The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - May 21, 2026

Starting point is 00:00:04 Well, howdy folks. Today is Thursday, May 21st, 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, early voting in Texas primary runoff election ends tomorrow Friday, May 22nd. Election day is Tuesday, May 26th. Visit the Texans' 2026 war room for the latest campaign finance numbers in the biggest state and federal primary runoff races. Next, incumbent Texas Railroad Commissioner Jim Wright will face former chairman of the Tarrant County Republican Party Bo French in the Republican runoff on May 26th, after neither candidate secured a majority of the vote in the March 3rd primary. Wright received 32.1% of the vote

Starting point is 00:00:54 on March and French 31.75%. The Railroad Commission of Texas is the state's oldest regulatory agency and was originally created to oversee railroads until this authority was transferred to the Texas Department of Transportation in 2005. The Railroad Commission now primarily regulates the state's energy industry while enforcing several federal, environmental, and pipeline safety laws. Railroad commissioners are elected statewide to six-year staggered terms. There are three commissioners, Wayne Christian, Christy Craddock, who ran for comptroller and lost to former state Senator Don Huffeins in the March 3rd primary, and Wright, who is the current chairman. Both Christian and Craddick have endorsed Wright. The Republican winner will face state representative

Starting point is 00:01:42 John Rosenthal, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. In other news, Democratic primary voters in the Dallas area will choose between incumbent state representative Venton Jones and challenger Amanda Richardson to be their general election candidate to run in Texas House District 100 in November against Republican Jordan Hoffnagle. According to the Texans' Texas Partisan Index, HD100 in Southern and Eastern Dallas leans heavily Democratic at D81%. Jones has held the seat since 2003 after now U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett vacated it to run for Congress. Richardson, an accountant, claims she wants to be the voice for struggling. families and seniors in Dallas who she says have been ignored. In the March primary, Jones fell just

Starting point is 00:02:31 short of a majority of the votes cast at 49%, while Richardson received 35%. Also, incumbent state representative Hubert Vow is seeking to hold his seat against A-Leaf Independent School District Board President Darlene Bro in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas House District 149. Vaux and Bro each received 38% of the vote in the March primary, with Vaux ahead by three votes, 3,750 to 3,747. According to the Texans' Texas Partisan Index, the district is rated D-59%, a three-point drop from its D-62% rating in the 2020-2020 election cycle. Vaux has been a member of the Texas House for over 20 years. He has served as vice chair of the Insurance Committee and is a member of the Pensions, Investments, and Financial Services Committee. The winner of the Democratic runoff will face Republican nominee Dave Bennett in the November

Starting point is 00:03:31 general election. Last but not least, one of the three suspects arrested in relation to a shooting spree that resulted in a city shelter-in-place warning for Austin and Maynard last weekend, was already on juvenile probation and has a hold from U.S. immigration and customs enforcement. According to a timeline provided by the Austin Police Department, the first incident reported was for a stolen firearm on Saturday morning. In the following 28 hours, the suspects allegedly stole as many as five vehicles and fired gunshots at homes, apartments, and fire stations, striking four victims. After a police chase and widespread manhunt that included multiple local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, the three suspects were apprehended in

Starting point is 00:04:17 manner just east of Austin, including two unnamed teens, age 15 and 16, and Christian Fahardo Mondragon. Mondragon, who turned 17 on April 15th, had a warrant out for his arrest for an alleged gun theft in January 26 and was reportedly on juvenile probation. During his court appearance this week, it was also revealed that he was in the country illegally, although his country of origin was not disclosed. 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.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - May 21, 2026

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