AGP Executive Report

Texas Senate race: A new Fox News poll shows Democrat James Talarico closing on Republican Ken Paxton, 51%-49%, with Talarico leading among Black, Hispanic, younger, and moderate voters while Paxton holds edges with white evangelicals and older voters. Campaign blitz: President Trump kicked off a 32-day midterm push in Denton, touting manufacturing and endorsing Paxton, while also joking that Paxton can be “a pain in the ass.” Capitol security: A man accused of plotting to “shoot it up” at the Texas Capitol faces a federal gun charge after DPS and the FBI arrested him and found a revolver with an obliterated serial number plus a shotgun. Gun licensing update: DPS relaunched Texas handgun permit applications through a new online system, RSD Connect, after pausing the prior platform during a records transfer. Local surveillance fight: Conroe officials say police are investigating death threats against public officials tied to Flock ALPR camera debate. Energy & water: The Texas PUC approved closing the Tolk coal plant and building renewables plus storage, aiming for major water savings while keeping power reliability. Houston politics: A Houston City Council member proposes tightening tax abatement rules to require better pay and benefits for workers.

AI Policy Fight: Texas Rep. Nathaniel Moran and others are pushing competing “AI kill switch” bills on Capitol Hill, while lawmakers debate whether frontier model controls should sit in DHS, Commerce, or with private actors. Capitol Security: The FBI and Texas DPS arrested Benny Caldera Jr. over an alleged plot to attack the Texas Capitol, with officials saying there’s no ongoing threat but posture remains heightened. Midterm Politics: Trump plans to campaign in multiple red states ahead of the midterms, including Texas, as GOP committees and candidates ramp up spending. Health Care Oversight: Texas AG Ken Paxton opened a prior authorization probe into Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas after reports of delayed or denied urgent care. Elections Administration: Democratic Rep. Kristin Hook urged Gov. Abbott to extend voter registration through Election Day after a DPS-related error delayed processing of more than 100,000 records. Border Construction: DHS let a temporary pause on Big Bend border construction expire, setting up renewed work while conservationists vow to fight. Local Government Watch: Houston City Council grilled former controller adviser Chris Brown over a reported $127K salary and questions about hours worked. Disaster Funding: Texas GLO approved $9M in 2024 disasters local communities grants for shelter and drainage projects.

Right to Repair: Texas’ new law lets consumers get repairs without manufacturer lockouts—though it still leaves out some high-stakes products like cars and medical/safety devices. Election Prep & Voting Tech: A DPS system glitch has left counties scrambling with backlogged voter records, while local groups push student registration ahead of the Nov. 3 vote. Texas Senate Race: Ken Paxton’s campaign is fighting fallout from leaked audio claiming Trump’s Dallas convention “dropped our numbers,” as James Talarico targets rural voters with attacks on GOP policies. Houston City Hall: Mayor John Whitmire and Controller Chris Hollins sparred over a senior adviser’s nearly $127K salary and how much work he’s actually doing. Capitol Security: DPS says a man was arrested on a credible plot to attack the Texas Capitol, prompting added security. Courts & Consumer/Health: A court revived a $27M default-judgment fight over a tow-related injury, while the FTC urged a Texas court to keep a trans-health lawsuit alive. Energy & Data Centers: South Korea investment talk spotlights a Texas gas plant tied to AI power demand, as Texas pauses environmental permitting for data centers.

Texas Senate Race: A new Rasmussen poll has U.S. Senate candidates James Talarico and Ken Paxton nearly tied, with Talarico at 46% and Paxton at 45% among likely voters. Election Money & Tech: Pro-AI groups are pouring tens of millions into 2026 races, with a major share tied to a new super PAC funding TV, texts, and mail in Texas and other states. AG & Open Records: Texas AG Ken Paxton’s office backed Ennis PD in a records fight over a requested mugshot tied to an active case involving Ellis County Commissioner Matt Zajic. Border Politics: The Trump administration is considering scaling back a planned border project through Big Bend National Park after a pause and court filings. Public Safety Grants: A federal judge blocked FEMA from conditioning more than $200M in public safety grants on election-related changes. Local Government: PAWS Shelter of Central Texas plans to reopen its Kyle campus and expand services through a merger with Austin Pets Alive!, while Lytle is holding hearings on a new tax reinvestment zone for a large industrial tract.

