{"id":477877,"date":"2026-10-27T05:42:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T05:42:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/477877\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T05:42:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T05:42:09","slug":"texas-is-at-a-tipping-point-the-daily-texan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/477877\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas is at a tipping point \u2013 The Daily Texan"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Texas<\/a> <\/p>\n

With one week left of early voting before the historically competitive<\/a> Nov. 3 midterm election, Longhorns face an important decision. Issues on the ballot include free speech in higher education, immigration policy, job security and healthcare. Students must exercise their civic duty to shape the policies affecting their livelihoods.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Students can vote early at the Texas Union or LBJ School of Public Affairs every day until Oct. 30, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Election Day.<\/p>\n

The Editorial Board has conducted research \u2014 interviewing many of the candidates themselves \u2014 to help inform student decision-making. Here is what we found for Austin\u2019s key races.<\/p>\n

James Talarico bridges both parties<\/p>\n

Talarico\u2019s detailed stances on important issues and performance as a state house representative prove Talarico is the change Texas needs.<\/p>\n

Higher education has seen increasing legislative overreach, with SB 37<\/a> redefining core curriculum and campus initiatives. Talarico\u2019s proposed No Political Enemies Act<\/a> aims to protect entities targeted by the government for exercising their freedom of speech. His work in blocking book-banning legislation and opposing a bill<\/a> requiring the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms demonstrates his dedication to preserving free, fair thought in education.<\/p>\n

While Ken Paxton is fighting those from outside the border, Talarico is working to help those within it. Promising to ban ICE agents from wearing masks or refusing identification addresses growing and unpunished violence amid a 308%<\/a> increase in ICE arrests from January 2025 to July 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n

Talarico\u2019s campaign prioritizes protecting all Texans \u2014 exactly what\u2019s needed when our current politicians echo Islamophobia<\/a> and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric<\/a>. He promises to restore reproductive freedom by codifying Roe v. Wade and protecting access to contraception, defending LGBTQ+ individuals from government overreach and upholding the separation of church and state, even as a devout Christian himself.<\/p>\n

Talarico appeals to both parties, making him the only candidate willing to protect every Texan.<\/p>\n

Ken Paxton\u2019s corruption threatens Texas<\/p>\n

Paxton may tout his experience as attorney general, but his tenure is stained with plea deals<\/a> and mistrials in multiple child sexual abuse cases, despite attacking local district attorneys for alleged leniency. He simply doesn\u2019t practice what he preaches.<\/p>\n

Paxton\u2019s policy goals hinge on delivering President Trump\u2019s agenda. Every issue mentioned on his website<\/a>, whether it be his desire to \u201cdefeat the radical transgender movement \u2026 and woke indoctrination in our classrooms\u201d or finish the border wall, puts Trump at the forefront. For a man so keen on prioritizing Texans, he\u2019s displayed little independent thought beyond Washington.<\/p>\n

Paxton\u2019s \u201cno compromise\u201d anti-abortion mentality, which may affect nearly 30,000<\/a> women attending UT, and anti-DEI stance display a stubbornness that keeps Texas stagnant. Texans need a representative who can see beyond party lines and fight for legislation that protects us all.<\/p>\n

While Paxton\u2019s promises to dismantle pharmaceutical companies and cut taxes may be compelling, his campaign doesn\u2019t offer the revolutionary policies that Talarico\u2019s does. His prioritization of Texan values is overshadowed by the hateful rhetoric riddled throughout his policy stances. Even his pledge to protect 2nd Amendment rights is upstaged by Talarico\u2019s, who promises to address underlying factors contributing to gun violence while maintaining gun rights.<\/p>\n

The attorney general\u2019s policies are clouded by his stronger desire for conservative dominance.<\/p>\n

Gina Hinojosa is tailored for students\u00a0<\/p>\n

Because the governor nominates UT\u2019s Board of Regents, Hinojosa\u2019s experience as president<\/a> of the Austin Independent School District Board and familiarity with Texas educational policy is vital. Previously a civil rights lawyer, she\u2019s serving her fifth term<\/a> in the Texas House of Representatives.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As a Texas representative, she authored HB 177<\/a>, which would have raised public school teachers\u2019 salaries by $15,000, increased one-on-one student support, minimized the special education funding gap and increased mental health funding. However, Gov. Greg Abbott would not pass the bill unless a public school voucher was passed, even though he passed a $1 billion private school voucher himself. Despite being shut down by Republican state leaders, Hinojosa continues to fight for Texas education, and her expertise makes her more qualified to represent students.<\/p>\n

