Experts in the News

Political science fellow Mark Jones questions a Cook Political Report that lowers longtime GOP congressman Pete Sessions' chances for re-election.

Despite record wins by women in the Texas primary, the lack of Republican women on the November ballot means that 31 of the state's 36 congressional seats will still be held by men.

The Quinnipiac University poll, which has Democrat Beto O'Rourke within striking distance of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, sampled "groups that tend to favor O’Rourke over Cruz," said political science fellow Mark P. Jones.

"Texas remains a red state and it’s difficult to imagine a scenario in which any Democrat can win statewide in 2018," fellow Mark Jones says of the Senate race between Ted Cruz and challenger Beto O'Rourke.

Gov. Greg Abbott's order to convene a special session of the Texas Legislature was a move to reassert his dominance over staunch conservatives in his party, political science fellow Mark P. Jones told the Houston Chronicle. "[The session's agenda] is a Christmas list of everything the conservative advocacy groups wanted. (Abbott) deftly has boiler-plated his right flank. If [Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick] was somehow contemplating any challenge of Abbott's standing with those Republicans, he can forget it."