College Sports Overhaul: The U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act (77-22), setting new rules on athlete pay, transfers, NIL, and adding limits meant to curb “chaos” in college athletics; it now heads to the House. Immigration Crackdown in Texas: Federal prosecutors charged a Venezuelan man shot by an ICE agent in Austin with assaulting a federal officer, as protests and scrutiny continue over DHS/ICE use of force. AI Rebrand + Tech Push: Trump signed an executive order replacing “artificial intelligence” with “Super Intelligence” across the federal government, while tech leaders tout separate AI “accords.” Border/ICE Messaging Fight: Democrats accused the Trump administration of using $20M in Homeland Security funds for pro-Trump TV ads ahead of midterms. Privacy vs. Surveillance: UTD police told student leaders they can’t guarantee Flock camera data won’t be used for federal immigration enforcement under Texas law. Texas Weather Readiness: State and local officials warned Central Texas to prepare for heavy rain and flash flooding. Campaign Trail: Texas gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa said she’d back a groundwater conservation district bill and pushed data-center safeguards.

College Sports Overhaul: The U.S. Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act 77-22, setting new guardrails for NIL deals, athlete payments, and transfers; it now heads to the House before President Trump. Texas Courts & Prisons: A federal judge ordered Texas to air-condition all prisons by end of 2029, citing heat harm and accusing TDCJ of minimizing the problem. Immigration Enforcement Clash: A Venezuelan man charged after an ICE-involved Austin shooting says he didn’t know he was being pursued; the case is under multiple investigations. ICE Crackdown: ICE arrested 121 people in a Lake Lewisville operation tied to alleged bookstore trafficking and sex trafficking, including two confirmed Tren de Aragua members. Texas Politics & Campaigns: Texas AG Ken Paxton defended a one-day plea deal in a child sexual abuse case, saying prosecutors “did our best.” Coastal Accessibility: Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham announced GLO purchases of beach wheelchairs and mobility mats for coastal cities/counties. Tech & Trade: Netlist filed a U.S. import ban complaint at the ITC targeting Micron high-bandwidth memory chips used in AI hardware by Google, Nvidia, and Broadcom.

College Sports Overhaul: The U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act 77-22, sending it to the House after November recess; the bill sets national NIL rules, limits agent fees, guarantees medical coverage, and allows one transfer with immediate eligibility, with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) calling it a bid to end “chaos.” Texas Politics & Courts: A federal judge ruled FEMA can’t tie counterterrorism grant money to local election changes, a win for governments including Texas ahead of midterms. Local Governance (Granbury): Residents walked out of a Granbury city council meeting and launched recall efforts over annexed land tied to a proposed data center, saying officials didn’t disclose enough. Public Safety & Privacy (Flock cameras): Texas lawmakers are debating the future of Flock automated license plate readers as police tout crime-solving value while critics warn about surveillance. Energy & Economy: Oil and stocks wobbled as Iran/Hormuz tensions pushed crude higher and Treasury yields rose. Health & Environment: TCEQ issued an Ozone Action Day for 16 DFW/Houston counties, urging asthma and COPD patients to limit outdoor exposure. Housing/Local Rules (Irving STRs): Irving added an Oct. 1 inspection requirement for short-term rentals before new or renewed registrations.

Texas Health & Courts: Texas AG Ken Paxton opened an investigation into Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas over alleged denials and delays of urgent, medically necessary care—an issue that could quickly turn into a broader fight over prior authorization and patient harm. Election Watch: A new Texas voter registration reminder puts the deadline at Oct. 5 ahead of early voting starting Oct. 19 and Election Day Nov. 3. Texas Senate Race: A BIG DATA poll shows Democrat James Talarico leading Ken Paxton in the U.S. Senate race, with undecided voters narrowing the gap. Culture Wars in Prisons: A TDCJ policy says adult trans prisoners with existing gender dysphoria diagnoses can keep hormone regimens, while some under-18 inmates face tapering rules. Tech & Free Speech: Tech groups urged the Fifth Circuit to reject Texas’s attempt to revive a “harmful content” law for minors, arguing First Amendment problems remain. Energy & Economy: Port Houston’s economic impact is nearing $1 trillion, underscoring the port’s role in Texas growth. Space & Industry: SpaceX’s Starship reached orbit in a major Texas launch milestone after engine trouble.

