State Securities Fraud Charges (2015 Indictment)
The Charges: Indicted in July 2015 on two first-degree felony counts of securities fraud and one third-degree felony count of failing to register as an investment adviser regarding the tech startup Servergy Inc. and earlier unregistered client solicitations. [1, 2]
The Resolution: Paxton entered into a pretrial agreement requiring him to complete 100 hours of community service, 30 to 35 hours of legal ethics training, and pay approximately $270,000 to $300,000 in restitution, after which the state charges were dismissed. [1, 2, 3]

Federal SEC Civil Charges (2016)
The Charges: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission alleged Paxton misled Servergy investors by failing to disclose that he was receiving compensation for bringing in investors. [1]
The Resolution: Portions were initially dismissed, and in 2024 Paxton reached a settlement resolving the remaining civil claims by paying $300,000 without admitting wrongdoing. [1]

Texas House Impeachment (2023)
The Charges: Impeached by the Texas House of Representatives in May 2023 on 20 articles of impeachment involving bribery, abuse of public office, retaliation against whistleblowers, and obstruction of justice tied to real estate developer Nate Paul.
The Resolution: Acquitted by the Texas Senate in September 2023, allowing him to return to office. [1, 2, 3]

Federal DOJ Investigation & Other Probes
Federal Probe: An FBI and Department of Justice investigation regarding the donor allegations was closed without criminal prosecution in late 2024/early 2025. [1, 2]
Overview/Timeline: You can track his legal history through the Ken Paxton Scandals & Controversies Record and The Barbed Wire Scandal Timeline. [1, 2]

The same week that Patrick declared a “war on books,” Goodwin toured the state touting the Texas Cares Plan, a healthcare plan designed to make coverage more affordable

Vikki Goodwin being a better candidate^^

To help voters distinguish between the candidates for U.S. Senate in Texas, we asked Ken Paxton, James Talarico and Ted Brown to share their views on a variety of issues ranging from tariffs and hemp-derived THC products to taxes and artificial intelligence. Talarico and Brown answered our questions; Paxton did not, so we used his past public statements to describe his positions.