Hinojosa\u2019s policy<\/a> focuses on lowering the cost of living by ending corporate subsidies, freezing utility rates and banning price-gouging on groceries. Additionally, she supports halting data center development until tax breaks cease and nearby communities have more legislative protection.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Her campaign also calls for shutting down the use of Flock cameras, characterizing them as unnecessary surveillance. These cameras have been used<\/a> in Austin to read license plates to deport immigrants under the Trump administration.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Most importantly, her campaign emphasizes<\/a> rebuilding Texas\u2019 education system that ranks<\/a> in the bottom ten of public schools per-student funding. She hopes to cut unnecessary no-bid vendor contracts, an agreement between a government agency and a vendor without the usual competitive bidding or proposal process, to allocate the savings toward raising teachers\u2019 pay.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are saying we want change,\u201d Hinojosa said to the Daily Texan. \u201c(The) status quo is not working. Politics as usual is not working, and that creates opportunity in Texas for Democrats to win. But I think it\u2019s about making sure that as a candidate, I\u2019m connecting with people about what they want.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hinojosa provides a much-needed fresh perspective that prioritizes Texans, not party.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Greg Abbott has been in power for too long\u00a0<\/p>\n

For the past 11<\/a> years, Texas has suffered under Abbott\u2019s leadership. As his term has progressed, Abbott has become increasingly aligned with the Trump administration. He has appointed every member of UT\u2019s Board of Regents \u2014 giving him a disproportionate sway over higher education policy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Board controls policy direction, University budget and campus presidents and chancellors, making it imperative that the person selecting them has students in mind \u2014 not politics. Abbott\u2019s appointed Board of Regents has limited academic freedom and habitually politicized education. This past February, they passed a policy restricting<\/a> \u201ccontroversial topics\u201d in classrooms, but its vagueness leaves room for administrative overreach.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Abbott\u2019s campaign promises<\/a> include banning H-1B visa workers in public schools. Under Abbott, all UT system schools stopped accepting H-1B visa applications until May 2027. These visas allow for temporary residency in the U.S. for workers in specialized fields. This unnecessary rejection of foreign expertise limits our breadth as a university. By expanding this policy to all public schools, Texas\u2019 education system will suffer from an even narrower perspective. Abbott also hopes to reduce property taxes by abolishing school property taxes for homeowners. However, these taxes are the primary source of public school funding.\u00a0<\/p>\n

From overtly partisan redistricting to ending abortion access, Abbott\u2019s more focused on pushing a political agenda than prioritizing what\u2019s best for Texans.<\/p>\n

Gov. Abbott declined an interview.<\/p>\n

Montserrat Garibay has the experience to serve<\/p>\n

For the first time in nearly a decade, Texas House District 49 will elect a new representative as incumbent Gina Hinojosa leaves her seat to run for governor. Amid mounting<\/a> financial pressures and increasing state intervention in public education, the district\u2019s next representative will face decisions affecting the future of Austin schools.<\/p>\n

Garibay brings more<\/a> than 20 years of experience in education and advocacy. A former Austin ISD bilingual teacher, she later served in the U.S. Department of Education under the Biden administration. Her career reflects an understanding of public education from both the classroom and the institutions shaping its policies.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI bring expertise at the city, state and national level,\u201d Garibay said to the Texan. \u201cI work with many people who (don\u2019t) necessarily have my same values, but we agree to compromise to make sure that we have the best outcomes for our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

As AISD faces<\/a> school closures and possible state takeover, Garibay has prioritized opposing the expansion of school vouchers and strengthening accountability for private schools receiving public funds.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Preserving local control over public education is ultimately about ensuring decision-makers remain accountable to the communities they serve. Garibay\u2019s experience across educational institutions provides an essential foundation for navigating these challenges.<\/p>\n

Greg Casar will continue to fight for progress<\/p>\n

After Texas\u2019 mid-decade congressional redistricting, Casar shifted districts to continue serving the Austin area. As both a city council member and congressman, he has represented<\/a> us since 2014. Casar\u2019s efforts in the House display a willingness to further progressive legislative goals despite a Republican majority, and speak to his priority \u2014 tangibly improving the lives of his constituents.<\/p>\n

Admittedly, Casar has seen little success with the bills he has sponsored in his four years as a representative. However, as it becomes increasingly likely that Democrats will gain a majority in the House, Casar deserves the opportunity to continue his work. He is fighting for bills that would improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of Texas students.<\/p>\n

