The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - October 15, 2025

Starting point is 00:00:00 Howdy, folks. Today is Wednesday, October 15th, and you're listening to The Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans assistant editor Rob Laus, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, State Representative Gina Hinajosa is running for governor and not seeking re-election to the Texas House after serving nearly a decade in the legislature. Hina Hosa launched with a two-minute-long announcement video. She said in a press release Wednesday morning, quote, I'm running to put Texas families first, fight for our kids, and hold the powerful accountable.

Starting point is 00:00:41 Texans deserve a governor who will work for them, not the billionaire class. She rolled out endorsements from over 30 of her Democratic colleagues, four state senators, and seven congressional members, including U.S. representatives Lloyd Doggett, Greg Casar, Veronica Escobar, Sylvia Garcia, Vicente Gonzalez, and Julie Johnson.

Starting point is 00:01:04 Governor Greg Abbott is up for re-election in 26. There are now just over a dozen third party and Democratic candidates who have declared their intent to run for Abbott's seat following Hinojosa's announcement, including Andrew White, son of the late Texas governor Mark White. Next, after their deployment to Illinois and Oregon embroiled the Trump administration in litigation, the Texas National Guard drew national attention when seven of its guardsmen were sent home due to not meeting certain standards, allegedly related to physical status. The Texas military department confirmed with the Texan on Tuesday that during the pre-mission validation process,

Starting point is 00:01:44 seven members of the Texas National Guard who did not meet mission requirements were effectively booted from the assignment. The guardsmen, who were identified as being not up to standard, were replaced and then returned to home station. The Texas Military Department concluded, quote, The Texas National Guard echoes Secretary Hegeseth's message to the force. Our standards will be high, uncompromising, and clear, end quote. Referencing a speech given by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegeseth to the nation's top military commanders in September,

Starting point is 00:02:18 where he announced the military would meet the highest male standard only of physical fitness. Military news website Task and Purpose first shared a report detailing the removal of an unspecified number of Texas National Guardsmen on October 12th, which Hegeseth shared via an ex post stating that, quote, standards are back at the Department of War. In other news, a group of student organizations have preliminarily blocked a Texas law that sought to tamp down on disruptive campus activities, including where and when certain demonstrations can occur on college camps. campuses. The law, Senate Bill 2972, made amendments to legislation passed in 2019 to clarify that certain activities that would be disruptive to school activities are banned. Then the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression filed a lawsuit on the student organization's behalf challenging the law's enforcement. The complaint filed against the University of Texas System Board of Regents and other Texas University presidents argued that the campus protection Act is blatantly unconstitutional, calling it a, quote, about face on its stance toward protecting

Starting point is 00:03:30 free expression and upholding the First Amendment at its public universities and colleges. On Tuesday, Judge David Allen Ezra issued a preliminary injunction, prohibiting Texas College campuses from enforcing SB 2972. Also, a woman with prior convictions in several southeastern Texas counties and multiple pending felony charges is free on at least nine bonds despite allegations that she has frequently violated the terms of her probation. Juanetta Solomon's criminal history dates to at least 2015 with convictions in Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, and Harris counties related to drugs, personal care fraud, and felony theft. She has served time in the state prison system and county jails. While on probation in 2023,

Starting point is 00:04:21 Solomon was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Harris County, and in 2024 for practicing dentistry without a license. According to Houston police records, she allegedly pretended to be a dentist with I-Smiles' cosmetic designs and injured a patient after using a dental drill, file, and chemicals. Last year, Solomon was also charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon, and prosecutors alleged she repeatedly violated the terms of her probation. Last but not least, Nate Sheets, an entrepreneur and former beekeeper turned Christian missionary, joined reporter Cameron Abrams to discuss his Republican primary challenge to Texas Agriculture

Starting point is 00:05:04 Commissioner Sid Miller. Sheets shared his experiences with nature Nate's honey, his plans to address issues within Texas agriculture, the challenges facing Miller, and more. Visit the Texan. News or wherever you get podcasts to listen now. 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 - October 15, 2025

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