January 26, 2026 7:00 PM Notes from the Campaign Trail: Slowly Thawing Out EditionMinimal campaign events canceled because of the ice storm, special election turnout is low although a Republican voting for a Democrat says there’s real energy around one of the races, and the Democratic US Senate debate was basically a wash AUSTIN –
Reporting from the Buzz Central home offices today after what had
been billed as a potentially “catastrophic” ice storm swept across Texas over
the weekend. Knock on wood, the power is still on here and there are enough
rations to make it through as the streets start to thaw out in the Capital city.
QR was first to report that the Texas
Capitol would be closed all day, according to an internal memo we obtained
Sunday night. It had previously been reported that offices would be only closed
through lunchtime today. Meantime
around the state, there were only a smattering of campaign event cancellations.
The rest of the story, subscribers only By Scott Braddock |
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January 26, 2026 6:35 PM ABC 13 in Houston reports Tara Arnold and Shawna Collins are among the dead in the Arnold and Itkin private plane crash Reporter Miya Shay notes the flight took off from Hobby Airport's Jet Aviation before the accident in Maine on Sunday |
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January 26, 2026 1:15 PM Gov. Abbott confirms he is investigating legal immigrant employees here on H1B visas at universities and public schools across Texas Speaking to conservative talk show host Mark Davis, Abbott confirmed the Quorum Report story and went further, adding he is looking into those employees in more places than only the Texas A&M System as first reported Gov.
Greg Abbott on Monday morning confirmed the scoop in the Quorum Report
over the weekend that his office is investigating the use of H-1B visas for the
employment of some immigrants working at university systems and public schools
around the state. Reporter James
Russell on Saturday unearthed internal emails showing Abbott’s office was
demanding information about those workers at the Texas A&M System.
On a
conservative radio talk show this morning, Abbott said his dragnet of legal
migrants is more expansive. The rest of the story, subscribers only By Scott Braddock |
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January 26, 2026 11:00 AM FAA says seven died and one survived in crash of Arnold and Itkin private jetNo names are being released at this time The
Associated Press has
the latest details. |
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January 25, 2026 6:08 PM The Texas Capitol will be closed all day Monday, according to an internal memo circulated by DPS It was previously thought that the building would be open at Noon Monday. Y'all stay warm. |
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January 24, 2026 3:30 PM Internal emails show Gov. Abbott is demanding info on immigrant workers using H1B visas at the Texas A&M University systemThe emails reviewed by Quorum Report say Abbott wants info on this by close of business Monday Gov. Greg
Abbott is demanding leaders of all Texas A&M University System campuses
to submit a list of all employees on H1B visas by end of day Monday, according
to an e-mail obtained by Quorum Report. The rest of the story, subscribers only By James Russell |
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January 23, 2026 3:29 PM People on the MovePower players, new ventures, agency news, and more That’s all
there really is to say about the weather at this point as we wait to see just
how bad the ice storm will be. No doubt the Metroplex will get the worst of it
but there are some reports that some areas on the High Plains could be blanketed
with up to 2 feet of snow. A couple of inches is more likely, though. Driving in
snow is one thing. Driving on black ice is another. When the authorities start
to say things like “just stay off the roads,” please do that. Some campaign events
may have to be canceled or postponed. That’s frustrating, I know, as early voting
is approaching in the election of consequence in Texas. But everyone will suck
it up and get right back to their work once things have thawed out, probably by
midday Monday. Because
many of you might be iced in for a day or two, the Quorum Report Radio
podcast is an extended edition this week to help pass the time. The links to
subscribe are on the QR homepage. You can listen to that then binge watch your
favorite TV show while you cook up a pot of Harold Cook’s chili. The
recipe is in the Daily Buzz. There’s
also some significant career news to share with you as we roll on through
January. People on the Move is the most efficient way to let Texas
Capitol folks know what’s up with a new job, promotion, or all new
business. Send the scoop anytime to ksbraddock@gmail.com
and use POTM in the subject line. Thanks so much. Here’s the
latest edition of People on the Move. The rest of the story, subscribers only By Scott Braddock |
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January 23, 2026 9:00 AM Fort Worth Police Union slams Rep. Lowe over allegations of profiting from adult websites and online gamblingLowe has previously dismissed similar allegations; the police union says he “lied about his business dealings two years ago, and he continues to lie about them today.” The police
union in Fort Worth is slamming a North Texas lawmaker over fresh allegations
that he’s made money off of pornographic and gambling
websites. Rep. David
Lowe, R-North Richland Hills, hasn’t commented but in the past has
