The 30-day special session of the Texas Legislature is set to begin Monday, July 21. The agenda includes 18 legislative priorities determined by Gov. Greg Abbott.Several of the priorities listed address the recent devastating floods in Central Texas.

In 2003, just three years after the decennial census, Texas Republicans developed a proposal to redraw that state’s congressional boundaries so provocative it caused 52 House Democrats to charter a bus to Oklahoma to prevent the Legislature from having the quorum needed to approve the plan.

Actually derailing the redistricting effort, which was one of nearly 20 items added to the special session agenda by Gov. Greg Abbott, would be a herculean lift fraught with risk for legislative Democrats. Delaying the process with a walkout would require strong participation by most of the party's caucus, and could carry steep financial costs.

Republican Party of Texas Chairman James Dickey speaks at the GOP state convention in San Antonio on June 14, 2018. Bob Daemmrich for The Texas TribuneThe Texas Republican Party has postponed its ...

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick poses for photos with supporters during the first day of the Republican Party of Texas convention at George R. Brown Convention Center on June 15 in Houston.

The Texas Republican Party rejected the results of the 2020 election, labeled being gay as “abnormal” and vowed to protect access to guns in its platform and corresponding resolutions.

The party cleared that up June 3, when it tweeted it was “proud to announce [Abbott] as a major sponsor to the 2022 Texas GOP Convention!” Post-Uvalde politics

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report changed its rating of the 2026 Texas Senate race from “solid Republican” to “likely Republican” this week as the contentious GOP primary between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton rages on.