Dear ChatGPT:

 - What were the top national political stories from June 1 - June 15, 2026?

1. Immigration Enforcement Funding and Border Policy
2. Supreme Court End-of-Term Decisions
3. Trump Administration vs. Democratic Governors
4. Executive Power and Federal Agency Control
5. Congressional Polarization and Funding Battles
6. Federal Response to Protests and Civil Disorder
7. Foreign Policy and Domestic Politics


- What were the top political stories in Texas from June 1 - June 15, 2026?

1. Texas Congressional Redistricting and the 2026 Elections
2. Fallout from the 89th Legislature's Major Policy Changes
3. Governor Abbott's New Focus on Data Centers and the Electric Grid
4. Texas Republican Convention in Houston
5. Election Administration and Voting-Rights Disputes
6. Rising Concern About Water and Infrastructure Policy
7. Early Positioning for the 2026 Midterm Elections


- What were the top political stories from the Houston area from June 1 - June 15, 2026?

1. Houston City Council Approves Whitmire's $7.5 Billion Budget
2. The New Houston Trash Fee Controversy
3. Harris County Flood-Control Projects Face Delays and Funding Questions
4. Judicial Accountability Questions in Harris County
5. Houston's World Cup Preparations Become a Political Issue
6. Harris County Public Health Expansion in Third Ward
7. Houston Park Investment Proposal
8. Ongoing Fallout from the 2026 Primary Elections
9. Investigation Into a Whitmire Adviser
10. Houston-Area Flooding and Emergency Response

From Ballotpedia: What to know about states that don't use primary elections to nominate candidates

- Click here. 

Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas have their statewide primaries on March 3, kicking off the 2026 primary season.

Generally, political parties use primary elections to determine their nominees in advance of a general election. In some cases, however, political parties can — or must — nominate candidates for the general election without conducting a primary.

In Indiana, Michigan, and South Dakota, state law requires parties to nominate candidates for certain statewide offices, such as lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and attorney general, at a state party convention.

The following are the state party convention dates in Indiana, Michigan, and South Dakota, as well as the offices up for nomination at each convention:

Indiana (lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, and attorney general):

Democratic convention: June 6, 2026, in Indianapolis
Republican convention: June 19-20, 2026, in Fort Wayne

Michigan (lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, Supreme Court, the boards of Michigan State University, Wayne State University, the University of Michigan, and the state Board of Education):

Democratic convention: April 19, 2026, in Detroit
Republican convention: March 28, 2026, in an unknown location

South Dakota (lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer, commissioner of school and public lands, and public utilities commissioner):

Democratic convention: June 6, 2026 in Sioux Falls
Republican convention: June 27, 2026, in Rapid City

In Alabama, South Carolina, and Virginia, major political parties may nominate candidates for any statewide office without holding a primary. In Alabama, the party must provide advance notice to the state that it will be foregoing a primary election, while in South Carolina, a party must submit the question of nominating candidates via convention to voters. Neither major party has taken these steps for 2026.

In Virginia, the situation is a bit different. Under state law, party authorities "have the right to determine the method by which a party nomination ... shall be made." Before 2024, some parties nominated candidates for statewide or congressional elections at a caucus or convention.

However, effective January 2024, the law states that a method of nomination "shall not be selected if such method will have the practical effect of excluding participation in the nominating process by qualified voters who are otherwise eligible to participate" but cannot attend meetings due to being active duty military, temporarily living outside of the U.S., being a student, having a disability, or experiencing a contagious disease.

According to Virginia Mercury's Markus Schmidt, "The law effectively forces parties to nominate candidates through state-run primary elections rather than their own party-run contests." The 2024 changes do not apply to special elections.

Primary Results

- Texas Secretary of State 
- - Democratic Results.
- - Republican Results.

- Texas Tribune. 

- Brazoria County.
- - Elections.

- Harris County.
- - Election Results.

https://uscode.house.gov/browse/prelim@title52&edition=prelim

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/

https://www.brazoriacountyclerktx.gov/departments/elections

https://library.municode.com/tx/pearland/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH

https://www.pearlandisd.org/board-of-trustees/election-information

https://www.alvincollege.edu/about/college-leadership/board-of-regents/elections.html

https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/09/texas-railroad-commission-primary-2026-guide-wright-rosenthal/

https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/03/2026-texas-supreme-court-primary-guide-2/

Dear AI Overview: Provide examples of political dirty tricks

 

Political dirty tricks encompass a wide range of deceptive and unethical tactics used to undermine opponents and manipulate election outcomes. Historically, they have evolved from simple smear campaigns to sophisticated digital disinformation.

Examples include:

Information manipulation and deception

- "October surprise": A negative attack or revelation about a candidate released just before an election, leaving the target little time to respond or recover.
- Whisper campaigns: Spreading negative rumors, innuendo, and slander about a candidate privately to damage their reputation without leaving public fingerprints. If the candidate publicly refutes the claims, it risks amplifying the original false narrative.
- Push polling: A type of telemarketing masquerading as a legitimate survey that spreads false or defamatory information about an opponent under the guise of asking questions.
- Deepfakes and AI-generated disinformation: The use of AI to create fabricated audio, video, and images to slander an opponent or spread false narratives. This can include creating fake footage of a candidate confessing to a crime or misrepresenting their views.
- Forged letters: Circulating fake letters supposedly written by a candidate to misrepresent their views. A notable historical example is the forged "Morey Letter" of 1880, which purported to show presidential candidate James A. Garfield supporting unrestricted Chinese immigration.

Voter suppression and interference

- Confusing voters: Spreading misinformation about voting procedures to suppress voter turnout. This can include sending flyers with the wrong election dates or making robocalls that incorrectly state eligibility requirements.
- Voter intimidation: Using threats or deceptive tactics to discourage certain demographics from voting. Past examples include flyers that falsely warned voters with parking tickets or outstanding child support payments that they could be arrested at polling places.
- Ballot tampering: Engaging in illegal activities such as illegally collecting and altering absentee ballots. In one 2018 case, a Republican operative in North Carolina was involved in a ballot tampering scandal that resulted in a new election.
- Obstructing election officials: Tactics like the "Brooks Brothers riot" in 2000, where paid political operatives created a disturbance at a vote-counting center to force it to shut down.

Campaign sabotage

- Unfair competition for resources: Hiring political consultants simply to prevent a rival campaign from using their services.
- Candidate spoofing: Paying a person with the same name as a rival to run in a primary election to confuse voters and split the vote. Joseph Kennedy used this tactic to help his son John F. Kennedy win his first congressional race in 1946.
- Recruiting "sham" candidates: Backing third-party candidates to run in elections in an attempt to split a rival's votes. In 2010, an Arizona Republican operative recruited homeless individuals to run for office on the Green Party ticket. More recently, reports have highlighted efforts to get liberal academics like Cornel West on the ballot to potentially act as a spoiler.
- Cyberattacks and harassmentHacking: Illegally accessing and leaking a rival's emails and other digital information to cause political damage. The use of hacked Democratic National Committee emails in the 2016 election is a prominent example.
- Digital smear campaigns: Using online platforms to spread false, unprintable definitions or launch other forms of digital harassment against an opponent, as was done in the "Santorum's Google problem" incident.

