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November 9, 2026      7:23 PM

Kronberg and Braddock: The Texas Senate at a crossroads as Patrick attempts a power grab while his brand of politics endangers the GOP majority

The straightforward way to check the power of the Lt. Gov would be to reinstate the two-thirds rule. Otherwise, Republican senators may establish a precedent that could leave them with virtually no leverage at the Texas Capitol if they find themselves in the minority as soon as the next election

The Texas Senate faces an inflection point. It’s an existential moment for Republican Senators. In front of them is a stark choice: Whether to recognize a Democrat as a presiding officer or to defer to outgoing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s in absentia leadership.

The Lieutenant Governor today submitted a People on the Move item of his own by announcing the formation of Patrick Strategies. It’s a new company supposedly positioned to navigate the legislative waters for paying clients. It's presumed that Allen Blakemore will be the operative with Patrick as the CEO. This may be the first time in Texas that an elected official has started publicly recruiting clients while still in office.

Most in the lobby and frankly just about everybody in the game sees this as an effort by Patrick to retain leadership of the Senate while profiting off his ability to dominate his Republican senators.

And there’s the rub. For the last 12 years, the Republican senators have embarrassed themselves and the party as sheep dominated by one man and one operation.

But the reality has changed. The most consequential message in 2026 is that the GOP primary is diminished in value and the general election is now the main event going forward.

The rest of the story, subscribers only

By Harvey Kronberg and Scott Braddock

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November 9, 2026      2:42 PM

Lieutenant governor-elect Goodwin to announce transition team at lunch hour tomorrow

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November 9, 2026      7:43 AM

Lt Gov Patrick plans to be a consultant after he leaves office

Patrick told radio host Mark Davis that he's forming "Patrick Strategies" to pass conservative legislation; he also told Mark that he supports Texas Senate Republicans stripping Lt Gov.-elect Goodwin of legislative power when rules are adopted in January

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November 6, 2026      2:28 PM

Dean Thompson claims victory in Speaker's race

She did commit to appointing chairs from both parties

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November 5, 2026      3:39 PM

Dean Senfronia Thompson set to make a 2pm announcement Friday at the Texas Capitol

Sources close to Ms. T indicate she will announce she has enough support to become the next Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives

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November 5, 2026      3:14 PM

Rep. Eddie Morales files for speaker

Former Speaker Bonnen is apparently telling Capitol people that Morales is his candidate. Rep. Morales denies that.

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November 5, 2026      2:16 PM

Gov.-elect Hinojosa announces transition team

Joe Madden named executive director of transition, joined by Ryan Pollock, the executive director of the Texas State Building and Construction Trades Council, former Rep. Ernest Bailes and former Austin ISD trustee Tamala Barksdale

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November 5, 2026      12:13 PM

"All the red lights were blinking" - Braddock breaks down the election results on KVUE

KVUE Political Director Ashley Goudeau and Quorum Report Editor Scott Braddock got into the results and what comes next now that a new government is being built in Austin

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November 4, 2026      5:20 PM

Kronberg: Some not-so-self evident takeaways from the 2026 election in Texas

The repudiation is not yet realignment but there is no path to the White House for Republicans without Texas. Democrats have to deliver, but they also have to be pragmatic populists.

What follows are a dozen takeaways from the last working journalist who actually covered the Ann Richards election in 1990.

---First, last night, we obviously saw a repudiation of Donald Trump, but it is as of yet unclear whether it is a realignment. Democrats ran on a very generalized program of fixing what was wrong. We will see if they can execute.

---What we are now witnessing is the end of the right-wing takeover of the populist movement and the emergence of the left-wing takeover of the american populism. Unlike the right-wing populism that was dominated by a cruel, narcissistic adolescent the left-wing populism has a soft, gentle, humanist face. But it is populist nonetheless.

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By Harvey Kronberg

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November 4, 2026      1:43 PM

Comptroller elect Eckhardt says revenue estimate may be delayed because of agency cuts by Huffines

Talking to press, she said Huffines has promised to work with her on a transition but that it may be difficult to give the legislature budget numbers on time

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November 4, 2026      10:57 AM

Texas Senate Republicans plan to meet this afternoon to discuss reorganizing the chamber, sources tell QR

Election of a Majority Leader and stripping a Democratic Lt Gov of legislative power will top the meeting's agenda, we're told. Developing...

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November 4, 2026      12:00 AM

Rep. Senfronia Thompson files for Texas House Speaker

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November 3, 2026      10:06 PM

Talarico and Hinojosa both declared winners

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November 3, 2026      9:11 PM

Democrats on track to potentially flip both chambers of the Texas Legislature

If the current leads hold, Democrats would take about 86 House seats and 17 Senate seats. Senators Hall, Schwertner and Kolkhorst are all trailing Democratic challengers now...

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November 3, 2026      8:58 PM

Talarico and Hinojosa dominating as the votes roll in across Texas

With 54% of the vote in, Talarico is leading Paxton 59 to 39 and Hinojosa is beating Abbott 56 to 42

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November 2, 2026      7:22 PM

On election eve, Kronberg and Burton discuss the political environment in Texas

Quorum Report Publisher and Konni Burton of The Texan joined Spectrum News Host James Barragan on Texas Capital Tonight

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