Texas Minute · Texas Scorecard

2.26.2026: School Choice Draws Big Interest

February 26, 2026·7 min
The episode opens with host Michael Quinn Sullivan introducing the day's news. It begins with polling data showing Governor Greg Abbott leading his GOP primary with 91% support. The Republican Attorney General race is a near tie between U.S. Representative Chip Roy at 40% and State Senator Mays Middleton at 38%. In the U.S. Senate Republican primary, Attorney General Ken Paxton leads with 36%, followed by incumbent John Cornyn at 34% and U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt at 26%. On the Democratic side, State Senator Gina Hinojosa leads the gubernatorial primary with 76% support. For the U.S. Senate Democratic nomination, U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett is leading. The episode then shifts to a conflict over Camp Mystic, where Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick urges the Texas Department of State Health Services not to issue the camp a license until an investigation into last summer's flooding is complete. That flooding resulted in 28 deaths. State Representative Wes Verdell strongly disagrees, noting the camp installed a new flood warning system. Camp Mystic defends its right to operate, stating compliance with new safety laws. Next, the episode reports that the University of Texas at San Antonio will consolidate its Department of Race, Gender, and Sexuality into the Department of Bilingual and Bicultural Studies starting September 1st. This follows a similar move at UT Austin. The consolidation affects African American Studies, Mexican American Studies, and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies programs. The host comments that Texans should stop subsidizing 'grievance studies and junk science programs.' After a promo for the show Texas Tomorrow, the episode details the new Education Freedom Account program. Halfway through applications, 130,000 students have signed up, but funding only covers about 100,000. The program provides state funds for private school tuition, homeschooling, and other educational services. Most applicants plan to use funds for private school enrollment, with over 2,000 private schools participating. The episode concludes with credits and a sign-off.
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