Elections are scheduled to be held on November 5, 2024.[2] Seats up for election will be all seats of the Texas Legislature,[3] all 38 seats in the United States House of Representatives, and the Class I seat to the United States Senate, for which two-term incumbent Republican Senator Ted Cruz is running for re-election.[4] Texas will have 40 electoral votes in the Electoral College in the federal presidential election.[5] In addition, Texas counties, cities, and school and other special districts may have local elections and other ballot issues, such as bond proposals.
Events
January
January 5 – Governor Greg Abbott makes controversial comments about Texas shooting migrants who cross the Mexico–United States border on a Dana Loesch Show which leads to condemnations from Democratic party members and Mexico.[6][7][8]
January 11 – The start of the Standoff at Eagle Pass. The Texas National Guard took control over Shelby Park, a 47-acre (19 ha) area of parkland in the town of Eagle Pass, situated along the Rio Grande river that separates the Mexico–United States border, after Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed an emergency declaration to close down the park. Abbott cited the Mexico–United States border crisis and the need to secure the Mexican-American border in his declaration. The Texas National Guard blocked U.S. Border Patrol agents from patrolling the area.
January 22 – The Supreme Court of the United States issued an order to vacate an injunction by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that prevented Border Patrol agents from cutting Concertina wire, which the National Guard has been using to make a fence in Shelby Park. On January 24, Abbott released a statement in defiance of the Court, stating that Texas would refuse to let federal authorities access the park, vowing to "protect the sovereignty of our state."[9]
January 31 – Attorney General Ken Paxton launches lawsuits against the cities of Austin, San Marcos, Killeen, Elgin, and Denton to block voter-approved ordinances (adopted in 2022) instructing local police not to enforce state laws against possession and distribution of cannabis.[12][13]
February
February 12 – A shooting occurs at Lakewood Church in Houston, injuring two. The perpetrator was killed by off duty police.[14]
March
March 19 – In United States v. Texas, the U.S. Supreme Court declines to block a Texas Senate bill allowing officials to arrest and deport migrants.[15]
April 29 – Gov. Abbott sends a letter to the Texas Education Agency instructing it to ignore U.S. President Joe Biden's revisions to Title IX adding protections for LGBTQ+ students.[18]
May
May 6
2024 East Texas floods: Gov. Abbott confirms three deaths related to storms causing flooding in East Texas and Greater Houston since late April.[19]
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opens an investigation into Katy Independent School District's gender identity policy, which board members passed on August 28, 2023 and requires district employees to disclose to parents if a student requests the use of different pronouns or identifies as transgender.[20]
Following the April 29 letter to the Texas Education Agency, Gov. Abbott sends a letter to Texas public university systems and community colleges directing them not to comply with U.S. President Joe Biden's revisions to Title IX adding protections for LGBTQ+ students.[22]
May 14 – The Subcommittee on Higher Education of the Texas Senate holds a hearing to gather testimony from students and university leaders on issues concerning universities, including anti-Semitism, pro-Palestine protests, free speech, and to ensure universities have complied with Senate Bill 17 banning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices.[23]
May 16 – Abbott pardons Daniel Perry, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for killing a man at a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020.[24]
Attorney General Ken Paxton files a lawsuit against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and members of the Biden administration to contest EEOC guidance stating that denying employees accommodations for their gender identity is workplace harassment.[26]
May 23 – The Republican Party of Texas begins its biennial convention. Several Republican officials including Attorney General Ken Paxton, Lt. Gov Dan Patrick, and Party Chair Matt Rinaldi criticize Texas House SpeakerDade Phelan for not being conservative enough, intensifying the Texas GOP civil war.[27]
June 21 – Shortly after Louisiana passed a bill into law that makes Louisiana the first state to mandate the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick stated that he would pass a similar bill requiring the Ten Commandments in schools in the next legislative session, known as Senate Bill 1515. He criticized Speaker of the Texas House of RepresentativesDade Phelan for failing to put the bill to a vote on the floor in the last legislative session on Twitter.[30]
June 28 – The Supreme Court of Texas upholds Senate Bill 14 of the 88th Texas Legislature, which prohibits doctors from prescribing gender-affirming care to transgender minors.[31]
^Svitek, Patrick (15 March 2023). "Texas Democrats and Republicans are on the hunt for rare chances to flip seats in 2024". The Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023.
^Linton, Caroline (February 14, 2023). "Ted Cruz recommits to 2024 Senate run". CBS News. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023.
