January 25, 2026
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
Good morning,
I hope you are staying warm as freezing temperatures cover most of the state this weekend!
Texas Scorecard is rolling out a new set of live campaign finance widgets as part of our Decision Texas election coverage, giving readers an at-a-glance overview of fundraising totals, cash on hand, and other key metrics ahead of the 2026 primary elections.
The Decision Texas: Campaign Finance Tracker powered by Transparency USA compiles the latest fundraising reports from candidates across key statewide and legislative races, allowing readers to quickly compare totals, cash-on-hand, and major activity as campaigns accelerate.
Find out quickly which campaigns are pulling in cash, and who is falling behind.
Texas Scorecard will continue updating the tracker as new reports are filed and additional races come into focus, pairing the data with ongoing reporting and analysis throughout the election cycle, and keeping you informed.
Featured
Attorney General Ken Paxton has issued a new legal opinion affirming that the Texas Comptroller’s Office has the “exclusive” authority to determine which private schools and education vendors are eligible to participate in the state’s new school choice program.
Last month, Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock asked Paxton for clarity on whether certain schools could be disqualified from the program if they have ties to entities designated under Texas law as foreign terrorist organizations or transnational criminal organizations, or if they are linked to foreign adversaries.
Real Texans
In this week’s edition of Real Texans, I sat down with Conservative Leader Award recipient Jo Markham to talk about the life-saving work of the Agape Women’s Clinic and how she was called into pro-life ministry.
New interviews with REAL TEXANS every Sunday!
State
Federal Judge Lets Lawsuit Over Texas’ Lab-Grown Meat Ban Proceed
Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller called the ruling “an assault on Texas ranchers.” \
Gambling Industry Continues the Fight in Texas Campaigns
Amid growing controversy and setbacks, Las Vegas Sands contributed to dozens of candidates ahead of the March primaries.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Cancels Late-Term Abortionist Speech Following Public Outcry
The grassroots are calling this a victory in Red Raider country.
Local
After Abbott Letter, ‘Islamic Games’ Organization Drops Cy-Fair ISD Event Listing
Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District leaders severed negotiations for a similar Islamic Games event earlier this week.
Jury Awards Marlin ISD Families $7.5 Million in Landmark School Retaliation Case
The verdict is a powerful victory for parents and students across America and sends a message that public school officials are not above the law.
Webb County Sheriff and Staff Indicted in Federal Fraud Case
The Webb County sheriff and two assistant chiefs face charges for embezzling COVID-19 relief funds.
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The Texas Scorecard Journalism Fellowship is a comprehensive program designed for conservative Texans under the age of 25 with an interest in public policy, effective civic engagement, political accountability, and Texas history.
