Political reporter for Hearst Newspapers in Texas (@HoustonChron, @ExpressNews, @statesman) | Send me tips đź“© [email protected]
Austin, TX
Joined October 2008
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Ben Wermund retweeted
Last night I sent this letter to Attorney General Paxton, supplementing my original request for an investigation that I sent last week. The OAG should investigate the individuals and entities behind the text messages and direct mail received by thousands (if not millions) of Texans, determine how Texans' personal information was obtained and used, and ascertain whether any applicable laws have been violated. The investigation must follow the facts wherever they lead, without fear or favor. #txlege
Tonight I sent a formal request to Attorney General Paxton to open an investigation in to organizations and individuals engaged in encouraging, instructing, or assisting Texans in circumventing, evading, or violating the requirements of SB 12, the Texas Parents Bill of Rights. Of particular concern is information distributed in recent days as a “Back to School Toolkit” by an organization branding itself as “Trans Texas”, containing guidance on not
only navigating but circumventing and violating the directives of the bill.
To be clear, the laws enacted by the Texas Legislature are not optional, and no advocacy organization has a special exemption from complying with them. The Parents’ Bill of Rights was enacted to protect the rights of parents and their children and the #txlege expects it to be followed in every Texas school and in every Texas classroom.
Ben Wermund retweeted
Scoop: Former Rep. Tony Gonzales sent $54,350 from campaign funds to companies recently created by his wife that don’t appear to have any physical or online presence. expressnews.com/politics/art…
Ben Wermund retweeted
If you are trying to make sense of what the early vote in Texas means, there is one person to follow: @longhornderek. His day one analysis: mailchi.mp/ryandata/primary2…
.@GregAbbott_TX on @seanhannity radio show urges Republicans to get out and vote: "Whether you're happy or not, we've got to realize what's at stake here. And if anybody stays home and doesn't go vote, it's going to put Texas at risk. It's going to put the United States at risk."
.@GregAbbott_TX says Texas still has more Republicans than Democrats. "And so what I know is, if all Republicans will go vote, we're going to win this race. If, however, they stay home, it's going to be a very tough night on election night."
.@GregAbbott_TX also went after @GinaHinojosaTX for votes on taxes and public safety bills. Says "the hurdle that we have here is that I think not enough Texans really know how radical, crazy, leftist our opponents truly are."
.@GregAbbott_TX won't say if he supports selling state park to @elonmusk's SpaceX houstonchronicle.com/politic…
Ben Wermund retweeted
On the eve of early early voting opening in Texas, Trump targeted down-ballot Texas Democrats @VikkiGoodwinTX and @NathanForTexas on eve of early voting -- a sign of how competitive the races have become, @benwermund writes houstonchronicle.com/politic…
Trump targets down-ballot Texas Democrats on eve of early voting houstonchronicle.com/politic…
Why @GregAbbott_TX says he will not debate @GinaHinojosaTX (plus an appearance from @IamtheGlitch_TX) houstonchronicle.com/politic…
Ben Wermund retweeted
NEW: Gina Hinojosa is running to wipe away Greg Abbott's education reforms.
But it won't be easy. Some ideas might not be possible.
One of her pledges could go against state law:
houstonchronicle.com/politic…
Ben Wermund retweeted
rural vote: @jamestalarico 30%, @GinaHinojosaTX 28%. would be highest rural % by a statewide democratic candidate in years texaspolitics.utexas.edu/blo… #txlege #tx2026
New @TxPolProject poll finds statewide GOP incumbents in jeopardy, w/ lots of statistical ties
#TXSEN
Talarico 50
Paxton 47
Governor
Hinojosa 49
Abbott 48
Lite guv
Goodwin (D) 49
Patrick (R) 46
Attorney general
Johnson (D) 48
Middleton (R) 47
texaspolitics.utexas.edu/blo… #txlege
Ben Wermund retweeted
NEW: @GinaHinojosaTX denies she voted in 2019 against the constitutional amendment to ban a state income tax in Texas. That contradicts legislative records.
cbsnews.com/texas/news/hinoj… @CBSNewsTexas
Ben Wermund retweeted
NEW: Eight years ago, Corpus Christi and some of the world’s biggest energy companies presented a plan to make the city “drought proof.”
The consultant who presented it even said: “We don’t want to have the reputation of having a water problem.”
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W/@DylanBaddour
In San Antonio, @GinaHinojosaTX calls for @GregAbbott_TX to debate her at the Governors Mansion on Oct. 15: “I will come to him,” she says
Hearst Newspapers and NCBUniversal’s TV stations in Texas invited both candidates to a debate in Fort Worth on Oct. 15.
@GinaHinojosaTX accepted, but @GregAbbott_TX's campaign did not respond.
expressnews.com/politics/tex…
Here are the biggest donors to @GregAbbott_TX and @GinaHinojosaTX as they battle for governor houstonchronicle.com/project…
.@GregAbbott_TX campaigning in Houston today after weekend NYT poll showing @GinaHinojosaTX with a lead: "One thing I have is internal data, and I feel very confident about where I am."
.@GregAbbott_TX says he will not be at Trump event in San Antonio this week because he has other campaign events already planned. On Trump in TX: "Whenever he does show up, it leads to excitement with the base. He does a good job with getting the base organized and turning out."