The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - January 30, 2026

Episode Date: January 30, 2026

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Howdy folks, today is Friday, January 30th, and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans Senior Editor Mackenzie DeLullo, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, Governor Greg Abbott issued a statewide disaster declaration on January 29th regarding New World Screw Worm threats amid reports about recent animal cases in Mexico near the Texas border. Abbott's declaration is aimed at allowing the New World Screw Worm Response Team, in Texas to utilize state resources available to them in their directive to prevent the risk of the NWS fly incursion into Texas in order to better protect livestock and wildlife. Screw worms affect livestock, pets, and rarely people. They burrow into the tissue of a wound and lay

eggs. The larvae then eat the flesh of the animal, leading to serious infections and tissue damage. Although the pest was largely eradicated in the U.S. in the 1960s, cases began spreading in parts of Central America in 2023, and the fly made its way into Mexico, sparking concern in the U.S. Texas boasts a $15 billion livestock industry, far outpacing other agricultural commodities in the state. The presence of the NWS would have disastrous effects on Texas cattle and the state's economy. Last year, the USDA temporarily shut down the U.S. southern border to livestock trade due to the prevalence of the NWS and it spread northward within Mexico. The shutdown is still in effect. Next, the Texas Senate's first round of 2026 interim charges has been released, including a crackdown on Sharia law, a focus on property tax cuts, and three others related to the Texas Electric Grid, Medicaid abuse, and the promotion of America and Texas First values in schools.

Interim charges are what lawmakers in their respective Senate and House chambers will focus on leading up to the next legislative session, establishing committees and inviting testimony to research specific issues in preparations. for the crafting of future legislation. The 90th legislative session will kick off on January 12th, 2027, while legislators may begin filing bills on November 9th, 2026. Hattrick said in a press release on Friday afternoon, these first five interim charges released today reflect issues that I am particularly focused on, and Texans have asked the Texas Senate to study. The Texas senators have been asked to provide their interim charge recommendations by February 20th,

and my staff and I will diligently review, with those hundreds of interim charge ideas. Atrick added that he'll release the full list of interim charges in March. The Texas House of Representatives is expected to have its interim charges announced soon by Speaker of the House, Dustin Burroughs. Don't forget, voters in North Texas will head to the polls tomorrow for a special election of runoff in Texas Senate District 9, the race pits Republican Lee Wamsgons, against Democrat Taylor Remitt in a contest that has drawn outsized attention and spending from both political.

parties. District 9, which covers much of Tarrant County, has historically leaned Republican, but Democrats see the runoff as an opportunity to test their strength in a lower turnout election. Campaign finance reports show hundreds of thousands of dollars flowing into the race from party-aligned political action committees, with both sides framing the contest as an early signal of momentum heading into the 2026 election cycle. The winner of Saturday's runoff will serve the remainder of the term and will return to the ballot later this year, making this a race with both immediate and long-term implications for the balance of power in the Texas Senate. Also tomorrow, Houston area voters will decide a closely watched Democratic runoff in a special election for Congress. The race in Texas's

18th congressional district features former Houston City Councilwoman Amanda Edwards and Harris County Attorney Christian Menifee as they compete to fill the seat left vacant following the death of longtime Democratic Congressman Sylvester Turner. The heavily Democratic District produced a crowded field in the initial special election, with Edwards and Menifee emerging as the top two vote getters. Whoever wins will serve the remainder of the current congressional term and head to Washington immediately, giving this election real consequences for representation in Congress. We'll be tracking both races closely tomorrow night. Be sure to watch our site and follow our team on X as the results come in and polls close.

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