The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - March 18, 2026

Episode Date: March 18, 2026

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Howdy folks, today is Wednesday, March 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, in Texas Congressional District 32, there will be no May 26th Republican runoff after Ryan Binkley, the second place candidate in the March 3rd primary, announced that he is withdrawing from the race. In a press release posted to X, Binkley, congratulated Jace Yarbrough for his victory and said he is, quote, genuinely excited to see what he will accomplish for the people of District 32. He also said that Yarbrough has his full support. Binkley's announcement came in time to meet the deadline for canceling the runoff. In the nine

candidate Republican primary race, Yarbrough garnered 49% of the votes cast, with Binkley coming in second at 22%. The district was recently redrawn by the Texas legislature. legislature in an effort to elect more Republicans to Congress. It flipped from a Democratic-leaning district represented by Congresswoman Julie Johnson to a Republican-leaning one. According to the Texan's Texas Partisan Index, the district had a pre-redistricting rating of D-62% and is now rated R-60%. In other news, two state lawmakers have called on the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to revise a new rule for an affordable housing tax exemption program, saying the agency's regulation upends reforms signed by Governor Greg Abbott last year. State Representative Gary Gates told the Texan,

quote, this department just wiped out the rent reduction requirement we approved. Gates's House Bill 21, which passed last year with bipartisan support, reformed housing finance corporation agreements, which offer 100% tax exemptions for up to 99 years to apartment-owned. owners and developers, who purportedly set aside some units to be leased at reduced rents. One HB21 provision requires HFCs to reduce rents by at least 50% of the amount they would have paid in taxes to their local cities, counties, and public school districts. Under the formula approved by TDHCA this month, however, the tax-exempt properties may use the amount of rent paid by the tenant, including portions they paid through government housing vouchers,

instead of the full amount of rent they collect. Gates and State Senator Paul Bettencourt, who sponsored HB21 and the Texas Senate, sent a letter to the TDHCA on Tuesday to warn the agency that the rule is not in compliance with the requirements of the law. Last but not least, Governor Greg Abbott held the first meeting of the new Texas Jobs Council this week, aimed at preparing the state's labor force to meet the influx in demand for various jobs and strengthening its overall workforce development. There are a dozen appointees on the advisory board, many of whom are members of various labor unions, including the Teamsters, Plumbers Local Union,

heat and frost insulators local union, pipe fitters local union, and the International Union of Operating Engineers. The Texas Jobs Council was announced at its inaugural meeting at the governor's mansion on Monday. Abbott described Texas as currently being, quote, the hottest state in America for business and labor opportunities. Members of the advisory board include Texas Association of Manufacturers, President Tony Bennett, Texas Oil and Gas Association President Todd Staples, Texas Chemistry Council President Hector Rivera, and Texas Association of Builders, President Scott Norman. Abbott listed two key priorities of the new council. First, to find executive actions, state agencies can implement immediately in order to, quote,

reduce regulatory burdens and red tape surrounding workforce development. And second, identifying policy and legislative recommendations for both the governor and the Texas legislature prior to the 90th legislative session, which will open in January 2027. 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, podcasts.