Ted Cruz endorsed Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination on Fox News, following Trump's victory in the Iowa caucuses. Cruz had previously resisted endorsing Trump, wanting to wait for the Iowa results. Trump won the caucuses with 51% of the votes, significantly ahead of Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley. Cruz emphasized the need for Republicans to unite against President Joe Biden, criticizing Biden's immigration policies. Despite facing criminal investigations, Trump leads in Texas polls and has received numerous GOP endorsements. Cruz and Trump have had a complex relationship since the 2016 primaries, but have since shown mutual support. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, a former staffer for Cruz, has campaigned for DeSantis but will support Trump if he is the nominee.

Texas experienced the largest population growth in the United States, adding nearly half a million residents from July 2022 to July 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This 1.6% growth rate, the third highest in the country, contributed to the South's dominance in the nation's overall growth, which was 87% of the U.S.'s total in 2023. The growth in the South was primarily due to net domestic migration, with a significant contribution from net international migration. Demographer Kristie Wilder attributed the national population increase to a decrease in deaths and a return of migration to pre-pandemic levels. Texas cities, especially the four largest metro areas, are the main centers of the state's population growth.

The Texas Supreme Court has temporarily halted a lower court's ruling that allowed Kate Cox, a pregnant woman with a fetus diagnosed with a fatal condition, to have an abortion. This decision challenges Texas' restrictive abortion ban. Attorney General Ken Paxton opposes the medical exception for Cox and has warned hospitals against performing the abortion. Concurrently, a Kentucky woman has filed a lawsuit seeking the right to an abortion, aiming for class-action status to represent others in similar situations.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to tensions on Texas university campuses, with incidents of intimidation and debates over free speech. UT-Austin teaching assistants Callie Kennedy and Parham Daghighi were dismissed after addressing the conflict's impact on students' mental health, sparking faculty demands for their reinstatement and an apology. UT-Arlington and UT-Dallas also faced controversies over handling political discussions and student expression. Texas lawmakers' support for Israel and recent legislation have influenced university responses, highlighting the challenges of balancing free speech with political pressures.

The University of Texas at Dallas removed the Spirit Rocks, a long-standing public message board, after they were used to paint political messages about the Gaza war. The rocks had been a platform for student expression on various issues, including the Middle East conflict, which has escalated with a recent terrorist attack and airstrikes resulting in significant casualties. The university's decision, which contradicts its previous stance on free speech, has been met with criticism from students. The removal coincides with Texas Republicans' legislation to ban diversity, equity, and inclusion offices, further impacting the expression of student groups of color and the LGBTQ+ community.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated an investigation into Media Matters for alleged fraudulent activity following a report that led to advertisers withdrawing from X, the platform previously known as Twitter. This action comes after X CEO Elon Musk sued Media Matters in the Northern District of Texas, accusing the group of manipulating information to defame the social media company.

Since Texas resumed Medicaid eligibility checks post-pandemic, over 1.4 million people, including nearly 729,000 children, lost coverage. Advocates like Stacey Pogue from Every Texan express concern as Texas becomes a hotspot for children losing health insurance. A Georgetown University report shows a national decrease in uninsured children from 2019 to 2022, but Texas still has the highest uninsured rate for children at 10.9%. The state's strict Medicaid eligibility criteria and lack of expansion contribute to these figures. Pediatrician Valerie Smith emphasizes Medicaid's role in children's health and urges legislative action to improve access to healthcare for Texas children.