Texas in numbers

October 12 to October 18, 2026

213Fact sheets

70State a tax or dollar figure

15Topics covered

100Counties named

The biggest figures

$46 billionBorder wall project budgetFederal judge pauses Trump border wall construction in Texas Big Bend
$20.9 billionPinnacle Bancorp assetsNebraska's Pinnacle Bancorp to acquire Texas-based SouthStar Bank
$13.5 billionCombined assetsMichigan credit union merges with Texas-based UFCU in $13.5 billion deal
$7.5 billionPlanned spending in Big Bend regionFederal judge pauses Trump border wall construction in Texas Big Bend
$5.7 billionCombined local and state net sales tax revenuesTexas local governments receive increased sales tax allocations
$4.4 billionState net sales taxes collectedTexas local governments receive increased sales tax allocations

All the figures

Tax rates and fees stated

$1 per yearProperty tax reduction for county residentsTarrant County Judge O'Hare touts public safety and tax cuts before election
50% for 10 yearsCounty property tax abatement for data center developmentBell County candidates debate education savings accounts and data center tax breaks
$2,039,356Ad valorem tax increaseTexas 2026 midterm election scheduled for November 3
$214,445.43Ad valorem tax increaseTexas 2026 midterm election scheduled for November 3
$1.3 billionLocal sales tax allocationsTexas local governments receive increased sales tax allocations
$5.7 billionCombined local and state net sales tax revenuesTexas local governments receive increased sales tax allocations

Stories by topic

Counties in the news

Harris 20 Dallas 17 Travis 17 Bexar 16 El Paso 13 Tarrant 10 Collin 7 Smith 7 Hays 5 Brazos 5 Hood 4 Coryell 4

Most widely reported

ElectionsOct 16, 2026

Elon Musk donates to Republican super PAC supporting Paxton's Senate race

Elon Musk donated approximately $158 million to $190 million to Senate Leadership Fund, the Senate GOP's main super PAC, which funneled money into Texas PAC to fund advertising supporting Ken Paxton's U.S. Senate campaign against Democrat James Talarico. The donations were disclosed in Federal Election Commission filings released in mid-October.

$75 million for donation to Senate Leadership Fund

Elon Musk, donor; founder of Tesla and SpaceX; Ken Paxton, Republican U.S. Senate candidate; James Talarico, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and 3 more

Reported by 33 outletsOnly left-leaning outlets reported this Found via Google News

ElectionsOct 14, 2026

Texas early voting begins October 19 for 2026 midterm election

Early voting for Texas' 2026 midterm election starts October 19 and runs through October 30. Election Day is November 3. The voter registration deadline was October 5. More than 18 million Texans are registered to vote, over 1 million more than in 2022.

Chris Lynch, Rockwall County elections administrator; Texas Secretary of State, election official

Reported by 33 outletsFound via Google News

ElectionsFort Worth, Tarrant CountyOct 15, 2026

Senate candidate Talarico appears at CNN town hall in Fort Worth

Democrat James Talarico appeared at a CNN town hall Wednesday in Fort Worth, addressing questions from Texas Democrats, independents and Republicans on issues including abortion, energy and immigration. His opponent, Republican Ken Paxton, was invited by CNN but did not respond.

James Talarico, Democratic state representative running for U.S. Senate; Ken Paxton, Republican Attorney General running for U.S. Senate; CNN, Host of town hall and 4 more

Reported by 30 outletsOnly left-leaning outlets reported this Found via Google News

CourtsOct 15, 2026

Texas Attorney General sues Gerber and Nestlé over heavy metals in baby food

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Gerber Products Company and Nestlé USA, alleging they misled consumers about toxic heavy metals in Gerber baby food products. Paxton claims the companies advertised the food as safe and rigorously tested while internal testing showed arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium levels above federal guidelines.

Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, suing the companies; Gerber Products Company, defendant; Nestlé USA, Inc., defendant

Reported by 29 outletsOnly right-leaning outlets reported this Found via Google News

ElectionsOct 15, 2026

Texas early voting begins Oct. 19 for November 3 general election

Early voting for Texas's Nov. 3 general election begins Oct. 19 and ends Oct. 30. The ballot includes statewide races for U.S. Senate, governor, and other offices, along with U.S. House, Texas House and Senate, municipal, and referendum races.

$12 million for ad buy by Abbott campaign

Ken Paxton, Republican nominee for U.S. Senate; James Talarico, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, state representative; Greg Abbott, Republican governor seeking fourth term and 1 more

Reported by 26 outletsFound via Google News

Coming up

Mon, Oct 19 Early voting begins
Mon, Oct 19 Early voting begins in Texas (fact sheet)
Mon, Oct 19 Early voting on Texas Avenue medians charter amendment (fact sheet)
Mon, Oct 19 Early voting in November 3 midterm election (fact sheet)
Mon, Oct 19 Early voting begins in Texas (fact sheet)
Mon, Oct 19 Early voting period for Texas 2026 midterm election (fact sheet)
Before the 90th Legislature. Bill prefiling is expected to open November 9, 2026. The session convenes January 12, 2027. Session Tracker
Election Day is November 3. Elections

Counts include only fact sheets published in the period, and leave out old records that resurfaced. Past weeks: Oct 12 to Oct 18 Oct 5 to Oct 11 Sep 28 to Oct 4 Sep 21 to Sep 27 Sep 14 to Sep 20 Sep 7 to Sep 13