The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - January 16, 2026

Starting point is 00:00:04 Howdy folks, today is Friday, January 16th, 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, per the latest campaign finance reports, Governor Greg Abbott announced $22.7 million raised in the most recent reporting period, with one million unique individual contributions over the course of all of his gubernatorial campaign. Abbott reported having over $105 million in cash on hand. His leading Democratic opponent in the 26 governor's race, state representative Gina Hinojosa, reported raising $1.3 million since launching her campaign in mid-October. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick announced over $3.5 million raised in the second half of 2025 and $38 million in cash on hand. State Senator Nathan Johnson, the first

Starting point is 00:01:04 frontrunner of the Democratic primary election to run for Texas Attorney General reported raising over $650,000 with $750,000 in cash on hand. In the special election for Texas Senate District 9, which is scheduled for January 31st this year, Republican Lay Wamsgons reported over $527,000 raised in the most recent period, while Democrat Taylor Remitt reported 206,000. Of the Republican candidates for Harris County judge, Marty Langton reported almost $502,000 in contributions, Eliza Dutt reported over $425,000, and Warren Howell reported over 4,400 plus a loan from himself of 100,000. Democratic candidate and former Houston Mayor Anise Parker reported over 416,000 in contributions. In other news, an illegal alien from Honduras allegedly injured three federal immigration agents

Starting point is 00:02:03 during a traffic stop among Stemmons Freeway, which is Interstate 35 in Louisville. According to the federal indictment, on December 1st, 2025, Heron-Lopez Sanchez was allegedly pulled over as federal immigration agents attempted a traffic stop of his vehicle, which had at least five occupants. At first, Lopez-Sanchez came to a stop in the 24-100 block of South Stemmons Freeway. As federal agents began to approach his car, the suspect allegedly put his car in reverse and rammed into the federal law enforcement vehicle parked behind him. One federal agent, who was partially outside of his vehicle, was injured at that point. After ramming the vehicle behind his car, Lopez Sanchez then gained enough space to maneuver around the other vehicles

Starting point is 00:02:49 and attempt to flee. The agents began to pursue the suspect with their flashing lights engaged. One agent positioned his car in such a way as to block an escape route for the suspect. However, instead of stopping, Lopez Sanchez allegedly accelerated and rammed into the car, injuring two federal agents inside. A third federal law enforcement vehicle pursued Lopez Sanchez for about 10 minutes before the suspect stopped on a median and all of the car's occupants fled on foot. Three of the occupants were ultimately detained with the help of civilians, but Lopez Sanchez, identified as the owner and driver of the car, remains at large. Last but not least, Harris County District Attorney Sean Tier and crime stoppers of Houston are calling for the extradition of a suspect charged more than 15 years ago in the intoxication manslaughter deaths of three Houston teenagers, who fled to his home country of Nepal before he could be arrested.

Starting point is 00:03:45 Tear said during Friday's press conference, quote, The Nepalese government knows that he's right there. We know where he is. We don't need tips. We need our government. We need the Nepalese government. to do what's right. Investigators say that on the night of July 9th, 2010, 25-year-old Sejohn Timulchina ran a red light and crashed into a vehicle carrying two adults and five teenagers. Two children died on the scene, one died the following day, and a fourth committed suicide less than two months later. Timalchina failed field sobriety tests at the scene, but the Harris County District Attorney's Office opted not to arrest him until results of a blood alcohol test were available. Later, Houston police determined that his blood alcohol level at the

Starting point is 00:04:30 time of the accident was between 0.127 and 0.162, but Tim Olshina fled the country on the night of the accident. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit the texan. News and subscribe to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters, and podcasts.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - January 16, 2026

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