Political reporter for Hearst Newspapers in Texas (@HoustonChron, @ExpressNews, @statesman) | Send me tips đź“© ben.wermund@houstonchronicle.com
Austin, TX
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Ben Wermund retweeted
What a blast getting @gromerjeffers & @benwermund on the Texas Take Podcast to dig into how Greg Abbott’s mound of money could not stop Gina Hinojosa from becoming the biggest threat to his political career. From Wichita Falls to Weslaco, we’ll show you their final pitches as Election Day draws near
youtu.be/o4k8Z5sDbVk?is=C7aR…
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Ben Wermund retweeted
NEW: Many were confused when Gov. Greg Abbott hired Nate Schatzline, a Christian nationalist election denier w/ no background in voting law, as a top adviser on election security. We now know what he's up to: Attacking Muslims - with Abbot's apparent blessing. (Gift link below).
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Ben Wermund retweeted
Spurs legend Tim Duncan was spotted standing in line with other voters in San Antonio for the 2026 midterm elections.
(Via @JeffGSpursZone )
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Ben Wermund retweeted
NEW: Gina Hinojosa paid $150K to a clipping firm to promote her campaign for governor. Yet despite rules in TX requiring disclaimers on paid political content, none of the hundreds of posts had disclosures of any kind.
nytimes.com/2026/10/28/busin…
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Ben Wermund retweeted
Small scooplet in this story:
Jim Wright, the outgoing Republican chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, said he did not vote for @bofrench
Wright lost to French in May's GOP runoff. He didn't say if he voted for @Jon_RosenthalTX
dallasnews.com/news/politics…
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.@elonmusk is now @GregAbbott_TX's top donor.
We're tracking who else is funding Abbott's campaign — and @GinaHinojosaTX's run against him.
Check it out. And if you like it, subscribe. Subscriptions help make projects like this possible. @HoustonChron houstonchronicle.com/project…
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Ben Wermund retweeted
New: Texas judge who ordered Gov. Greg Abbott to let Gina Hinojosa review his unredacted communications with Elon Musk donated $500 to Hinojosa's campaign in June.
Judge Catherine Mauzy also gave to Hinojosa's Texas House campaign in 2016.
#txlege
news.bloomberglaw.com/litiga…
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Ben Wermund retweeted
Someone bet almost $500,000 on Greg Abbott winning reelection, per @MarshallCohen. Analysts say it's the biggest bet on a single candidate in the midterms so far cnn.com/2026/10/27/politics/… #TXGOV
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.@GregAbbott_TX warned a crowd in Abilene that Dems are turning out to the polls in big numbers in cities like Austin. "It’s going to take ... everybody across this entire region of the state of Texas, if we're going to be able to win this race,” he said. houstonchronicle.com/politic…
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Ben Wermund retweeted
NEW from me: Dallas billionaire and GOP donor Kelcy Warren’s ranch was facing the prospect of enormous high-voltage transmission lines. Then the proposed route changed. Few other landowners have seen such relief.
texasmonthly.com/news-politi…
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.@elonmusk pumps $5M into @GregAbbott_TX's campaign as polls show @GinaHinojosaTX gaining ground.
