Austin, TX

Texas Governor Greg Abbott issues directive keeping college tuition frozen for upcoming school year

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12 hours ago

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May 27, 2026

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Texas Governor Greg Abbott issues directive keeping college tuition frozen for upcoming school year

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Greg Abbott, governor of Texas, speaks to members of the media after casting his ballot at a polling location inside Austin Recreation Center on the first day of early voting in the Texas runoff election in Austin, Texas, US, on Monday, May 18, 2026.

Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday issued a directive reinforcing a freeze on undergraduate tuition and fees at all public institutions of higher education in Texas for the upcoming academic year.

Tuition freeze extended

In a letter sent to college and university presidents, Abbott made clear that his November 2024 directive remains fully in effect and that no undergraduate tuition or fees should be increased for the 2026–2027 academic school year. The freeze applies to all public two-year and four-year institutions, including both general academic and health-related schools.

What they’re saying:

“Higher education must be attainable for Texas students and families,” Abbott said in a statement. “Access to affordable, high-quality higher education is essential to ensure Texans learn the skills needed to secure family-sustaining jobs and meet the demands of a growing workforce.”

Undergraduate tuition and fees at Texas public institutions have remained frozen since 2023. While the state legislature previously codified the freeze for general academic four-year universities, Abbott emphasized that his executive directive encompasses all public higher education systems.

State officials noted that the tuition freeze has been paired with significant state investments intended to offset institutional costs and support affordability. In 2023, the state invested more than $680 million to reform community college funding and expand degree pathways. Additionally, during the 2025 budget cycle, Texas increased student financial aid funding by $328 million to expand access to state financial aid programs for eligible students.

What’s next:

Abbott indicated he plans to work with the legislature during its next session to extend the tuition freeze into future academic years.

The Source: Information in this article is from the Texas Governor’s office.

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Austin, TX

State Senator Nathan Johnson defeats Joe Jaworski in TX Dem State AG primary runoff

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24 hours ago

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May 26, 2026

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Press Room

State Senator Nathan Johnson defeats Joe Jaworski in TX Dem State AG primary runoff

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas State Senator Nathan Johnson has defeated his opponent Joe Jaworski for the Democratic primary nomination in the Texas State Attorney General’s Race.

Johnson grabbed nearly 60 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s runoff election.

“A Johnson victory means that Democrats will probably have the best candidate for a November run as their nominee,” said Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University.

Johnson is campaigning on a focus on public safety, including building public relationships with prosecutors and law enforcement, and protecting competition in the marketplace for Texas consumers.

ALSO| Texas AG Ken Paxton wins GOP runoff for US Senate, ousting longtime Sen. John Cornyn

Johnson will take on either current U.S. Congressman Chip Roy or current Texas State Senator Mayes Middleton in the November election.

While calling Johnson the favorite in the Democratic primary, Jones says Johnson will be the underdog in a much different battle in November.

“Texas remains a reliably Republican state where Republican candidates start with a natural, high single-digit advantage,” said Jones. “And unlike the case of, say, Ken Paxton, who’s a deeply flawed candidate, neither Mays Middleton nor Chip Roy has any of those same flaws. They’re very conservative.”

The winner of November’s race will replace Ken Paxton as state Attorney General. Paxton has held the position since 2015, but is running for U.S. Senate in 2026. Follow all election results here.

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Austin, TX

Texas primary runoff: It’s election day

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1 day ago

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May 26, 2026

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A man votes at James Island Charter High School on Election Day on Nov. 3, 2020 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images)

Polls are now open across Texas for the primary runoff elections.

How you voted in March’s primary election determines which party’s runoff election you are eligible to vote in. If you did not vote in a primary election in March then you can pick either party’s runoff to cast your ballot.

Where are polls open in Texas on election day?

Polls are open across the state from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Once the polls close for the day, official counts will begin to decide winners.

Any registered voter can cast a vote on Election Day, but unlike early voting, you’ll be limited to your specific precinct in some counties.

How do I find my voting place?

In order to find where the polls are in that precinct, follow these steps:

Visit VoteTexas.gov
Enter your details to find your polling location.
You can also contact your local county election office to get information about your polling location and anything else voting-related. Do a simple online search for “[Your County] elections.”
If you have your voter registration card, it should include your polling location. Locations can sometimes change — be sure to double-check this with one of the other options before you get out the door.

Do I need an ID to vote in Texas?

In order to vote in person during early voting or on election day, Texas voters will be asked to present an acceptable form of photo ID. Here is a list of the acceptable forms of photo ID:

Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
Texas Handgun License issued by DPS
United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph
United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph
United States Passport (book or card)

Here is a list of the supporting forms of ID that can be presented if the voter does not possess an acceptable form of photo identification and cannot reasonably obtain one:

Copy or original of a government document that shows the voter’s name and address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate
Copy of or original current utility bill
Copy of or original bank statement
Copy of or original government check
Copy of or original paycheck
Copy of or original of (a) a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document)

For more information on acceptable forms of ID and what you can do if you do not have one, click here.

What’s on the ballot?

Ballots for the runoff election will vary based on which party’s runoff you vote in and where you are. Candidates for parties in several statewide elections will have a runoff.

Statewide Republican runoffs:

U.S. Senate: John Cornyn and Ken Paxton
Texas attorney general: Mayes Middleton and Chip Roy
Texas Railroad Commission: Bo French and Jim Wright
Texas County of Criminal Appeals Place 3: Alison Fox and Thomas Smith

Statewide Democratic runoffs

Lieutenant governor: Vikki Goodwin and Marcos Velez
Attorney general: Nathan Johnson and Joe Jaworski

Voters may also be asked to choose their party’s nominee for Congress, the Texas House and other elections.

What can I bring to the voting booth?

Voters can, and are encouraged to bring, written materials to help cast their vote. This can include a personal sample ballot, which you can find at your county’s elections website, handwritten notes or anything else to make the process go smoothly.

You can not use electronic devices in any room where voting is taking place. This includes cell phones, cameras, recording devices, laptops, tablets or any other communication or recording devices. If the presiding judge sees a voter recording anything in a polling location, they may either direct them to shut off the device or leave the premises.

Unless you are a licensed peace officer, you cannot bring a gun into a polling place, no matter if you have a license to carry one.

How to report polling problems

If you have issues while voting that the county can take care of, either speak with representatives at your polling location or visit your county’s elections website for contact information.

If you have complaints about the county’s voting administration, including voting rights violations, issues with election officials or similar problems, check this list of resources from the Secretary of the State.

The Source: Information in this article comes from state elections resources and previous FOX Local reporting.

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