Texas land commissioner 2026: Who is running and what you need to know

The General Land Office oversees investments that earn billions of dollars for public education, manages state lands, operates the Alamo and administers disaster recovery funds and benefits to Texas veterans. Here’s a look at who’s running in the 2026 race and where they stand.
T-Squared: Erin Thornton establishes the John Thornton Founding Fund

Her $1 million gift — including a $500k match — honors Tribune Founder John Thornton’s vision, and asks the next generation to see themselves as founders too.
More young people are getting involved with South Texas civil rights group amid Trump’s immigration crackdown

For La Union del Pueblo Entero’s biennial convention, members under 45 years old made up the largest share of participants.
UT-Austin cutting majors centering Latino, Black, women and gender studies, email shows

The University of Texas at Austin rejected a department’s plan to keep the majors, a decision that came without public knowledge, an interim department chair told faculty.
Texas freezes installation of Flock cameras along state roads

Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the state Department of Transportation to stop issuing permits for automated license plate readers.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick calls on ERCOT to reverse 30% pay raise for board members

Patrick has also rebuked ERCOT’s board for approving and then backtracking on a contract that would allow ERCOT’s CEO to earn $6.4 million in 2027.
John Cornyn says he won’t vote for Bo French as backlash to racist post rises

The outgoing U.S. senator called the Texas Railroad Commission candidate “an embarrassment to the Republican Party.”
One group has stayed mostly mum on Bo French’s racist post — Texas’ oil and gas industry

One of the state’s largest oil and gas industry groups condemned French’s comments about South Asian students. They have not pulled their endorsement.
Harris County to spend $3M on community safety programs leaders say have driven down crime

One domestic violence care advocate said the county’s program that provides money to survivors to pay for basic needs could be a model for the rest of the state.
“Uncharted territory”: Two months from Election Day, Democrats in Texas are truly competitive

Democrat James Talarico is consistently leading in the polls over Ken Paxton, which is unheard of in recent decades. National forecasters are calling Texas a tie, or else giving the advantage to the Democrat.