The 10-part New Affordability Agenda<\/a> proposed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which Casar chairs, lays out concrete steps to lower the cost of living. Among its proposed changes, this legislative package taxes excess wartime oil profits to refund consumers, cracks down on overcharging by utility companies and bans \u201csurveillance pricing<\/a>,\u201d the practice of using personal data and AI algorithms to dynamically raise prices on consumers.<\/p>\n

His proposed Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act<\/a> targets concerns about AI exceeding human cognitive performance and risks of human disempowerment. The act aims to regulate AI superintelligence and temporarily pause advanced AI development. If passed, it will address students\u2019 fears<\/a> concerning AI\u2019s harm to their career prospects.<\/p>\n

Casar is also a co-sponsor of the College for All Act<\/a>, which would make community colleges free and eliminate tuition and fees at public universities for those who make less than $125,000 annually.<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody should have to choose between making rent and paying for groceries to earn a degree \u2014 or worry about being punished for speaking up on campus,\u201d Casar said in an email statement. \u201cI\u2019ll keep fighting for every Longhorn, from move-in day to graduation and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lauren Pe\u00f1a is ill-equipped to serve<\/p>\n

Pe\u00f1a is the definitive underdog in this race and aims to portray herself as the kind of conservative that can win in Austin, but her weak policy makes her the wrong choice to represent us. Although her attempts to combat political polarization are admirable, Pe\u00f1a\u2019s campaign neglects student concerns and fails to provide a concrete plan to improve the lives of her constituents.<\/p>\n

Despite her claim that she represents groups historically ignored by Austin\u2019s enduring Democratic majority, Pe\u00f1a fails to outline actionable solutions to any issue. The only concrete pieces of legislation<\/a> Pe\u00f1a has outlined on her website, the SAFE NIGHTS Act and the Stopping Official Deference to Abusers Act, focus on niche issues relating to employees in adult entertainment venues and Congress\u2019 sexual misconduct settlements. She is vocal about her own history as a survivor of organized crime and human trafficking. However, her plans to improve affordability, immigration enforcement, healthcare access and education range from vague to nonexistent, often interspersed with inflammatory partisanship.<\/p>\n

Pe\u00f1a supports<\/a> giving states the authority to fund universities and favors limiting higher education programs that do not result in high-paying jobs. She centers her campaign on parental rights, echoing rhetoric that has fueled restrictions and free speech violations at all educational levels in Texas.<\/p>\n

Pe\u00f1a also advocates for welfare and housing reforms in an attempt to reduce what she describes as \u201cgovernment dependency,\u201d supporting<\/a> the Department of Government Efficiency\u2019s efforts to cut spending at the expense of social programs that support low-income individuals.<\/p>\n

While Pe\u00f1a may attempt to present herself as an unconventional outsider, her policy goals and rhetoric align with MAGA ideas about education, government spending and immigration, down to her AI-generated attacks on her opponent. With few political accomplishments and a platform that largely ignores students\u2019 concerns, Pe\u00f1a clearly won\u2019t serve us.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jon Rosenthal is rooted in experience and reality<\/p>\n

The railroad commissioner\u2019s oversight requires technical expertise, something that Rosenthal\u2019s 20-plus years as a career oil field mechanical engineer provides. His four terms as a Texas House representative ensure his policies are grounded in feasibility within the constraints of his term.<\/p>\n

Many students may not have paid attention to this race had it not been for Bo French\u2019s tweets, but this controversy highlights each candidate\u2019s priorities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe politics of hate has become exhausting for us,\u201d Rosenthal said to the Texan. \u201cI just wish the government would get quiet again. It does not need to be in the headlines. Just go do the work for the people.\u201d<\/p>\n

That is exactly what Rosenthal\u2019s campaign demonstrates. With the recent removal<\/a> of public comment from TRC public meetings, Rosenthal\u2019s promise to implement a 24\/7 TRC-managed hotline, which includes texting and case number tracking, reinstates transparency to the commission.<\/p>\n

Directly opposing French\u2019s anti-DEI initiatives, Rosenthal also wants to hire community liaisons for the TRC in every region, expanding access to Spanish and Vietnamese, the two<\/a> most common languages in Texas after English.<\/p>\n

Rosenthal\u2019s hands-on expertise contrasts with French\u2019s history as an investor.<\/p>\n

Bo French is \u2018obviously far worse than anyone imagined\u2019<\/p>\n

French may have the big-name endorsements and corporate connections, but his far-right priorities demonstrate stronger party incentive than beneficial policy. His push<\/a> to \u201cstop the Islamic invasion of Texas,\u201d \u201cend DEI\u2019s stranglehold on Texas oil\u201d and emphasis on \u201c(supporting) life and the nuclear family\u201d hold no relevance to what the position truly entails.<\/p>\n