State and Local News from the Houston Chronicle - major focus on the State Board of Education

1- Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announces Senate select committees in memory of Charlie Kirk.

Just days after the apparent political assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has announced the formation of the House and Senate Select Committees on Civil Discourse and Freedom of Speech in Higher Education.

Kirk’s death caused many on social media to question the role of his far-right rhetoric.

- - Announcement from the Lt. Gov's office.


2 - State education board rejects far-right push for more focus on Texas history, less world culture.

The Republican-led State Board of Education rejected a proposal favored by conservative activists to overhaul the state’s social studies curriculum by requiring a heavier concentration of Texas history taught across six grades, instead of the current two.

Instead, after a marathon meeting Wednesday, the board settled on an approach that will more closely integrate state, national and global history, and also focus more lessons on the founding of Western civilization and democracy. Under the plan, Texas history will be the focus of grades three and eight; U.S. history will be the focus of grades four and seven; and grades five and six will center on world history.

Supporters said it would create an “identity” of Texan and American heritage for children at earlier ages.


3 - In reversal, Texas SBOE backs far-right plan to deemphasize world history, cultures.

The State Board of Education on Friday approved a revived plan to focus classes more on Texas history and remove distinct courses on world history and cultures.

The Republican-led board voted, 8-7, to greenlight a framework for social studies classes, which it had rejected only days earlier. The plan, favored by conservative activists, scraps the current sequence of social studies courses and replaces it with a five-year chronological approach beginning in third grade. It greatly reduces the amount of time spent on world history and boosts state history, which will now be taught across six grades and become the focus of a new 8th grade standardized exam.


4 - GOP challengers threaten takeover of Texas SBOE with help from influential donor group.

For more than 20 years, Fort Worth Republican Pat Hardy has been a reliably conservative voice on the State Board of Education.

Hardy has fought for Moses to be included in social studies standards, advocated for presenting creationism alongside evolution in science textbooks and said she was an early voice to call for the banning of critical race theory from the state’s public schools.

But in 2024, Hardy is not conservative enough for Republican voters: She lost her primary election earlier this month against Brandon Hall, a former youth pastor who has pitched himself as a fighter for Christian conservative values.

In addition to Hardy’s outright loss, two other Republicans on the board — Pam Little and Tom Maynard — were forced into runoff elections against opponents pitching themselves as stronger conservatives. All three challengers received heavy financial support from Texans for Educational Freedom, a right-wing advocacy group that cut its teeth trying to sway local school board elections but has turned its attention to overhauling the state board, spending more than $300,000 this year.

Dear ChatGPT: How competitive are elections in the United States? in Texas?

How competitive are elections in the United States? in Texas?

The competitiveness of elections in the United States varies significantly depending on the level of government (federal, state, local) and geographic region. Here's a breakdown:


1. Federal Elections (President, Senate, House)

- Presidential Elections: Generally competitive, with major parties (Democrats and Republicans) closely contesting swing states. However, the Electoral College can make the race feel less competitive in states that consistently vote for one party.
- Senate Elections: Moderately competitive, but many seats are considered “safe” for one party due to state partisanship. Competitive races usually happen in battleground states.
- House Elections: Less competitive overall. Due to gerrymandering and demographic sorting, many House districts are designed to favor one party, making the general election a foregone conclusion in many places. Only about 10–15% of seats are considered truly competitive in most cycles.


2. State and Local Elections

- Governors and State Legislatures: Competitiveness depends on the state. Some states (like Wisconsin, Arizona, and Georgia) see intense competition; others are dominated by one party.
- Local Elections: Often less competitive due to low voter turnout, incumbent advantages, and lack of major party influence in some areas (especially in nonpartisan races).


3. Factors That Affect Competitiveness

- Incumbency: Incumbents are reelected at high rates, especially in Congress.
- Gerrymandering: Drawing of electoral district lines to favor one party reduces competitiveness.
- Campaign Finance: Well-funded candidates often deter challengers.
- Primary Elections: Can be more competitive than general elections, especially in one-party districts.


4. Indicators of Competitiveness

- Margin of Victory: Smaller margins indicate higher competitiveness.
- Number of Contested Races: Some districts have no challenger at all.
- Voter Turnout: Competitive races often drive higher turnout.


Conclusion: U.S. elections are structurally competitive in design, but actual competitiveness is often reduced by factors like gerrymandering, incumbency, and political polarization. Some races are hotly contested, especially at the national level and in swing areas, while many others are not.


How competitive are elections in Texas?

Elections in Texas tend to be low‑competition overall, though a few regions and races are becoming more competitive. Here's a breakdown across levels:


State Legislature

According to Ballotpedia, in 2024 Texas had a legislative competitiveness index of 36.9, ranking 17th 
 60% of seats were contested by both parties.
 41% of incumbents faced primary challenges.
 About 10% of races were open seats.

Even though competition has increased slightly since 2022  most districts remain safe for the dominant party.

U.S. House & Gerrymandering

Congressional races in Texas are especially uncompetitive, heavily shaped by aggressive GOP gerrymandering:

Only 3 truly competitive districts remain in the 2024 map ballotpedia.org+11democracydocket.com+11brennancenter.org+11reformaustin.org+1medium.com+1.


Republican-controlled redistricting created a “firewall”: 21 out of 25 GOP-held seats were Trump+, 15‑point or more brennancenter.org+2brennancenter.org+2tpr.org+2.


AP estimates gerrymandering awarded the GOP +4 extra U.S. House seats in the latest cycle—+5 specifically in Texas .

Despite Democrats often securing ~46–48% of statewide vote, they hold just 13 of 38 U.S. House seats 

Statewide & Federal Races

- Presidential elections: In 2024, Trump won TX by ~13.7%, his strongest in the state since 2012 a clear GOP advantage.

- Gubernatorial races: Gov. Abbott won reelection in 2022 by ~10.9%, nearly 14-point wins in many rural counties reformaustin.org+6medium.com+6tpr.org+6en.wikipedia.org.

- Senate primaries: The GOP Senate primary is unusually competitive, with internal division between Cornyn and Paxton, and possibly a third candidate wsj.com+2statesman.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2. Historically, though, general elections remain solidly Republican.

Local Trends & Demographics

Rapid suburban growth—areas like Fort Bend County—are shifting toward Democrats en.wikipedia.org.

Local races (e.g., San Antonio mayor) have seen partisan influence, illustrating changing dynamics at the municipal level .

Democrats are investing heavily in infrastructure and local candidate recruitment (e.g., Beto O’Rourke’s town halls; Soros-funded "Blue Texas") wsj.com, hoping to build competitiveness over time.

Bottom Line

- Statewide and congressional races: GOP-dominated and largely uncompetitive due to gerrymandering and structural advantages.