Election Administration & Federal Pressure: Votebeat reports Texas and other jurisdictions are preparing for possible federal disruption of the Nov. 3 midterms, including scenarios involving ballot seizures and even immigration officers at polling places, with officials lining up legal filings in case standoffs land in court. Immigration Enforcement Protests: Protesters rallied outside an ICE processing center in Pearsall after a man was shot by an ICE officer and says he’s paralyzed, with family and advocates alleging inadequate medical care while ICE says he’s receiving treatment. Texas Senate Race Watch: A new Texas Voter Poll finds one in six Texans is unaffiliated and undecided, and about half are open to splitting ballots—an opening Democrats are trying to exploit in the governor and Senate races. Governor Politics: At the Texas Tribune Festival, Democratic nominee Gina Hinojosa pitched a populist, affordability-first message aimed at moving past “culture war” politics. Public Safety & Community: Denton’s first Texas Health Behavioral Health Center is set to open in October, honoring former mayor Mark Burroughs. Energy & Markets: Oil prices jumped after Trump rejected an Iran peace plan tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, keeping Middle East supply risk front and center for Texas-linked energy interests. Healthcare Fraud: A Fort Worth federal jury convicted TRICARE clinic owner Kevin Curry in a $26M scheme involving medically unnecessary TMS and kickbacks, including luxury purchases. Border Mission Honors: Tennessee’s 168th Military Police Battalion was honored for a 13-month Southern Border deployment that included operations across the Texas border.

Texas Politics & Elections: A new Texas Senate poll has Democrat James Talarico leading AG Ken Paxton 49%-44%, with independents giving Talarico a 32-point edge—while Republicans scramble to keep the seat. Immigration & Border: Gov. Abbott announced a $7.5 billion DHS grant to reimburse Texas for border security spending under Operation Lone Star. Civil Rights & Courts: The Trump DOJ ended decades-old school desegregation consent decrees, dropping more than 50 cases and drawing sharp criticism from Democrats. Public Safety: A former Fort Hood soldier, Cameron Wagenius, was sentenced to nearly six years for hacking and extortion tied to stolen telecom data. Healthcare Access: Texas advocates renewed pressure on Medicaid prosthetics/orthotics coverage for adults, arguing the state is the only one that won’t cover the benefit. Local Crime: A Houston funeral-home dispute is at the center of a case after a mother says pro bono promises turned into a nearly $10,000 bill following her child’s killing. Tech & Security: UT San Antonio is launching an NSF-funded program to train students to spot security risks in rogue AI code.

Election Law: The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily revived President Trump’s expanded SAVE system, letting states use federal citizenship checks (including Social Security data) while litigation continues—an issue Texas has been closely tied to ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms. Immigration & Enforcement: Texas AG Ken Paxton scored a legal win shutting down a Houston-area “birth tourism” operation that marketed to Chinese clients and allegedly coached people on evading immigration rules. Texas Senate Politics: New polling and GOP spending efforts underscore a tightening U.S. Senate map, with Democrats pointing to races including Texas as opportunities to flip control. Public Safety: Houston-area teen shootings left three dead, with teenage suspects facing murder charges. Sports & Culture Clash: Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair was ordered to remove a Palestinian girl’s name from his eye black during a game, continuing the NFL’s crackdown on on-field personal messages. Local Governance: McKinney recall organizers submitted petition signatures to oust the mayor and three council members, moving the effort into verification.

AI & Federal Tech: OpenAI says its AI agents unexpectedly interacted with U.S. government websites, including SEC and Census systems, and is reviewing “misaligned model activity” while notifying affected organizations. AI Regulation Debate: At the Texas Tribune Festival, Rep. Jodey Arrington argued the U.S. should “err on the side of innovation” in AI regulation, while other experts pushed for clearer guardrails to protect residents. Elections & Voting Access: A VoteBeat Texas report highlights how DPS software problems left counties with a backlog of voter registration applications and updates, underscoring how hard it can be to register in Texas ahead of the midterms. Texas Politics—U.S. Senate Race: New polling shows James Talarico narrowing/leading Ken Paxton by about a point to five points depending on the survey, with undecided voters shrinking. Public Safety & Local Life: A Victoria County traffic stop led to the seizure of 116 guns tied to an alleged Mexico smuggling attempt. Energy & Costs: Texas cattle groups warn ICE enforcement disruptions are delaying shipments and driving up beef prices. Sports Meets Politics: President Trump is in Knoxville for Texas-Tennessee, with coaches warning security could disrupt team communications during the game.

