With 2025 behind us, The Texas Tribune’s politics team has compiled five of the top political stories we are watching in 2026, when voters will have their first chance to make their opinions known on the events of the last 12 months.

Winds shift back to the south on Wednesday, which will once again warm temperatures back into the upper 70s. The previous record high is 83, set in 2006. By late Wednesday night, a cold front and low pressure system moves towards North Texas and will finally bring some rain chances.

Texas Gov. Abbott orders comprehensive investigation into potential child care fraud following Minnesota scandal that allegedly defrauded taxpayers millions of dollars.

Texas Tech and Indiana are off to strong transfer portal starts again, while Lane Kiffin has yet to make much noise at LSU.

The Red River Rivalry will carry an extra ounce of intrigue in 2026 after former Texas wide receiver Parker Livingstone announced his commitment to Oklahoma through the transfer portal on Tuesday. Livingstone, a roommate of Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning, should be a key piece of the Sooners' aerial attack next season.

Student loan borrowers in Texas could soon see their paychecks shrink as the federal government begins notifying people this week that a portion of their wages will be garnished to collect on missed payments.

The No. 22 Vols (11-4, 1-1 SEC) bludgeoned Texas (9-6, 0-2) on the interior, racking up 44 points in the paint in the win at Food City Center. Adding to the dominant interior performance was senior guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie, who finished with a career-high 34 points on 12-of-18 shooting and 5-of-8 from three-point range.

Nanon Williams was sent to death row for a murder he says he didn't commit. Decades later, through daily emails and weekly prison calls, the Reiners became family.