- Legislative and local races: Slightly more competitive, particularly in suburbs and open-seat contests.

- Primaries: Growing in competitiveness, especially within the GOP.

- Future outlook: Changing demographics and Democratic investments may bring more competitive races in suburbs and some down-ballot offices—but the core structure remains Boston-heavy GOP.

Texas is trending toward a more competitive landscape—but for now, on most levels, elections are still characterized by low competition and party-line certainty, especially under current maps.

ChatGPT's "thoughts" on the relationship between partisanship and law enforcement.

Dear ChatGPT: Should law enforcement be nonpartisan?

Yes, law enforcement should be nonpartisan. The primary role of law enforcement is to uphold the law, ensure public safety, and protect the rights of all citizens, regardless of their political beliefs or affiliations. If law enforcement becomes partisan or politically motivated, it can lead to bias, erosion of public trust, and unequal treatment of individuals based on their political or social affiliations. Nonpartisan law enforcement ensures that all individuals are treated fairly and equally under the law, which is crucial for maintaining justice and the rule of law in a democratic society.


Dear ChatGPT: Is law enforcement non partisan?

In theory, law enforcement agencies are supposed to be nonpartisan, meaning they should carry out their duties impartially, without being influenced by political beliefs or affiliations. In practice, however, achieving complete nonpartisanship can be challenging. Law enforcement agencies can sometimes be perceived as influenced by politics, especially when there's a political climate or leadership that may affect policies, priorities, or even the way laws are enforced.

For example, political pressure can sometimes influence decisions on which issues to prioritize or how certain events are handled, especially in high-profile cases that may involve political figures or movements. Additionally, individual officers, like anyone, might hold personal political views, but it is generally expected that these do not impact their professional duties.

Public trust in law enforcement hinges on the belief that they are impartial, so any actions that seem politically motivated can damage that trust. Ideally, reforms and training are in place to reinforce nonpartisanship and ensure that officers act in accordance with the law and their duty to protect all citizens equally.


Dear ChatGPT: Is the Attorney General of the United States supposed to be non partisan?

Yes, the Attorney General of the United States is supposed to be nonpartisan in principle. As the head of the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Attorney General is expected to enforce the law impartially, without political bias, and to act in the best interests of justice and the public. The Attorney General’s role is to provide legal advice to the President and the government, oversee federal prosecutions, and ensure the fair application of the law across the country.

However, the Attorney General is appointed by the President and serves at the President's pleasure, which often leads to concerns about the potential for political influence. While the Attorney General is expected to act independently, their decisions can sometimes be viewed as politically motivated, especially when the President who appointed them has a strong political agenda or when the Attorney General is involved in cases related to the President’s own interests or political party.

This dynamic has sparked debates over whether the office can truly be nonpartisan when the person holding it may be seen as politically aligned with the administration. Ideally, though, the Attorney General is expected to maintain an independent stance and avoid partisanship in their legal decision-making.


Dear ChatGPT: How do we know if the Attorney General is partisan?

It can be difficult to definitively prove whether an Attorney General (AG) is partisan, but there are several indicators that can give the public and analysts a sense of whether political factors are influencing their decisions. Here are some ways we might assess whether an Attorney General is acting in a partisan manner:

1. Decision-Making in Politically Sensitive Cases: One of the clearest signs of partisanship is how an AG handles high-profile or politically sensitive cases—especially those involving political figures or political parties. If an AG seems to protect or target individuals based on their political affiliation, or if there is inconsistency in how similar cases are handled based on political alignment, it may raise concerns about partisan influence.

2. Public Statements and Actions: An AG who frequently makes public statements that align with or support the views of the sitting President or political party could be seen as partisan. For example, if the AG consistently speaks in favor of the President’s political agenda, criticizes the opposition, or takes public stances that mirror political rhetoric, it may suggest partisanship.

3. Handling of Investigations: The way an AG oversees or intervenes in investigations can be a strong indicator. For instance, if the AG or DOJ appears to launch investigations that disproportionately target political opponents or, conversely, fails to act on cases involving political allies, that could signal partisan behavior. The timing and scope of investigations can also be scrutinized to see if they coincide with political cycles, such as during elections.

4. Consistency with Legal Precedent and the Law: A nonpartisan AG should prioritize legal principles and consistency with the rule of law over political convenience. If an AG consistently alters or interprets the law in a way that benefits one political party or group while neglecting the broader legal framework, it may indicate partisan motivations. Legal decisions should be made based on law and evidence, not political pressure.

5. Appointments and Staffing: Who the Attorney General appoints to key positions within the Department of Justice can provide insights into their potential partisanship. If the AG fills positions with individuals who have clear political affiliations or have previously shown strong support for a particular party, that might suggest a partisan approach to law enforcement.

6. Congressional Oversight and Hearings: Congressional hearings are another way to assess an AG’s impartiality. Congress often conducts hearings to scrutinize the AG's actions. If the AG cannot effectively justify decisions or seems to prioritize political considerations over legal principles during these hearings, it might suggest partisanship.

7. Public Perception and Media Coverage: Public and media reactions can also reveal whether an AG is perceived as partisan. While public opinion can be polarized, if there’s a consistent pattern of criticisms from multiple sources—across the political spectrum—this can be an indicator that the AG’s actions are seen as politically motivated rather than driven by the law.

Despite these potential indicators, proving that an AG is partisan can be challenging. Often, it's a matter of perception and public trust. If the AG consistently acts in ways that align with the President’s political agenda, it can be difficult to separate the role of law enforcement from political considerations.

Ask ChatGPT: What is the difference between Democracy and Mob Rule?

The difference between democracy and mob rule lies primarily in the structure, processes, and outcomes of decision-making in each system.


Democracy:

Democracy is a system of government in which power is vested in the people. There are two primary types of democracy: direct democracy and representative democracy.

- Direct Democracy: In direct democracy, citizens participate directly in decision-making, usually through voting on laws or policies themselves. However, this is typically more feasible in small communities or specific issues.

- Representative Democracy: In representative democracy, the people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf, based on their interests and the common good. The United States, for example, operates under a representative democracy.

Key features of democracy:

- Rule of Law: In a democracy, decisions are made according to established laws and principles. The rule of law ensures that the rights of individuals are protected and that the process is fair.

- Checks and Balances: Democratic systems often have mechanisms in place to ensure that power is not concentrated in one person or group. This includes separation of powers across branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial).

- Deliberation: In a well-functioning democracy, decisions are typically made after careful consideration, debate, and discussion. Elected representatives are expected to deliberate on issues before taking action.

- Protection of Minority Rights: A democracy strives to balance majority rule with the protection of minority rights, ensuring that the desires of the majority do not trample on the rights of individuals or minority groups.


Mob Rule:

Mob rule, also known as ochlocracy, refers to a chaotic and unrestrained form of decision-making, where the majority or a group of people act based on passion, anger, or emotion, rather than rational deliberation or respect for the rule of law. In mob rule, decisions are made impulsively, often without legal frameworks or protections for rights.