dismissed similar allegations lobbed at him during previous primaries. This time
around, Lowe’s critics are pointing to a report laying out the allegations in great detail. The rest of the story, subscribers only By James Russell |
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January 23, 2026 8:45 AM Talarico back on TV, this time talking about his push to lower the price of insulin "I know what it means to fight for my life...in the Senate I will fight for yours" |
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January 22, 2026 5:30 AM Notes from the Campaign Trail: Social media vs AM Radio EditionIn Senate District 9 special that’s coming down to the wire, Rep. Talarico pushes Democrats online saying “this is the most important election you might not know about” while Lt. Gov. Patrick takes to the airwaves to rally the GOP base: “I’m very concerned about this election” Editor’s
note: Reporter James Russell in Fort Worth contributed to this article – SB DALLAS-FORT
WORTH – In the Year of Our Lord 2026, it might surprise some observers in
Austin that the staying power of conservative talk radio is still undeniable in
GOP politics across Texas. Even though voters are indeed inundated with social
media messages on Facebook and Twitter, the AM dial
is still very often king when officeholders and candidates are trying their
best to reach some of the staunchest conservative voters at key moments. The rest of the story, subscribers only By Scott Braddock |
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January 21, 2026 6:00 PM Rep. Crockett releases poll showing her with a 13 point advantage in US Senate Democratic primary
Subscribers
can check out the polling memo. The rest of the story, subscribers only |
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January 21, 2026 5:46 PM Internal poll from the campaign of Rep. Chip Roy shows him closing in on 50 percent in four-way GOP primary for Texas AG Keep in mind these numbers include voters who said they would definitely, probably, or lean this way: Roy at 49%, Sen. Huffman at 10%, Sen. Middleton at 9%, and Reitz with 6%. The poll of 800 "likely" GOP primary voters was conducted in December |
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January 21, 2026 5:42 PM Texas Realtors release their highly anticipated hot list of legislative campaigns
You can
check it out via Brandon Alderete, Director of Political Affairs, right here. |
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January 21, 2026 5:38 PM How to make Texas chili the Harold Cook wayWith a deep freeze coming and lots of you planning to be stuck at home, it’s time to share his recipe once again In several
meetings along the campaign trail this week, it was mentioned that “staying
home and making chili” is probably the plan for many of you this upcoming weekend
as Texans from Dallas-Fort Worth all the way down through Austin, San Antonio,
and Houston brace for icy conditions and temperatures that are expected in the
teens. North Texas should see the worst of it, but it’s always best to be
prepared wherever you are. As you head
to the grocery store to stock up tonight or hopefully tomorrow at the latest,
some of y’all had asked how I make my chili at home. The
answer is I base it loosely off the final known recipe of our dear departed
friend Harold Cook, who passed away in 2022. I know, it’s been longer
than I thought, too. Over the years,
Harold’s chili recipe evolved – just like his thinkin’
on several issues. He’d often make big batches at his place out in Marathon,
where he hosted friends and told old war stories about Texas politics. After he died, a friend said
the very last text message she had received from Harold was a response to an inquiry about the latest iteration of his chili recipe. The rest of the story, subscribers only By Scott Braddock |
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January 21, 2026 2:20 PM Abbott endorses Nate Sheets over Commissioner MillerThe governor did not keep it positive about Sheets. Instead Abbott went after Commissioner Miller, saying he's corrupt and noted Miller voted for in-state tuition for undocumented students when he was a Texas House member. Every Republican voted that way that year at the request of Gov. Perry, by the way. And a correction: Commissioner Miller has not commented on this. |
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January 20, 2026 5:38 PM Chair Geren informs Texas House Democrats they owe roughly $9,000 each in fines for quorum break last yearHDC Chair Wu said “We broke quorum because Governor Abbott held flood victims hostage for his intentionally racist map designed to steal the voices of millions of Black and Latino Texans...breaking quorum is a constitutional right, and we will use every tool available to challenge these fines.” Check out
the letter that went out from House Administration right here. |
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January 20, 2026 5:32 PM Rep. Ashby disavows support from Sands in bid for East Texas state Senate seat A mail piece went out from Sands’ state level PAC in support of Ashby; he later issued a statement saying “my position is clear. I oppose gambling in Texas. My campaign has nothing to do with casino-backed mail or outside groups pushing gambling, and I reject these deceitful campaign tactics attempting to misrepresent my position.” |
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January 20, 2026 11:25 AM IN CD18 runoff Menefee outraised Edwards by more than $200k
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Copyright January 26, 2026, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved 