The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - February 18, 2026

Starting point is 00:00:04 Howdy folks, today is Wednesday, February 18th, and you're listening to The Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans managing editor Rob Lauchess, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, four candidates vying for the Republican Party's nomination for Texas Attorney General met on Tuesday in a candidate forum in Dallas, where they sparred over experience, voting records, and how to grapple with so-called rogue prosecutors. At the forum moderated by Ali Beth Stuckey of Blaze TV and hosted by the Republican Attorney General's Association, state senators Joan Huffman and Mays Middleton, former U.S. Assistant Attorney General Aaron Wrights, and U.S. Representative Chip Roy agreed on most issues, but clashed when asked what the Office of the Attorney General could do when local prosecutors fail to act. Wrights pledged to seek removal of district attorneys in Dallas, Harris, and Travis counties within his first

Starting point is 00:01:02 month in office, but Huffman noted that she wrote the Texas statute creating the legal process for removing rogue prosecutors. Huffman said, quote, it cannot be done on day one like some claim. It's a process. Rites retorted that the idea he could not do so is, quote, exactly the sort of loser mentality why Republicans don't often win. Huffman fired back by asking, quote, if it was so easy for the attorney general, then why hasn't Paxton done it yet? Middleton said he fully supports Governor Greg Abbott's proposal to create a statewide prosecutor, and Roy suggested that state lawmakers should give the governor greater authority to remove district attorneys. In other news, two more counties along major Texas roadways have passed measures outlawing abortion and abortion

Starting point is 00:01:48 trafficking, Hall County in the Panhandle, and Hood County southwest of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. 17 counties in Texas have passed sanctuary city for the unborn ordinances that not only outlaw abortion, but also abortion trafficking. Both measures in Hall and Hood counties passed unanimously. One major U.S. Highway that runs through Hood County is U.S. Highway 377. A person traveling on that highway through the county for the purpose of seeking an abortion out of state can now be sued in a private right of action for abortion trafficking. Hood County Attorney Matthew Mills also elaborated on the ordinance to the commissioner's court, saying he had no objection to passing it. Mills said, quote, it doesn't create, as they said, a cause of action for the county or county officials,

Starting point is 00:02:35 either criminal or civil. It purports to create a civil cause of action for private citizens in very narrow circumstances that are not covered by existing abortion laws. In August 23, 20 state representatives and senators signed a letter encouraging cities and counties to pass such sanctuary ordinances. The letter states that, quote, right now, throughout the state of Texas, women are being trafficked across our borders by abortion traffickers, funded by abortion trafficking organizations still operating in our state. Last but not least, with the primary election in full swing as early voting opened on Tuesday, Republicans and Democrats have agreed independently on the propositions that will be on the Texas

Starting point is 00:03:16 2026 primary election ballot. These propositions are just that, propositions. They act as non-binding referendum items that will guide the party's legislative priorities in 27. The items for the GOP were decided upon in a September 6th meeting by a 59-3 vote, with to abstaining. There are 10 propositions for the Republican primary, touching on issues that have surfaced in the campaigns of many candidates. Policy issues up for debate range from Texas groundwater purchases to reproductive clinic services and schools to concerns over Sharia law. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit the texan. News and subscribe

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The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - February 18, 2026

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