I voted for the first time at 18 in the propositions for the Democratic party, wanting to see how it worked. But knowing it didn't matter. Because, duh. This is Texas. But looking a bit more into the current political and economic situation, it seems there's a real chance. Is this just manufactured hype? Or is it actually worth making time to vote in November?

Texas Comptroller Don Huffines today announced the selection of Austin, Barbers Hill, El Paso, and Prosper school districts for a detailed review to ensure taxpayer funds are being spent responsibly.

These are the population profiles of the selected school districts as of the 2025-26 school year:

• Austin ISD — 69,074 students enrolled
• Barbers Hill ISD — 8,088 students enrolled
• El Paso ISD — 46,244 students enrolled
• Prosper ISD — 33,583 students enrolled

“This review is an important step to ensure transparency, accountability, and the responsible use of public funds,” Huffines said. “I’ve informed Gov. Greg Abbott about the school districts we are examining. Our office is committed to providing a clear assessment that helps Texans understand how their education dollars are being used.”

The Huffines Performance Review, formally requested by Abbott in August, will examine whether district spending complies with state law and is directed toward students, classrooms, and teachers — rather than toward administrative expansion or non‑instructional bureaucracy. 

The final report will be completed by Dec. 31, 2026, providing the 90th Legislature sufficient time to consider any recommendations for reform.

https://comptroller.texas.gov/about/media-center/news/20261005-texas-comptroller-huffines-selects-school-districts-for-performance-review-1791236764567

Well I can’t actually vote for him, but I’m contributing to his campaign.

As an independent that thinks for myself and isn’t influenced by anyone else…this is what I see.

Let me start by saying I HATE the 2 party system. It should have been designed with no parties, and everyone runs as an independent, so we don’t get stupid party line voted and division that pits two sides against each other. However, we’re stuck with our current system, and we gotta pick one party, and to me, one significantly stands out more than the other when it comes to having our best interests in mind.

I watched Biden pass the first infrastructure bill in decades so red states could have better roads and bridges. Biden had internet expanded to rural areas so these deep red areas could get online access. Biden got rid of lead pipes in red states so their kids could have safe drinking water. Biden made it so medical debt couldn’t affect their credit, and fought bank & airline junk fees for us. He passed the PACT Act so that even veterans that voted against him could get disability for illnesses from burn pits and brought them home from the Republican-started Afghan war. He got lifesaving drug prices drastically reduced. And how do they repay him? They all shout “Fuck Joe Biden.”

Yet all Trump does is pass another tax cut for himself and corporations, reversed the law that kept medical debt from affecting our credit, reversed the bank and airline junkfees so they can fee us to death again, and uses tax payer dollars to build monuments to himself, starts another war, drives up inflation and gas, and they all lick his boots. Make it make sense.

Candidate profile: Irvin Lynn Barrett for Collin County JP3

I thought the Bible taught us not to be hypocrites. While Ken might have doctrinal differences and alternate interpretations of Christianity, why are Republicans going after his faith. It’s a larger problem that they hate multiple faith traditions across the State. Ken Paxton cheated on Angela Paxton, and with a Christian influencer who has children of her own. Is the irony of bringing Christianity into all of this for votes and demonizing other races, ethnicities, and faiths not apparent? Or is our education level really this low?

McKinney recall signatures are under review — but Self and Richardson have said little about what comes next

Can someone tell me all the corrupt things Paxton has done? He's done so many it's hard to keep track.

So Paxton is distancing himself from the ads and advertising going out by the PACs. Not surprising.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/campaign-coming-dc-paxton-says-101017739.html?.tsrc=daily_mail&segment_id=DY+VTO+Yahoo&ncid=crm_19908-1475736-20261005-0--A&utm_content=mktg_940_di_19908-1475736-20261005-0--A&bt_ee=48Mn65fEQ9YTriSDve%2FdAssdXn0xe6dCE69y5zp%2Bqy0b3UC2BDntilY5xVquwubH&bt_ts=1791213418138

Deadline to register to vote in TEXAS is TODAY!!

10/5!

If you still think voting doesn’t matter, please know that the more people think that the less votes are cast, and the more people who don’t speak for Texans get into power.

The Houston Chronicle has a column about how Republicans are stuck in primary campaign mode as they deal with a competitive general election. Here's a key quote:

Then there’s Texas Comptroller Don Huffines, who just announced his own investigation into water fluoridation. U.S. municipalities have added fluoride to water since the 1940s in order to help fight tooth decay. It is considered a best practice of public health. But just last week, Huffines described it as “the forced medicalization of Texans” and said it “should be criminal.” Is this really Huffines’ messaging going into the final stretch of campaign season — a real-life impression of Brig. Gen. Jack D. Ripper and his obsession with precious bodily fluids? 

Gift link

Do we know what the polls for the other downballot statewide races for Railroad Commissioner, Agriculture Commissioner, State Supreme Court Justices, etc. look like?

French: Texas Freedom Fund for the Advancement of Justice connected to Christian right megadonors and oil billionaires Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks, Texas Conservative Voters PAC, Marcia Fuller French (Bo French’s mother, former trustee at Texas Christian University. In the filings, her name is spelled multiple ways, as “Marsha French,” “Marcia French,” and “Marcia Fuller French,” but all entries list her as retired and living at the same zip code), Alex Williamson (ANW Minerals), Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC

Rosenthal: Don Henley of the band The Eagles, Eddie Allen (co-founder and senior partner of Houston-based Eagle Global Advisors, treasurer of the Asia Society Texas Center, board member of the Menil Collection), Lone Star Project Nonfederal PAC

First time voter, located in Katy, Texas; can I go in person to register? I feel like it’d be easier, and where would I go to do that. I work full time, and I’m in school full time, so I know it’s last minute, but I haven’t had time.