The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - May 15, 2026

Episode Date: May 15, 2026

The Texan’s Daily Rundown brings you a quick recap of the latest stories in Texas politics so you can stay informed with news you can trust.Want more resources? Visit The Texan for complete access to our in-depth articles, newsletters, videos, podcasts, and more.Enjoy what you hear? Be sure to follow us and leave a review!

Well, howdy folks, today's Friday, May 15th, and you're listening to the Texans' Daily Rundown. I'm the Texan senior editor Rob Lauchess, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, Tom Sell and Abraham Enriquez will face off on May 26th for the Republican nomination in Texas Congressional District 19. The district's current occupant, U.S. Representative Jody Arrington, is retiring from Congress after 10 years of service. The district is rated R-78% by the Texan's Texas Partisan Index, making it a Republican stronghold. The region has been a topic of discussion in Texas House and Senate hearings recently, as it houses part of the Permian Basin, an oil-and-gass-rich sedimentary region shared with New Mexico, and is quickly rising as a data center hub. In the March primary election, Sell won 40% of the vote and Enriquez 19%. The two faced off and

debate on Tuesday, May 12, which covered how the candidates will engage with the presence of data centers, the 26 U.S. Farm Bill, the Republican Party's dropping congressional approval rates, the border, drugs, and executive decisions on foreign intervention. The two candidates were also intent on aligning themselves closely with President Donald Trump. The winner of the Republican runoff will face Democrat Kyle Rable in November for the seat. In other news, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent warning letters to 132 cities on Thursday, advising that they cannot raise property taxes above the no new revenue rate, since they have not met financial audit and transparency requirements under a new state law. Paxton's warnings refer to Senate bill 1851, approved in the

89th legislative session and signed by Governor Greg Abbott last year. Authored by state senator Robert Nichols, the measure imposes a penalty for cities that do not complete an annual financial audit within 180 days after the end of the fiscal year. Last month, the Office of the Attorney General requested financial audit documentation from more than 1,000 cities across the state, but the 132 cities warned this week did not provide the reports, according to the OAG. Mayor Dan Davis of Manville, one of the cities listed by the OAG as subject to penalty under SB 1851, told the Texan his city is in the final stages of completing an audit and expects to have it formally accepted by the city council in June. Last year, Paxton sent warning letters to Odessa, Lamarck, Tom Bean, and Whitesborough,

but the cities disputed whether SB 1851 applied to financial audit requirements prior to the law's effective date of September 1st, 2025. Last but not least, construction on the North Bypass Channel on the Trinity River through Fort Worth may begin before the end of this year. The channel is part of the Central City Flood Control Project, often referred to interchangeably with the Panther Island redevelopment of a central part of Fort Worth on the Trinity River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking contractor bids to construct the North Bypass Channel of the Central City Flood Control Project. Bids are due by May 25th, with the contractor slated to be chosen in September. The flood control project will redesign the flow of the Trinity River through Central Fort Worth and make way for the redevelopment of the area as

Panther Island. The plans for Panther Island began about 20 years ago, and its first vision plan was adopted in 2006. Panther Island Vision 2.0 is an updated vision plan developed in 2024. The plan design includes ample open space, a public waterfront, public transit, public transit, options and is pedestrian-friendly, according to HRNA advisors, the consultants that created the plan. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit the texan. News to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters, and podcasts.