A new poll from Texas Public Opinion Research shows Democrat James Talarico leading Republican Ken Paxton 45% to 40% in Texas's U.S. Senate race. Talarico holds a commanding lead among independents and performs unexpectedly well with non-college-educated voters.
Democrat James Talarico is challenging Republican Ken Paxton in a closely watched US Senate race in Texas, with Paxton's history of multiple scandals being a central campaign issue. The race is viewed as competitive for the state.
A Texas appeals court dismissed an injunction that had forced midwife Maria Rojas to close her Houston-area clinics, ruling that Attorney General Ken Paxton failed to prove allegations of illegal abortion and unlicensed medical practice. The court's decision represents a setback for the state's prosecution.
On 23 July 2026, a Texas appeals court reversed a temporary injunction against Houston midwife Maria Rojas, charged with violating the state's abortion ban. Rojas lost her license, three clinics, and remains under an ankle bracelet; the underlying criminal case and charges against eight others continue despite prosecutors' lack of evidence, according to attorneys.