The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - September 11, 2025

Starting point is 00:00:00 Howdy, folks, today is Thursday, September 11th, and you're listening to The Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans assistant editor Rob Lauchess, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, Congressman Morgan Latrell will be retiring from Congress at the end of his second term in 27, leaving the door open for future bids for Texas' 8th Congressional District. Latrell said in a press release on Thursday, quote, I'm proud of the real progress we've made, putting more eyes and resources on the border, reducing illegal crossings, expanding access to care for our veterans, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of Texans. He continued, quote,

Starting point is 00:00:49 but over the July 4th weekend, standing in floodwaters alongside my neighbors, I had a moment of clarity. It reminded me that while the work in Washington is important, my family, my community, and my state need me here, closer to home. LaTrell first won his seat in Congress after former Congressman Kevin Brady retired in 2022, beating out nearly a dozen other Republican contenders. Due to the Texas legislature's passage of its GOP favored redistricting map during the second special session of 2025, Congressional District 8 went from having an R-69, percent rating, according to the Texans Texas Partisan Index, to R-66 percent. Next, nearly three years after a marred Harris County election that resulted in a court-ordered do-over, district court judge Deshaun Jones has resigned and motion to dismiss his own appeal to a pending lawsuit filed by Republican candidate Tammy Pierce. Last year, visiting Judge David Peoples declared that the 2022 election for the 180th criminal court, pitting Democratic incumbent Jones against Challenger Pierce, was void due to both

Starting point is 00:02:00 illegal votes and disqualified votes that were cast after hours. People's ruled that the true outcome of the election could not be known and ordered that a new election take place in May 2025. Jones, however, filed an appeal effectively staying the judge's orders. In January 2025, a three-judge panel of the first court of appeals heard oral arguments from both parties, but the court has still not issued a ruling. Earlier this month, Jones submitted his resignation effective October 1st. On Thursday, his attorney filed a motion to dismiss Jones's appeal to Pierce's election contest with prejudice, meaning he cannot appeal again. Governor Greg Abbott can appoint a replacement to fill the vacancy, and Pierce is expected to apply for it. State Senator Paul

Starting point is 00:02:48 Bettencourt told the Texan that Pierce has an interview with the governor's appointment team on Friday. In other news, several jurisdictions around the state will have new courts next year after Texas lawmakers approved a sweeping judicial omnibus bill during the special legislative session to replace a measure vetoed by Governor Greg Abbott earlier this year. House Bill 16 was authored by state representative Jeff Leach, along with representatives Terry Wilson, Eddie Morales, Paul Dyson, and Mark LaHood. It was approved by both chambers days before Sinney Die, last week. Sponsored in the Senate by State Senator Brian Hughes, the bill creates new courts in Brazoria, Comal, Ellis, Fort Bend, Harris, Maverick, Montgomery, and Williamson counties,

Starting point is 00:03:36 with Harris County receiving five new district courts and one new county civil court at law. Last but not least, following the release of the Texas Education agencies A through F accountability ratings last month, Austin Independent School District will need to develop 20, for turnaround plans for struggling schools and is facing 12 potential school closures. The district defined turnaround plans as, quote, a set of intensive, long-term strategies designed to dramatically approve student performance and overall school quality, end quote, that must be approved by the AISD Board of Trustees and the TEA. In a September 5th letter to district families, the AISD superintendent said that

Starting point is 00:04:21 12 campuses received a third unacceptable rating and will need to draft a turnaround plan by November 14th to be implemented this school year. 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 - September 11, 2025

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