Key features of mob rule:

- Lack of Legal Structure: Mob rule operates outside of established legal frameworks, and decisions are made without consideration for existing laws or constitutional principles.

- Emotion-driven Decisions: In mob rule, decisions are often driven by emotions, such as anger or fear, rather than careful reasoning or the long-term common good.

- Unstable: Mob rule tends to be unstable, as it is based on the immediate passions of a group, leading to inconsistent actions, violence, and unpredictable outcomes.

- Suppression of Minority Rights: Under mob rule, there is little protection for minorities or dissenters. The majority can easily overpower minority views, leading to oppression or injustice.


Key Differences:

- Process: Democracy involves structured processes, such as elections, debates, and lawmaking, in which representatives make decisions with deliberation and consideration of the common good. Mob rule is unstructured and often chaotic, with decisions made hastily by groups driven by emotion rather than rational thought.

- Stability: Democracy provides stability through systems of checks and balances, protecting against sudden, impulsive actions. Mob rule tends to be unstable, as it is fueled by immediate passions and lacks a stable system of governance.


Rule of Law:Democracy operates within the framework of law, ensuring fairness and consistency.
Mob rule ignores or circumvents the rule of law, making decisions based on the will of the majority, regardless of fairness.

- Protection of Rights: Democracy safeguards individual and minority rights, even if they conflict with the majority opinion. Mob rule often leads to the oppression of minority groups, as the majority may act without regard for the rights of others.

Conclusion:

In essence, democracy is a form of governance that relies on the rule of law, deliberation, and respect for individual rights, while mob rule is the chaotic and often violent result of decisions made by a passionate majority, without regard for legal processes, stability, or minority protections. Democracy seeks to avoid the risks of mob rule by establishing systems that ensure reasoned, fair, and predictable governance.

What is the Federal Election Commission?

From Wikipedia: Federal Election Commission. 

. . . an independent agency of the United States government that enforces U.S. campaign finance laws and oversees U.S. federal elections. Created in 1974 through amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act,[3] the commission describes its duties as "to disclose campaign finance information, to enforce the provisions of the law such as the limits and prohibitions on contributions, and to oversee the public funding of Presidential elections." It is led by six commissioners who are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

From Wikipedia: Federal Election Campaign Act.

. . . the primary United States federal law regulating political campaign fundraising and spending. The law originally focused on creating limits for campaign spending on communication media, adding additional penalties to the criminal code for election law violations, and imposing disclosure requirements for federal political campaigns. The Act was signed into law by President Richard Nixon on February 7, 1972.

Click here for the FEC website.

Click here for contribution limits.

What is an independent agency of the United States government?

News - 9/1/24

For you reading list:

Group of Texas Democrats asks DOJ to investigate Texas over possible voter rights violations.
- vote suppression
- Texas House Caucuses
- federal voting rights
- Texas Election Code

State Rep. Shawn Thierry switches to GOP, says Democratic Party has “lost its way”
- primary elections
- safe districts
- ambition

Judge allows parental consent for Texas kids’ social media accounts, but blocks content moderation
requirement.
- social media
- free speech
- content moderation
- rights of children
- parental consent

Paxton takes Dallas to court over gun ban at State Fair.
- gun rights
- Texas Attorney General
- civil law
- litigation
- state / local conflict

From The Washington Post: She was accused of a crime for taking a ballot selfie. Now she’s suing.

For out look at the Bill of Rights and Free Speech and Press.

- Click here for the story.

Like many North Carolina residents, Susan Hogarth visited her local school in March to vote in the primary election.

After filling in the ovals next to the names of two Libertarian Party candidates, Hogarth held the ballot under her chin and took a photo of herself with her phone. She posted the selfie from the voting booth on X.

The next week, Hogarth received a letter from the North Carolina State Board of Elections that accused her of committing a misdemeanor, according to a new lawsuit.

North Carolina is one of several states that prohibit taking photos or videos of filled-in ballots. The state’s board of elections said ballot photos “could be used as proof of a vote for a candidate in a vote-buying scheme.”

The state board asked Hogarth to remove her selfie from X, according to a copy of a letter shared by Hogarth’s attorneys. Hogarth refused, and on Thursday she filed a lawsuit arguing that the state’s ban on ballot photos violates voters’ First Amendment rights.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, named members of North Carolina’s and Wake County’s boards of elections as defendants. Spokespeople for both boards declined to comment.

Hogarth voted on March 5 at Yates Mill Elementary School in Raleigh, where she entered a booth that was sectioned off on a table by a privacy screen. She filled in her votes for Libertarian Party presidential candidate Chase Oliver and Libertarian Mike Ross for the state’s governor.

Her selfie showed her ballot and a sign in the background that said photos were prohibited. She posted the selfie after leaving the polling place that morning, writing that she disagreed with the ban.

. . . Hogarth found that she wasn’t the only person to disagree with the regulations. Many states restrict what ballot photos are allowed and where they can be taken — an issue that came into the national spotlight in 2016 when singer Justin Timberlake removed a selfie of his Tennessee ballot from Instagram.

New Hampshire passed a law prohibiting ballot selfies in 2014, but two courts struck down the ban after calling it unconstitutional. California and Colorado began allowing ballot selfies in 2017 after reversing long-standing laws.

A federal judge in New York, meanwhile, refused to authorize ballot selfies in 2017, saying the absence of photos in polling places protects against fraud and prevents delays at the polls. Texas prohibits photographs within 100 feet of a polling station.

From Houston Public Media: ‘Six elections since November’: Harris County officials estimate that low turnout could be due to voter fatigue

An ironic form of voter suppression. Tire voters out.

- Click here for the article. 

Call it election overload, voter fatigue, or voter burnout.

Voting, expressing our feelings, joining as one, is a right in America. Yet, year after year, voter rolls are getting smaller, and turnout is so small that a small percentage is making decisions for millions. Texas is not immune. In fact, the election schedule is so heavy that it could even be the problem, one Harris County official says.

"In terms of why there are such a low percentage of voters, there could be various reasons why. Next month will be six elections Harris County has conducted, six elections since last November, back-to-back-to-back-to-back," said Harris County Clerk Tenisha Hudspeth. "November, December, March primary, May 4th special, now the runoff, and then another runoff in June."

In Tuesday's election in Harris County, the largest county with the largest city in Texas, nearly 50,000 people made the decisions for almost five million.

Hudspeth said she would be interested in hearing conversations about minimizing the days of elections and what’s on the ballot at the same time.

"But that's not up to me, and I think that is up to the legislature here in the state of Texas to have more conversations about elections,” Hudspeth said. “How they impact this state, how they impact this county, what's productive for voters in the state of Texas. What I can tell you is there's a legislation session that's coming up next year. And I think voting and elections is always on the table in the state of Texas, that's just the reality."

Hudspeth said that because the election included a short ballot, she feels many voters are choosing to wait until November for the all-important state-wide and national elections.

The upcoming June 15th election is a bi-annual vote, where voters elect representatives in cities, school boards and water districts, and other governing bodies.

