The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - February 26, 2026

Episode Date: February 26, 2026

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Howdy, folks, today is Thursday, February 26th, 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, Sid Miller, who has been the Texas Agriculture Commissioner since 2014, is being challenged in the Republican primary by self-described serial entrepreneur Nate Sheets. The commissioner oversees the Texas Department of Agriculture. This is not the first challenger Miliger has faced in the primary. In 2022, he defeated former state representative James White

by garnering 58.5% of the votes cast. In 2018, he faced Jim Hogan and Trey Blocker, but won without a runoff with about 56% of the vote. According to polling conducted by the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs, Miller is leading in his race for re-election with 48% of respondents versus 18% for Sheets. However, 34% of voters were undecided. Governor Greg Abbott, who has had public clashes with Miller

in the past, recently endorsed Sheets, saying he is, quote, the only candidate in the race who has the integrity to lead the Texas Department of Agriculture, end quote, according to a statement published by the Texas Bullpen. According to recent campaign finance reports, Sheets has raised more than $1 million in the last month, but spent about $1.2 million. He has over 150,000 in cash on hand going into Election Day. Sheets received over $200,000 from the Texans for Greg Abbott Pack for radio advertising in February. Miller raised a total of about $350,000 during the reporting period while spending about $236,000, leaving just under $165,000 in cash on hand. Election Day is March 3rd, with early voting continuing through Friday, March 27th.

In other news, a legal battle has erupted in an already heated Texas primary contest after a local Education Foundation filed suit against incumbent state representative Terry Leo Wilson, who in turn accused the group of seeking to restrict her free speech in favor of her opponent. Earlier this month, the Barbers Hill Independent School District Education Foundation sought a temporary restraining order against Leo Wilson in response to comments she made to the Texan in January regarding her. her primary opponent Nathan Watkins, who serves as a director of the Foundation and his motivation for running against her. Leo Wilson said, quote, I think based on what I have discovered between the ISD and the Education Foundation and his directorship, that he is running to make legal what may be illegal. The Foundation's lawsuit claims that Leo Wilson's comments were defamatory and disparaging to their business. The Foundation asked a Chambers County District Court judge to enjoin her from making any further, quote, false or defamatory, end quote, statements, and to order her to remove all social

media posts repeating the comments. Last week, Leo Wilson filed an anti-strategic lawsuit against public participation or slap motion to dismiss the foundation's lawsuit and request for a restraining order as infringing on her First Amendment right to free speech, as defined by the Texas Citizens Participation Act. The motion notes that in comments to the Texan, Watkins dismissed concerns expressed by Leo Wilson and former Chambers County Auditor Tony Sims about Watkins' role with the foundation and his employer as campaign rhetoric. Last but not least, state representative Janie Lopez is running for re-election to the Texas House in the Republican primary after she flipped the seat with a 10-point win over Democrat Jonathan

Grosia in 2024. According to the Texans' Texas Partisan Index, House District 37 was rated D-51% in 2022, and then R-53% following the 2024 election. H.D. 37 covers all of Willisee County and the majority of Cameron County in South Texas. Major cities and communities include Harlingen, Raymondville, San Benito, and portions of Brownsville, along with smaller coastal and rural communities in the Rio Grande Valley. Lopez is endorsed by President Donald Trump, Governor Greg Abbott, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, Texas Land Commissioner Don Buckingham, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, and groups such as the Texas Homeschool Coalition, Texans for Responsible Government, Texas Alliance for Life, and Texans for lawsuit reform.

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