^Wang, Hansi; Jin, Connie; Levitt, Zach (April 26, 2021). "Here's How The 1st 2020 Census Results Changed Electoral College, House Seats". NPR. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021.
^Sforza, Lauren (11 January 2024). "Abbott: 'We're not shooting people' who cross the border because feds 'would charge us with murder'". The Hill. Archived from the original on 27 February 2024.
^Gamboa, Suzanne (12 January 2024). "Texas Gov. Abbott defends remarks about stopping short of 'shooting' migrants". NBC News. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024.
^Carbonaro, Giulia (12 January 2024). "Greg Abbott's Comments on Shooting Migrants Sparks Furious Backlash". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024.
^Melhado, William (2024-01-22). "U.S. Supreme Court says Texas can't block federal agents from the border". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
^"Gov. Greg Abbott sets January date for Texas House special election runoff". Texas Tribune. 21 November 2023. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023.
^"Jill Dutton wins race to fill seat vacated by expelled member". NBC DFW. 30 January 2024. Archived from the original on 31 January 2024.
^Mohamed, Ikram (31 January 2024). "Ken Paxton sues five Texas cities that decriminalized marijuana". Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024.
^"Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues Five Cities Over Marijuana Policies Preventing Enforcement of Texas Drug Laws". Office of the Attorney General. 31 January 2024. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024.
^"A woman walked into a Houston megachurch with a child and began shooting. Here's what we know". CNN. February 12, 2024. Archived from the original on February 12, 2024. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
^Supreme Court allows Texas to begin enforcing controversial immigration law CNN, March 19, 2024
^Rick.Fienberg (2021-03-24). "Eclipse America 2023-2024". Solar Eclipse Across America. Archived from the original on 15 October 2023.
^Lindner, Emmett; Jiménez, Jesus (April 12, 2024). "1 Killed and 13 Injured in 'Intentional' Truck Crash Into Building in Texas". The New York Times. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
^"Gov. Abbott orders TEA to ignore Biden's Title IX revisions protecting LGBTQ+ students". NBC DFW. 29 April 2024. Archived from the original on 7 May 2024.
^Ramos, Carlos Nogueras (6 May 2024). "Texas, federal government will begin tallying damage from spring storms, Gov. Greg Abbott says". Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024.
^Banks, Nina (8 May 2024). "Feds investigate another Texas school district for its gender identity mandate". Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024.
^Dey, Sneha; Serrano, Alejandro (8 May 2024). "Police dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment at University of Houston, arrest two students". Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024.
^"Gov. Abbott tells Texas universities to ignore Biden's Title IX revisions". NBC DFW. 8 May 2024. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024.
^Day, Sneha (14 May 2024). "Texas lawmakers listen to antisemitism concerns amid university tensions over the Israel-Hamas war". Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024.
^Goodman, J. David (16 May 2024). "Texas Governor Pardons Man in Fatal Shooting of Protester in 2020". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024.
^"Uvalde, Texas, to pay $2 million to families of school shooting victims". Reuters. 2024-05-22.
^Banks, Nina (22 May 2024). "In 75th lawsuit against Biden, Paxton sues to stop new gender identity guidelines for employers". KDFW. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024.
^Downey, Renzo (23 May 2024). "Texas GOP convention kicks off with party leaders attacking Speaker Dade Phelan". Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024.
^Downey, Renzo; Downen, Robert (24 May 2024). "Far-right favorite Abraham George elected to lead Texas GOP". Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024.
^"Uvalde families sue Meta and Call of Duty maker on second anniversary of school attack". Associated Press. May 24, 2024.
^Tait, Robert (21 June 2024). "Texas Republican vows to pass bill on Ten Commandments in public schools". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
^Melhado, William; Jung, Asad (28 June 2024). "Texas Supreme Court upholds ban on transition-related care for minors". Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on 30 June 2024.
^"At least 3 people killed after Beryl makes landfall on Texas coast". NBC News. July 8, 2024.
^"Storm Beryl kills three, knocks out power for 2.7 million in Texas". Reuters. July 8, 2024.
^Sheridan, Mary Beth; Miroff, Nick (2024-07-26). "Top Sinaloa cartel leader taken into U.S. custody alongside son of 'El Chapo'". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
^"US arrests 2 leaders of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel: 'El Mayo' Zambada and son of 'El Chapo'". AP News. 2024-07-26. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