- Voter Suppression.

- Voter Fatigue.

A message from the Texas Secretary of State to county voter registrars

Secretary Nelson Reminds Counties of Duty to Update Voter Registration Rolls

Registrars should act now to preserve voter roll integrity ahead of the November election.

AUSTIN—Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson issued two official advisories today reminding county registrars of their duty to maintain accurate voter rolls and giving direction for removing ineligible individuals including non-citizens, felons and deceased voters.

“Clean voter rolls are the first line of defense to preserve secure elections,” said Secretary Nelson. “We must ensure our voter lists are up to date, and now is the time to prepare.”

Although the Secretary of State updates the statewide voter registration database daily, federal law prohibits large-scale updates 90 days ahead of any federal election. Following the May 28 Primary Runoff, Texas has until August 7 to perform sweeping list maintenance activities. The Secretary of State is aggressively working to ensure only eligible voters are on the rolls and continues to provide a multitude of data sets to counties in order to ensure accurate voter lists.

The Secretary of State’s office provides records of potential non-citizens to counties, and voter registrars are required to investigate and remove any ineligible voter. Under a bill passed in 2021, the Secretary of State may, and will, withhold election funds from a county voter registrar for failure to approve, change, or cancel a voter’s registration in a timely manner.

In addition to acting on records provided by the Secretary of State, registrars also have the right to initiate their own investigations—and Texans have the right to challenge the eligibility of any registered voter in their county.

“We are working closely with registrars to remove any ineligible voters from Texas voter rolls,” Secretary Nelson said. “These advisories clearly lay out that obligation and process.”

________

- Election Advisory No. 2024-19.

- Election Advisory No. 2024-18.

- Elections Division Advisories.

________

- Texas Secretary of State - Elections Division.

- Brazoria County - Elections.

_________

Relevant Terms an Concepts: 

- Voter Registration.

- Voter Rolls.

- Voter Purge.

- Voter Suppression.

Questions from my 8 week online class - please note that I'm still in the process of answering these. If you are a student, try pasting these questions into Chat GPT. See what you find.

- What is the difference between lobbying and interest groups?

An interest group is a political organization. They are somewhat similar to political parties except that they do not recruit candidates to run under a label. Instead, they attempt to influence candidates and members of the three governing institutions.

Click here for more: Interest Groups.

Lobbying is a tactic used by interest groups to influence government, specifically the legislative and executive branches. A lobbyist is a person whose skill set includes the ability to effectively communicate with office holders and staffers in those institutions. 

Click here for more: Lobbying.

- What is a special session?

In Texas, a special session is one that occurs after the end of the regular session. The governor, and only the governor can call one if there are unresolved issues remaining after the end of the regular session. They can only last for 30 days, and can only deal with issues approved by the governor. Governors can call as many as they wish.

Click here for regular sessions.
Click here for special sessions.
Click here for Texas Legislature 101: Understanding the state government and how it passes laws.

- Why would someone go to an appellate court? 

The purpose of an appellate court is to hear allegations that a procedural irregularity of some sort occurred in a trial. Someone would go to an appellate court if, after being found guilty of a crime, or liable of a civil infraction, they believe a procedural error has occurred. The result may be a reversal of the trial decision, or a new trial. Or the appellate court could rule that the trial was fine.

Click here for more: Texas Courts of Appeals. 

- Which political parties and interest groups dominate Texas politics, and what impact do they
have on policy decisions?

Texas has a history of social conservatism and traditionalism. In its early years, it had an agrarian economy, but over the past century, it has become more business oriented. The parties and interest groups that support those positions tend to be dominant, at least statewide. This in not necessarily true for the cities. 

Statewide, the Texas Democratic Party was dominant until it reacted against the national party's shift towards equal protection and civil rights. Conservative Democrats in Texas slowly shifted towards the Texas Republican Party in the 40s and 50s. By the 90s and early 2000s, the statewide shift was complete, though Democrats continue to be strong in the cities. 

The oil and gas sector continues to be the dominate interest group in the state, but other business groups are powerful as well. These include real estate, finance, and hi tech. Groups that support labor and the public sector - teachers for example - are less powerful. 

- What are the consequences for representation and political power, and how does Texas'
redistricting process operate?

Building off the previous answer, the consequences are that public policy in the state tends to favor the interests on business, as well as people who promote traditional conservative lifestyles. 

Redistricting occurs every 10 years following each national census. The simply purpose of the census is to reapportion each state's representation in the United States House of Representatives according to its population. The numbers are then used to guide the redrawing of each district in order to ensure that each district has the same number of people in it. This process is done by the legislature of each state.

Each state also takes that data and uses it to redraw the districts in their respective legislatures and any other districts that might apply. The process is overseen by the Texas Redistricting Board.

- Click here for their website.

Question 1: What are the various levels of the judiciary system and what does each level do? I
noticed this was on the quiz and wanted a better understanding of these levels.

The levels of the Texas Judiciary are established - but not laid out - in Article 5 of the Texas Constitution. The levels are laid out more thoroughly in Texas Government Code, but the best way to answer your question is to check out the following map; 

- Court Structure of Texas.

Question 2: Why is the lieutenant governor important, what does he dictate over? On the quizzes,
the role of lieutenant governor seems significant since there were several questions about this
position.

The Texas Lieutenant Governor is one of several positions created in Article 4 of the Texas Constitution. It is independently elected, meaning that the governor has not control over it. The position is established to be the presiding officer of the Texas Senate, which contains the power to appoint people to committees, designate committee chairs, and steer legislation through the bill making process. That is the key to the position's power. 

Click here for more.

Question 3: What is the largest difference between the parties in terms of views like tradionalists
and individualists or are they more alike than different? I have noticed they have a lot in
common in the textbook and quizzes where their radical ideas are different, but others are the
same.

Interesting question. Texas is primarily a traditionalist / individualist state, with pockets of moralism in the urban areas. Policies that preserve traditional values - which includes opposition to same-sex marriage and equal treatment in general - and create favorable conditions for business, tend to be adopted by the Republican Party while those that directly focus on the well being of individuals tend to be adopted by the Democratic Party.

Sometimes there is overlap between the two major parties in the positions they take. Sometimes - like now - there is less. This is a measure of polarization. If the positions of the two parties are extreme, and there is no middle ground, then we say that's a time of party polarization. The parties have little in common. If not, and there is middle ground - opportunity to compromise - then there is less polarization. The parties have more in common. 

Why do they agree sometimes and disagree others? Lots of people study this. Generally its a consequence of the nature of politics at a particular moment in time, and what it takes to win a specific election.

For more on the Texas Democrats click here.
For more on the Texas Republicans click here. 

My first topic is understanding the organization of the political parties.

There are things that should help you understand parties in Texas, as well the rest of the nation. 

1 - Their principle purpose is to win elections and control the governing apparatus.