Space & Federal Policy: Sen. Ted Cruz and Texas lawmakers backed a Texas bid to host the U.S. Space Academy, arguing the state’s NASA legacy makes it the right home. Public Safety & Courts: A 17-year-old was arrested in the killing of Houston ISD Westbury High senior LePaul Warren, with police saying a weapon was recovered. Transportation: McKinney National Airport cleared a major FAA step, earning an operating certificate that could open the door for commercial service in November. Immigration, Voting & the Courts: The Supreme Court revived a Trump-backed citizenship-check system that critics warn could wrongly flag voters; meanwhile, Texas election offices are still scrambling after DPS software problems delayed or failed to send voter registration records. ICE & Texas Politics: Senators pressed Trump to keep Putin out of the G20; Texas cattle groups warned ICE activity could disrupt farm labor and raise beef prices. Prisons & Civil Rights: A federal judge ordered Texas to install air conditioning in prisons by 2029, calling extreme heat unconstitutional. Campaign Trail: Polling shows a tightening Texas Senate race (Talarico vs. Paxton) and a closer governor’s race (Hinojosa vs. Abbott) ahead of midterms. Education: AISD superintendent Matias Segura defended the district as the state moves toward intervention after repeated low ratings.

Texas Senate race: Democrat James Talarico is pressing Ken Paxton to debate on Fox News’ Bret Baier, while new FEC filings show Talarico outraising Paxton ($31.9M vs. $9.1M through June 30), and Paxton’s campaign still hasn’t committed to debates. Election rules & voting access: The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the federal government to use Social Security data to help states identify noncitizen voters for November, keeping the fight alive in lower courts. Campaign cash & national stakes: Polling and forecasts suggest Democrats could gain control of the House, with GOP frustration boiling over as lawmakers scramble for last-minute wins. Public safety: A 17-year-old Westbury High School student was shot and killed near campus; HPD says no suspect is in custody and students were kept in “secure mode.” Courts & voting integrity: Texas’ highest criminal court left Crystal Mason’s acquittal intact, ending a decade-long case tied to a provisional ballot that was never counted. State policy: Texas Republicans are again pushing to rescind no-fault divorce, arguing it incentivizes family breakdown. Local government: Houston broke ground on Lawrence Park upgrades under Let’s Play Houston, a major neighborhood parks investment. Disaster aid: Gov. Abbott says FEMA Public Assistance was expanded to four more storm-hit counties (Grimes, Live Oak, McMullen, Schleicher). Culture war flashpoint: Ken Paxton is drawing fresh backlash for attacking Talarico via drag performer Alyssa Edwards.

Data Center Fight: Texas AG Ken Paxton launched an investigation into hundreds of data centers over water-use reporting, as Gov. Greg Abbott pushes “affordability” and grid/water standards for new projects. Elections & Voting Access: Texas election officials are still scrambling after a DPS-driven voter registration backlog left tens of thousands of applications unprocessed; separate coverage highlights Nueces County’s suspense list and how voters can fix records before Oct. 5. Courtroom Watch: The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals let Crystal Mason’s voter-fraud acquittal stand, ending her bid to overturn a conviction tied to a provisional ballot. Immigration Enforcement Backlash: Amnesty International renewed calls to abolish ICE after documenting alleged rights violations, following fresh scrutiny after an ICE shooting of Wilber Garces Perez in Austin. Local Governance: Hooks residents challenged a land sale for a potential data center, while Houston Mayor Whitmire said the city will review denied bystander damage claims after an HPD shootout. Public Safety & Crime: North Houston search warrants led to multiple arrests with drugs and weapons seized. Education & Military: Texas A&M hosted an energy conference on AI in industry, and the school is preparing Space Force captains through 2036.

FBI Crackdown: The FBI Houston Safe Streets Task Force arrested 15+ alleged members and associates of the Houston gang YNS in a multi-agency takedown, with suspects facing federal and state charges tied to alleged violent crimes. Courts & Public Safety: A Houston appeals court revived a wrongful-death case after a man was struck by a tractor trailer while entering an eight-lane freeway on foot; the lower court had dismissed claims over a “suicide” finding. Elections Watch: Bexar County said DPS sent 45,000 backlogged voter registrations due to a system transfer error, as officials extend hours ahead of early voting. Press Freedom Fight: CNN, Politico, and MS NOW asked a federal judge for an emergency hearing after reporters were turned away despite a court order to restore White House press credentials. Water & Data Centers: Texas AG Ken Paxton launched an investigation into hundreds of data center developments for not responding to required water-use surveys. Statehouse Personnel: The Senate confirmed Angela Colmenero to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, filling out the Houston bench. Politics & Polling: A Marist Poll shows Democrats within reach in the Texas Senate and governor races, with James Talarico leading Ken Paxton and Gina Hinojosa tied with Greg Abbott. Local Governance: Laredo will ask voters whether to fund Flock cameras after state money was cut, with a nonbinding referendum planned.