The deadline for voters in Texas to register for the upcoming March 3 primary election is fast approaching, with February 2 set as the final day for registration, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s office. Early voting will take place from February 17 through February 27, while the deadline for applying for a mail-in ballot is February 20. Prospective voters can visit the VoteTexas.gov website to check their registration status, determine polling locations, review ballot details, and access additional voting information.
The upcoming primary features more than 18 statewide elected officials on the ballot, including high-profile races for governor and a U.S. Senate seat. All Texas members of the U.S. House of Representatives are also up for election, alongside state lawmakers, district judges, and various local officials. Following a legislative redistricting last summer, some voters will cast their ballots in new congressional districts.
Polling Insights and Key Races
A recent poll conducted by Emerson College indicates a significant shift in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, with state Representative James Talarico of Round Rock leading U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett of Dallas by 9 percentage points among likely Democratic voters, garnering 47% to Crockett’s 38%. This change comes after a December poll by Texas Southern University showed Crockett with a similar lead. In the latest survey, Talarico is performing well among both white and Latino voters, while Crockett maintains strong support among Black voters.
On the Republican side, the primary race for the Senate appears tightly contested, with U.S. Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton tied, as both candidates hover around the mid-20s percentage-wise. In this scenario, U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt trails with 16%. If these margins remain, the race may lead to a runoff. Additionally, Governor Greg Abbott holds a commanding lead over his main Democratic challenger, state Representative Gina Hinojosa, with a margin of 50% to 42%.
Shift in Energy Landscape and Regulatory Changes
In a notable development for Texas’s energy sector, solar power has outpaced coal in electricity generation for the first time. In 2025, solar facilities generated 67,800 gigawatt-hours for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), while coal-fired plants produced 63,000 gigawatt-hours. This evolution marks a significant transition in the state’s energy landscape, with solar now ranking as the third-largest source of energy for ERCOT, following natural gas and wind power. Daniel Cohan, a professor at Rice University, remarked, “It’s a remarkable milestone. I don’t think anyone 10 years ago would have thought that solar would have surpassed coal this quickly.”
On the regulatory front, the Texas Department of State Health Services plans to ban smokable cannabis products by January 25, 2025. The proposed regulations aim to tighten control over the hemp industry, introducing child-resistant packaging and substantial fee increases for manufacturers and retailers. Under the new rules, annual fees for hemp manufacturers could rise from $250 to $25,000 per facility, while retailer registration fees would soar from $150 to $20,000. This move has sparked significant backlash from small business owners, such as Estella Castro, who argues that such fees are prohibitive and could force her business to close.
In public health news, the Department of State Health Services is expanding its Oral Rabies Vaccination Program to the El Paso area. This initiative will involve aerial bait distribution along the Texas-Mexico border, aimed at maintaining herd immunity among wildlife and preventing rabies outbreaks. The program, which is funded by state and federal agencies at an annual cost of $2 million, has successfully kept human rabies cases linked to border variants at bay since its inception.
Lastly, Texas retains its position as the most popular state for relocation, according to U-Haul data. The company ranks states based on the net gain or loss of one-way rental customers, and Texas has topped the list for the fourth time in five years. Following Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee round out the top four states for growth, while California holds the last position in the rankings.
These developments in Texas highlight the evolving political landscape, energy transition, and regulatory changes impacting residents and businesses alike. As the March primary approaches, voters will have the opportunity to influence the future direction of the state.