2 - The winner take all system favors the development of two major parties, that is, parties that are in fact competitive and likely to win elections. In Texas these are the Republican and Democratic Parties. Smaller - minor parties - exist as well, but do not get enough votes to actually win elections. However. they can have an influence on elections by having an impact on the number of votes received by major party candidates. 

- Click here for more on winner take all elections.
- Click here for more on the two party system.

3 - Parties exist on the national, state, and local (county) levels. Since the United States has a federal system of government, and elections occur on all levels, parties exist on all levels in order to coordinate attempts to control each level of government. This means that there is a national party, 50 state parties, and over a thousand county parties in the nation. In addition, there are small clubs and other affiliated organizations. 

4 - The major parties are divided into permanent and temporary organizations. The former consists of the staff required to run day to day operations, the latter is composed of people who vote in primaries and participate in party conventions. 

- Click here for more.

The next topic is the purpose of government sessions and special sessions.

Look at the answer above for special sessions. 

If you want more: 
Legislative sessions and years.
Special Sessions of the Texas Legislature.

My last topic is understanding the difference between the 1845 constitution and the Texas constitution. 

I assume you mean the current Texas Constitution which was written in 1876 and amendment about 520 times since then. In structural terms, they are very similar, meaning that they establish three governing institutions and are based on "the people." There are other such similarities. 

They are also significantly different in many areas. The 1845 constitution was the Texas' first state constitution and bore similarities to other state constitutions. Recall that the 1836 Constitution was a national constitution. The 1876 Constitution was the last of three constitutions Texas offered as a condition for allowing it to be officially re-recognized by the national government. Two previous attempts had failed. 

Other differences include that after the rebellion, the article on slavery became the article on suffrage. After the ratification of the initial 1876 constitution, which favored the interests of farmers, it was modified gradually over time to favor the interest of business. 

There's much more. Hopefully this helps you get a handle on that. For more, you should check out the following website: Tarlton Law Library.

I linked you to the page which contains further links to al the Texas Constitutions 

You might also get something out of these: 

- Constitution of 1845.
- Constitution of 1876.

I still get a little confused on how the voting works in order to vote someone in office, a higher office in Texas. Each role seems so different.

Each role is different. That's why you are confused - it's confusing, but there is a reason for it. Review the material in the chapters on each of the governing departments, as well as the chapter on elections. Then think about it. I want you to be prepared for the tests and quizzes, but really understanding this stuff takes time. It will makes much more sense the more you participate. 

For now just understand that for state office, each major office - with exceptions - is elected to office first by being nominated by the voters of their party in a primary election, then by all voters in a general election. This happens every even numbered year. Often national and local positions are determined then as well. The individuals who can vote, must meet qualifications laid out in the Texas Constitution and register to vote.  

The length of terms varies depending on what we expect from each position. 

2 year terms - House of Representatives
4 year terms - Senate and Executive Positions
6 year terms - Appellate courts

Check out this page in the Texas Secretary of States' website, it list all of the candidates for office in Texas in the 2024 election. 

- Offices up for Election in 2024.

How many Texas constitutions where there? Or modifications? Some readings make it seem like so many but other readings make it seem like one.

The best way to find out is to look through the info you can find here: Constitutions of Texas 1824 - 1876.

You'll notice there have been 8.

In addition, the current constitution has been modified over 500 times since it was originally written and ratified in 1876. For more click here:  

Why was the permit university fund created?

The Permanent University Fund was created to be a funding source for UT and Texas A&M. 

Click here for more.

What is the difference between lobbying for federal policy and state policy specifically in Texas?

Obviously the biggest difference is what the purpose of the lobbying is. To impact national policy or state policy. Those are different and involve different sets of players, under different sets of rules. 

If you want to jump into it: 

- LOBBYING IN TEXAS - A GUIDE TO THE TEXAS LAW.
- 2022 Lobbying Disclosure.
- Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.

According to Chat GPT, these are the basics of any lobbying regulations: 

1 - Registration: Lobbyists typically need to register with government authorities, disclosing who they are representing and what issues they are lobbying on. This ensures transparency and accountability in the lobbying process.

2 - Disclosure: Lobbyists may be required to disclose their activities, including whom they're lobbying, the issues they're advocating for or against, and the resources they're using (such as funding or support).

3 - Ethical Standards: Many jurisdictions have codes of conduct or ethical standards that lobbyists must adhere to. This can include rules about conflicts of interest, gifts or favors, and honesty in communications.

4 - Reporting Requirements: Lobbyists might be required to report their activities at regular intervals, detailing their interactions with government officials, expenditures, and any other relevant information.

5 - Restrictions on Gifts and Contributions: To prevent undue influence, there may be limits on the value of gifts or contributions that lobbyists can offer to public officials.

6 - Cooling-off Periods: Some jurisdictions impose cooling-off periods, during which former government officials or employees cannot immediately transition into lobbying roles. This is to prevent the revolving door phenomenon and conflicts of interest.

7 - Anti-Corruption Measures: Lobbying regulations often include anti-corruption measures to prevent bribery, kickbacks, or other forms of illicit influence.

8 - Penalties for Non-Compliance: There are usually penalties for violating lobbying regulations, which can range from fines to criminal charges, depending on the severity of the offense.

How are people with left and right political ideologies dispersed in Texas?

Generally the more conservative people - especially regarding social policy - can be found in rural and suburban areas, and the more liberal individuals are found in urban areas. 

For more detail: 

- Political ideology among adults in Texas.
- SOME NOTES ON THE POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE 2022 ELECTION IN TEXAS.
- The seven political states of Texas.
- The New Political Geography of the Lone Star State.
- Analysis: The blue dots in Texas’ red political sea.

What methods are used to incentivize political participation?

Great question. Interest groups and political parties ask it also. There are many factors that reduce engagement, but often its simply because people don't always feel that they will have no impact, or that they don't have to. They can free ride on the participation of others. This is an inevitable problem with working within groups. 

For interest groups I'd suggest reviewing the material on selective incentives. These are designed to provide a tangible benefit for people in order to encourage them to work for a group's goals. 

Type this into Chat GPT and see what answer you get: What are the selective incentives to group participation?

For increasing voter turnout, type this: how can voter participation be increased?

It's a great tool, use it. 

What is the struggle for Texas?

I really don't know what that question is supposed to mean unless it pertains to political disputes and attempts to win elections and control the apparatus of the government.

If it's about struggling to retain some sort of "Texan" identity, then we have to define what the identity is. It's a pretty big and diverse state.

What does federalism mean?

The division of government into three levels: the national, state, and local.

What are Texas political parties?

Political organizations that recruit candidates to compete in elections for government office.

How does the influx of people migrating to Texas with Democratic views affect the future of
Texas as a “Republican” state? What are some of the biggest threats to the identity of Texas?

If the newcomers are mostly Democrats, then that jeopardizes the ability of the Republican Party to continue to dominate the state.

Is the Plural Executive an effective way to govern a state like Texas? Is there a more effective model out there?

No it is not, but that why Texas has it. A plural executive makes the execution of the laws less efficient, but that also makes it more controllable but the general population. Dispersing power makes it easier to limit. 