As a decades-long investor<\/a> in the energy sector and owner<\/a> of a family-owned oil business, the motive behind French\u2019s candidacy is questionable at best. Additionally, his campaign is funded<\/a> by elites, with billionaire oil tycoons Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks serving as major donors. His platform includes \u201c(lowering) costs for (Texans\u2019) home and at the pump,\u201d but the implementation remains vague. If anything, French\u2019s interests align closer with the wealthy donors who fund his campaign than with Texans.<\/p>\n

And as UT students know personally, French\u2019s hateful online rhetoric<\/a> shows he isn\u2019t willing to represent all Longhorns.<\/p>\n

Nathan Johnson protects Texans from Trump<\/p>\n

Nathan Johnson has represented Dallas County in the Texas Senate since 2019. Since he began serving in the state Senate, he has written over 400 bills<\/a> and helped pass 134 of them regarding water, energy, education, healthcare and criminal justice. He has spoken out against the reduction of voting sites and passed insurance reform legislation that provided private health insurance to an estimated 350,000 previously uninsured Texans.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere has been a very aggressive move toward limiting free speech, \u2026 so I\u2019ll be taking a very close and hard look at recently implemented policies in Texas to make sure that we\u2019re not improperly encroaching on academic freedom as enshrined in our Constitution,\u201d Johnson said to the Texan.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Johnson has extensive litigation and mediation experience. As attorney general, he would prioritize suing the federal government over constitutionally invalid border policies and practices, enforce laws that promote competition between businesses, root out corruption regardless of party and foster collaboration between local district attorneys to ensure adept prosecution of criminal matters.<\/p>\n

Over 30,000<\/a> Texans were detained by ICE within the first seven months of Trump\u2019s presidency. Johnson\u2019s campaign prides itself on protecting Texans from programs the Trump administration attempts to implement.<\/p>\n

Johnson\u2019s candidacy represents a commitment to Texans\u2019 true needs.<\/p>\n

Mayes Middleton advocates for harmful policies<\/p>\n

Mayes Middleton is a conservative MAGA supporter<\/a> who self-identifies as a \u201csteadfast ally of President Trump and a proven champion of the America First movement.\u201d<\/p>\n

Middleton served as a state representative from 2019 to 2023 before becoming a state senator representing the Galveston area. He is a graduate of UT Law School and the president of Middleton Oil Company. Throughout his time in politics, he has fought against DEI, critical race theory and transgender rights.<\/p>\n

His campaign emphasizes enforcing anti-abortion laws, Trump\u2019s border security policies, deportation orders and protecting oil and gas jobs \u2014 which, considering his position as the president of an oil company, seems like a conflict of interest.<\/p>\n

After Texas\u2019 abortion ban was enacted, maternal mortality rose 56%<\/a> in the first year. Mothers who live in anti-abortion states are almost twice as likely to die during pregnancy, childbirth or soon after giving birth.<\/p>\n

Mass deportations, which Middleton also supports, are economically detrimental. If 1.3 million<\/a> undocumented immigrants are deported, GDP could drop by 1.2% and employment by 1.1% by 2028 \u2014 resulting in hundreds of billions of lost dollars and thousands of lost jobs. So far, around 980,000 deportations have occurred since Trump\u2019s second presidency.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, Middleton supports policies that harm Texans.<\/p>\n

A third-party vote is a wasted vote<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t let Matthew McConaughey\u2019s third-party stance<\/a> fool you.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Third-party candidates offer voters alternatives to the two major political parties in this midterm election. Among them is Arshia Papari, a UT student running as the Green Party candidate for Texas House District 49, whose candidacy<\/a> reflects his growing dissatisfaction with political representation in the two-party system.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Although third parties can support underrepresented political priorities, the U.S. electoral structure limits their ability to secure legislative seats through Duverger\u2019s law<\/a>. In competitive races, these candidates can affect results by attracting voters who might otherwise support a major-party candidate \u2014 one that has a real chance at winning.<\/p>\n

The Editorial Board is composed of associate editors Caris Gray, Abigail Tuscano, Maria Vazquez, Belle Xu and editor-in-chief Tiffany Lam.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With one week left of early voting before the historically competitive Nov. 3 midterm election, Longhorns face an…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":477878,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[27,29,28],"class_list":["post-477877","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-texas","tag-texas","tag-texas-headlines","tag-texas-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477877","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=477877"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477877\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/477878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=477877"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=477877"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=477877"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}