Musk now appears to be the governor’s largest single campaign backer this cycle. He previously gave Abbott $500k. houstonchronicle.com/politic…
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Ben Wermund retweeted
We got a game of toss going on here
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Ben Wermund retweeted
Here's our story on President @realDonaldTrump snubbing @bofrench twice since last night
dallasnews.com/news/politics…
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Ben Wermund retweeted
San Angelo: About 200 on hand for @GregAbbott_TX at Arc Light @SanAngeloLIVE
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Ben Wermund retweeted
Once again, President @realDonaldTrump does not include @bofrench on this list, second time in less than 24 hours
#txlege
TO THE GREAT PEOPLE OF TEXAS, GET OUT AND VOTE FOR:
Â
– Ken Paxton for U.S. Senate
– Greg Abbott for Governor
– Dan Patrick for Lieutenant Governor
– Mayes Middleton for Attorney General
– Don Huffines for Comptroller
– Dawn Buckingham for Land Commissioner
– Nathaniel Moran for U.S. Congress (TX-01)
– Steve Toth for U.S. Congress (TX-02)
– Keith Self for U.S. Congress (TX-03)
– Pat Fallon for U.S. Congress (TX-04)
– Lance Gooden for U.S. Congress (TX-05)
– Jake Ellzey for U.S. Congress (TX-06)
– Jessica Steinmann for U.S. Congress (TX-08)
– Alex Mealer for U.S. Congress (TX-09)
– Chris Gober for U.S. Congress (TX-10)
– August Pfluger for U.S. Congress (TX-11)
– Craig Goldman for U.S. Congress (TX-12)
– Ronny Jackson for U.S. Congress (TX-13)
– Randy Weber for U.S. Congress (TX-14)
– Monica De La Cruz for U.S. Congress (TX-15)
– Pete Sessions for U.S. Congress (TX-17)
– Tom Sell for U.S. Congress (TX-19)
– Mark Teixeira for U.S. Congress (TX-21)
– Trever Nehls for U.S. Congress (TX-22)
– Brandon Herrera for U.S. Congress (TX-23)
– Beth Van Duyne for U.S. Congress (TX-24)
– Roger Williams for U.S. Congress (TX-25)
– Brandon Gill for U.S. Congress (TX-26)
– Michael Cloud for U.S. Congress (TX-27)
– Tano Tijerina for U.S. Congress (TX-28)
– John Carter for U.S. Congress (TX-31)
– Jace Yarbrough for U.S. Congress (TX-32)
– Eric Flores for U.S. Congress (TX-34)
– Carlos De La Cruz for U.S. Congress (TX-35)
– Brian Babin for U.S. Congress (TX-36)
– Jon Bonck for U.S. Congress (TX-38)
These Great Patriots have my Complete and Total Endorsement — They will never let you down! President DONALD J. TRUMP
swampthevoteusa.com/texas/
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Ben Wermund retweeted
On Truth Social, President @realDonaldTrump told people to vote for every Republican listed on the statewide ticket — except for RRC nominee @bofrench & AG commissioner @natesheetsforTX
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Ben Wermund retweeted
NEW: Texas Comptroller @DonHuffines touts open government.
But when it comes to the $1 billion student voucher program he oversees, it's a secret.
His office said it was to prevent me and others from "doxxing ... Texas students."
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houstonchronicle.com/politic…
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Ben Wermund retweeted
Last night I sent this letter to Attorney General Paxton, supplementing my original request for an investigation that I sent last week. The OAG should investigate the individuals and entities behind the text messages and direct mail received by thousands (if not millions) of Texans, determine how Texans' personal information was obtained and used, and ascertain whether any applicable laws have been violated. The investigation must follow the facts wherever they lead, without fear or favor. #txlege
Tonight I sent a formal request to Attorney General Paxton to open an investigation in to organizations and individuals engaged in encouraging, instructing, or assisting Texans in circumventing, evading, or violating the requirements of SB 12, the Texas Parents Bill of Rights. Of particular concern is information distributed in recent days as a “Back to School Toolkit” by an organization branding itself as “Trans Texas”, containing guidance on not
only navigating but circumventing and violating the directives of the bill.
To be clear, the laws enacted by the Texas Legislature are not optional, and no advocacy organization has a special exemption from complying with them. The Parents’ Bill of Rights was enacted to protect the rights of parents and their children and the #txlege expects it to be followed in every Texas school and in every Texas classroom.
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Ben Wermund retweeted
Scoop: Former Rep. Tony Gonzales sent $54,350 from campaign funds to companies recently created by his wife that don’t appear to have any physical or online presence. expressnews.com/politics/art…
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Ben Wermund retweeted
If you are trying to make sense of what the early vote in Texas means, there is one person to follow: @longhornderek. His day one analysis: mailchi.mp/ryandata/primary2…
I would caution anyone assuming high turnout in Texas necessarily is good news for Democrats. It could be this year. But historically it hasn't been, for one simple reason: there are more Republicans than Democrats in Texas
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