It is more efficient to have a singular executive, like exists on the national level. 

How does the structure of the Texas government impact the policymaking process? I think specifically the plural executive and a bicameral legislature confuse me a little. Related to this, I also wonder how they balance the power between all these officials.

The simple purpose of the structure of Texas politics is to limit its power by slowing it down. Both the plural executive and the bicameral legislature slow the policy making process down by separating power in the executive and legislative branches respectively. Doing so helps balance power within each branch since one often needs the others in order to establish and implement policy.

In what ways does the Texas Constitution of 1876 continue to influence contemporary Texas politics and governance in current times? I want to learn what policies have persisted all of these years and what we had to modify.

Double check the info in your textbook chapter. Recall that it has been amended over 500 times since 1876, so its impact had changed in significant ways.

What hasn't changed is the basic structure and duties of the each of the governing institutions, the relationship between the Texas government and the people of Texas. the relationship between the Texas government and local governments in the state, the requirement that free public education be provided, that the state controls its public lands, and a handful of others. 

But the amendments have changed many things over time. 

Texas can now get in debt, bail has been restricted, the issuance of property taxes has been narrowed, the terms of executive officials has been expanded, the income tax has been prohibited, some forms of gambling have been allowed, funding has been made available to business interests, as well as a handful of others. 

For more, try comparing the original 1876 document to the current document. 

- 1876 version.
- 2024 version.

What role do interest groups play when shaping Texas government policies? How can they contribute to our political outcomes on controversial topics like immigration, healthcare, etc?

Assume that behind any area of public policy is a set of groups organized to protect the various interests. They fight amongst each other to ensure that whatever is being considered will best secure the interests of that group. They do so in a variety of ways. 

I just pasted this into Chat GPT: What tactics do interest groups use to influence public policy?

Give it a try, I found lots of good stuff.

How may political ideologies and/or partisan divisions affect Texas public policy, more specifically on health and education, and how does Texas's approach to public policy compare to other states? Lastly, are there any very recent discussions regarding healthcare in Texas?

Read through this: State Political Culture.

Here's one place you can go to catch up on health care policy in Texas: Texas Tribune. 

From The Texas Tribune - 4/23/24

- In one Texas county, elections officials shoulder new costs and burdens to appease skeptics.

In Brazos County, suspicions about elections burst into the open last fall, just weeks after a visit from an out-of-state group calling for ballots to be hand-counted.

“Everything seems great. But if you study this, you’ll find that it’s possible to pre-program electronic voting machines and make it do whatever you want,” one resident said at a commissioners court meeting last November, without evidence to support the claims.

“Ever since these machines came along, I’ve heard nothing but accusations of fraud,” said another resident. “I am asking you to investigate. Something was wrong in the 2020 election. Voting machines do only what they’re programmed to do.”


- Texas politics leave transgender foster youth isolated — during and after life in state care.

LGBTQ+ foster kids have lost the little protections and affirmations once afforded to them as Texas’ top leaders waged statewide battles that riled public panic about queer people.

Studies show LGBTQ+ kids are more likely to become wards of the state compared with their straight and cisgender counterparts. It’s not difficult to imagine why. Many queer youth enter the system for the same reasons their peers do: abuse, neglect or a parent dealing with addiction. But many LGBTQ+ kids also get rejected by their parents or run away from hostile homes.

Yet Texas’ Child Protective Services doesn’t track the sexual orientation or gender identity of youth in foster care. And as state leaders prioritized legislating everything from transgender kids’ access to certain health care and the places drag queens can perform, they also quietly stalled efforts to better train adults charged with caring for trans foster youth.

“Right now the governor and the Legislature would like nothing better than to just be able to wash their hands of everything LGBTQ-related,” said Sharon Fonvielle-Baughman, who abruptly retired as the Department of Family and Protective Services’ special investigations director last year.


- Texas inmates are being ‘cooked to death’ in extreme heat, complaint alleges.

April signals the beginning of blistering heat for much of Texas. And while the summer heat is uncomfortable for many, it can be deadly for the people incarcerated in Texas’ prison system where temperatures regularly reach triple digits.

With another sweltering summer likely ahead, prison rights advocates on Monday filed a complaint against Texas Department of Criminal Justice executive director Bryan Collier, arguing that the lack of air conditioning in the majority of Texas prisons amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.

The filing came from four nonprofit organizations who are joining a lawsuit originally filed last August by Bernie Tiede, an inmate who suffered a medical crisis after being housed in a Huntsville cell that reached temperatures exceeding 110 degrees. Tiede, a well-known offender whose 1996 murder of a wealthy widow inspired the film “Bernie,” was moved to an air-conditioned cell following a court order but he’s not guaranteed to stay there this year.

Monday’s filing expands the plaintiffs to include every inmate incarcerated in uncooled Texas prisons, which have led to the deaths of dozens of Texas inmates and cost the state millions of dollars as it fights wrongful death and civil rights lawsuits.


- Travis County district attorney faces removal attempt under Texas’ “rogue” prosecutors law.

A Travis County resident is seeking to remove progressive District Attorney José Garza from office using a 2023 Texas law aimed at limiting the discretion of locally elected prosecutors. A state district judge in Comal County on Friday appointed an attorney to represent Texas and pursue the case.

House Bill 17 took effect Sept. 1 and allows courts to remove district attorneys for "official misconduct." That could include refusing to prosecute certain criminal offenses under state law, such as low-level marijuana possession.

When Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill, the Republican leader said the goal of the law was to "hold rogue district attorneys accountable." The GOP priority legislation gained steam after progressive district attorneys, including Garza, said they would not prosecute people seeking abortions banned under Texas law.

However, elected district attorneys have significant prosecutorial discretion, meaning they get to decide which cases to pursue. As KUT previously reported, the law undermines this longtime convention.

Travis County resident Mary Dupuis filed a petition to remove Garza from office on April 8. The filing came just over a month after Garza won the March Democratic primary for district attorney in a landslide.

Questions from GOVT 2305 - THS01

For class discussion

I'll more as the answers come in: 

1. Are Mayors like city presidents?

2. Party polarization and why it's important

3. How was the Supreme Court able to make SB4 become a law for a couple hours even though the president didn't approve of it

The Economic Policy is a section I am not too confident about . Trying to do the quiz wasnt too difficult because of the difficult, but I couldn't quite grasp what the section was about.

Bureaucracy and its regulations can be confusing.

Language used in legal documents or court rulings.

I would like to hear about the voter shift.

The rules sourding constitutional carry and your rights against a police officer.

Federal Funding

The only amendment to be ratified by state convention was which one?

The president is the commander in chief, but Congress has the power to declare war; this is an example of what?

I understand what each branch does. One question that is from the essay is what is misinformation?

The only thing I really struggled with were the questions over the constitution quiz. It was pretty hard and I had to take it a ton of times to get a understanding of it.

