Redistricting Rush, Crockett’s Climb, and Cuellar’s Comeback

This week on Party Politics, co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina dig into a week packed with political curveballs — from Austin to D.C. — and even into the courtroom.Texas said goodbye to two public servants who left their mark on the state’s political and educational landscape. Former Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff and former U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige both passed away, leaving behind legacies of leadership defined by bipartisanship and reform.Meanwhile, in the here and now, Texas redistricting is once again causing chaos. With legal battles still unsettled and filing deadlines looming, candidates have been scrambling to figure out where they’re even running. The result? A filing frenzy that looks more like a political game of musical chairs than a well-oiled election season.And speaking of campaigns — Rep. Jasmine Crockett officially jumped into the U.S. Senate race, shaking up the Democratic field and setting up what could be one of the most closely watched contests in 2026. The big question for Democrats: who’s their best bet to take on a Republican machine that hasn’t lost statewide in three decades?Then came the plot twist no one saw coming: U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, recently pardoned by Donald Trump, decided to stay put in the Democratic Party.Back in Austin, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is touting new economic proposals while continuing to spar with Gov. Greg Abbott over how to deliver on property tax relief.Beyond the dome, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a Texas book-ban case, keeping a lower-court decision in place and reigniting debates over censorship and local control in public libraries.And on the national front, Donald Trump rolled out a new plan for farmers, blending economic populism with campaign-season flair.From political legacies and election shake-ups to book bans and farm plans, this week’s episode dives into how power, principle, and personality collide in Texas politics — and what it all means for the road to 2026.TEXAS POLITICS:Legacies of the late Former Lieutenant Governor of Texas & former U.S. education secretary Rod Paige.Texas Redistricting and frantic last minute filings.Rep. Jasmine Crockett announces campaign for Texas Senate.Who will be the best Democratic Candidate for Texas Senate?Plot twist: Henry Cuellar rejoins the democratic party after President Donald Trump's pardon.Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick's economic proposals.Texas Property Tax BattleU.S. Supreme Court declines appeal to Texas book ban.NATIONAL POLITICS:President Trump reveals relief plan for soybean farmers amid tariffs.In addition to YouTube, Party Politics airs every Friday night at 8:00 p.m. CT on Houston Public Media TV-8 (PBS), or listen every Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT on News 88.7. The audio podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts).

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Redistricting Rush, Crockett’s Climb, and Cuellar’s Comeback is an episode from Party Politics by Houston Public Media.

This episode is 26:46 long.

This episode was published on Dec 13, 2025.

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