One thing that I'm confused about right now is how elections work, specifically the presidential ones. From my rough understanding, our primary votes go towards the electoral college and who represents us. Then during the actual election our vote is just the popular vote, which does not decide who will actually become president. I'm not sure if this is right, but that is one thing I'd like to learn more about.

I'm struggling to remember the separation of powers, specifically what branch is authorized to do what.

I would like a reminder of the election processes of the judges, senators, and representatives.

I also need a refresher about the Electoral College and the voting process for the president.

The first thing I am confused about is the SB 4 and whether or not Texas can enforce immigration laws. My second thing is what the Federal Government has planned for the year 2025. And my last thing is why does federalism continue to be a source of controversy in the U.S.. Oh and who is the real Ricky??

If I got to learn more about how different factors play into outcome sof bills passing or making it through and why there isnt an age limit but how there is a age minimum for offices and to run. Those are the only two things I might have questions about, but otherwise thats it.

One thing i'm still confused about is elections. I don't understand why a candidate can lose even if the majority of people in the US voted for them. Why is that a thing? If most of the US wants a candidate to be president, why is it that they can still lose? Doesn't that defeat the point of an election? Something else I'm confused about is political parties. Why do we only have two main parties? Why is it so difficult for another one to win, let alone get even close to winning? I don't understand why the candidates have to have a label. Why can't they express their ideas and we go off of that? I also still don't understand what a bureaucracy is.

I am confused about a lot of things in this class, however if there had to be three things that I was

confused about would have to be what different floor chambers function as to the congress or the

United States as a whole. The distribution of power between the different branches, political parties, and

the different levels of government. Finally, how to people contribute to the governing parties either

during elections, supporting a government bill and benefiting society. I feel like I should learn more

about these because it would explain a lot of the functionality of government and if the people will

change votes or how the government runs itself. It could also show how different people an come into

the government and show how they have different ideas for their parties, or could possibly have

something that an benefit society and either bring it down. This is really it though.

From the Texas Tribune: In El Paso, apathy, alienation and discontent with candidates drives low voter turnout

For our look at low voter turnout in Texas.

- Click here for the article.

On the sunny morning of Texas’ March primaries, Jorge Trujillo, 73, a retired packing factory salesperson, stood outside a senior center here canvassing for Homer Reza, a Democratic candidate for the Texas House.

A white sheet of paper taped to the community center’s door tallied the day’s voters: Only 60 people had cast a ballot by noon.

“I think people have given up on politics,” Trujillo said, standing in the parking lot with his wife, Sylvia. “Seeing all this division, they simply don’t care anymore.”

The situation was stark, but not particularly surprising. This West Texas border town — with more than 677,000 residents, most of them Mexican American — is in a low voter-turnout county in a low voter-turnout state.

The county had 502,700 registered voters in the 2024 primaries, but only about 11% cast a ballot. That’s more than 7% lower than the last presidential primaries in 2020, and good for the second worst turnout rate in the state. In 2022 general midterm elections, 34% of El Paso’s registered voters cast a ballot, about 10% less than in the 2018 general midterms.

Statewide voter turnout for the 2024 primaries was 18%, lower than it was for the 2020 primaries. That’s typically low; Texas consistently ranks among the bottom 10 states in turnout.

While some political observers once again say the future of democracy is on the line in the 2024 presidential election, there appears to be voter fatigue — or apathy — in El Paso and elsewhere around the state.

On primary election day, The Texas Tribune spoke to voters and non-voters across various demographics and backgrounds in El Paso about why they were voting — or why they weren’t.

Among the reasons people gave: a general lack of knowledge about how to register, dissatisfaction with the two leading candidates for president and a lack of excitement for local candidates. Others said that state officials and presidential candidates are too focused on immigration, an issue they said that doesn’t directly affect them, even though they live on the border.

Some also expressed a feeling that has persisted for years in this border town nearly 600 miles from the state capital: El Paso is an afterthought for state officials in Austin.

From the Houston Chronicle: Texas State Board of Education faces takeover by GOP challengers backed by influential donors

An example of the influence of money in politics.

- Click here for the article.

For more than 20 years, Fort Worth Republican Pat Hardy has been a reliably conservative voice on the State Board of Education.

Hardy has fought for Moses to be included in social studies standards, advocated for presenting creationism alongside evolution in science textbooks and said she was an early voice to call for the banning of critical race theory from the state’s public schools.

But in 2024, Hardy is not conservative enough for Republican voters: She lost her primary election earlier this month against Brandon Hall, a former youth pastor who has pitched himself as a fighter for Christian conservative values.

In addition to Hardy’s outright loss, two other Republicans on the board — Pam Little and Tom Maynard — were forced into runoff elections against opponents pitching themselves as stronger conservatives. All three challengers received heavy financial support from Texans for Educational Freedom, a right-wing advocacy group that cut its teeth trying to sway local school board elections but has turned its attention to overhauling the state board, spending more than $300,000 this year.

Hall and the others are poised to have a big impact right away, as the board is scheduled to revise the state’s social studies curriculum standards next year for the first time in more than a decade. The board’s decisions will influence what children will learn about government, Texas history and American history, among other topics.

Despite getting contributions from three times as many donors, Hardy’s campaign only raised about a third as much as Hall, who brought in $146,623. Of that, $145,758 came from Texans for Educational Freedom — 99.4 percent.

Hall said he was proud to receive TEF’s support, which he said he earned because of his positions on the issues.

From the Washington Post: RNC fires dozens of employees after Trump-backed leadership takes over

This deserves attention.

A purge seems to be underway at the Republican National Convention. Republicans who do not fully support Trump are being removed. Critics worry this may undermine he competitiveness of the party in general elections.

- Click here for the article.

The new leadership team at the Republican National Committee — picked by former president Donald Trump — started firing dozens of employees days after taking over, according to three people familiar with the firings who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

About 60 people were told they were no longer employed, according to a person with direct knowledge of the changes.

One of the people familiar with the firings said data, political and communications staffers were affected, and notifications were made on Monday by Chris LaCivita, a senior Trump adviser who was at the RNC’s Capitol Hill headquarters. LaCivita had complained about the staff of the RNC for several months, people who spoke to him said, and long planned to make changes. The Trump adviser had studied the organization’s payroll and employees for several weeks, the person said.

LaCivita also told some contractors that they would not be renewed, and some of the ousters included employees who worked in the campaign’s state offices. Some staffers were described as shocked by the firings, which took place over the course of the day.

“Gutting a committee just before the election seems insane,” said a former RNC employee.

__________

What is the Republican National Committee?

- From Wikipedia: 

The Republican National Committee (RNC) is the primary committee of the Republican Party of the United States. Its members are chosen by the state delegations at the national convention every four years. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican brand and political platform, as well as assisting in fundraising and election strategy. It is also responsible for organizing and running the Republican National Convention. When a Republican is president, the White House controls the committee. According to Boris Heersink, "political scientists have traditionally described the parties' national committees as inconsequential but impartial service providers."

As with the Democratic Party, it also has operations on the state and county levels, in addition to many smaller organizations.