homestate texas
By Ben Everidge for Thomas
Photo Credit: Travel Texas
texas at the Crossroads: 10 Issues That Define the lone star state’s Future
“Texas sells itself as the future of America. Low taxes, big growth, and fierce independence. But its broken grid, strained schools, and border battles raise a tough question it works to avoid: is the Lone Star state shining, or flickering?”
- Ben Everidge
Texas is booming, economically, demographically, and politically. But growth comes with challenges. The state is America’s energy capital, a magnet for business relocations, and a symbol of conservative governance. Yet it faces crises in its electric grid, immigration system, and healthcare access. With the 2026 governor’s race already taking shape and Texas projected to gain more political power through population growth, the Lone Star State’s choices will reverberate far beyond its borders.
1. The 2026 Governor’s Race and Republican Rule
Governor Greg Abbott’s tenure has cemented Republican dominance, but questions about succession, leadership style, and long-term direction loom. Democrats remain weak statewide but competitive in urban and suburban districts. Independents, particularly in the suburbs around Dallas, Houston, and Austin, may determine whether Texas politics remains firmly red or begins to crack open.
2. Immigration and the Border
Texas sits at the front lines of America’s immigration crisis. The influx of migrants at the southern border has fueled clashes between state and federal governments. Governor Abbott’s Operation Lone Star has drawn both praise and criticism, with sharp questions about legality, humanitarian impact, and effectiveness. Border policy will remain the defining issue in Texas politics.
3. Property Taxes and Fiscal Policy
Texas has no state income tax, relying heavily on property taxes and sales taxes. Rising property tax bills are straining families and businesses, while local governments resist state-imposed limits on revenue. Tax reform will dominate the next legislative session, with pressure to deliver relief without undermining schools and essential services.
4. Energy, the Grid, and Climate Risks
Texas is the nation’s energy powerhouse, leading in oil, gas, and wind. Yet the 2021 grid collapse exposed deep vulnerabilities in the state’s independent power system. Lawmakers promised reforms, but doubts remain about readiness for future crises. With extreme heat and storms becoming more frequent, energy security is both an economic and political flashpoint.
5. Economic Growth and Equality
Texas is attracting businesses from California and beyond, thanks to its low taxes, minimal regulation, and a growing workforce. Yet, prosperity is uneven: rural areas lag, urban costs rise, and income inequality widens. The state must decide whether to invest in long-term infrastructure and education, or risk leaving its boom behind, with too many people left behind.
6. Healthcare Access and Rural Closures
Texas has the nation’s highest rate of uninsured residents and has not expanded Medicaid. Rural hospitals continue to close, leaving large areas without reliable healthcare. The gap in access is both a humanitarian crisis and an economic drag. Healthcare reform may not dominate campaigns, but it is a growing pressure point in communities across the state.
7. Education, Vouchers, and Workforce Readiness
Education is a battlefield in Texas politics. Governor Abbott has pushed for school vouchers and parental choice, while teachers’ unions and rural districts resist. Beyond the politics, Texas must address teacher shortages, lagging test scores, and the need for workforce-aligned training in technology, energy, and trades. The future of Texas’s workforce depends on education policy choices today.
8. Guns, Safety, and Polarization
Gun rights remain deeply embedded in Texas culture, yet mass shootings in Uvalde and elsewhere have sparked debates over safety, mental health, and firearm regulations. Balancing cultural identity with growing public demand for safety reforms will test Texas’s leadership. Public safety concerns also intersect with debates on crime, policing, and urban governance.
9. Demographic Shifts and Political Realignment
Texas is growing younger, more urban, and more diverse. Hispanic Texans now account for nearly the same population share as non-Hispanic whites, and suburban voters are shifting. Democrats hope this will fuel long-term gains, but Republicans remain resilient. Independent voters are poised to be the actual wild card, especially in high-turnout elections.
10. Water, Land, and Growth Pressures
Rapid growth strains Texas’s natural resources. Water scarcity, land-use conflicts, and environmental pressures from urban sprawl and industrial development are intensifying. With agriculture, energy, and population growth competing for limited resources, Texas must strike a balance between growth and sustainability, or risk long-term crises.
The Thomas Take
Texas is both a symbol and a battleground. It represents conservative governance, economic opportunity, and cultural identity, but also sharp divides in healthcare, education, and equity. If Texas can stabilize its grid, modernize its infrastructure, and deliver on public safety, it could define the future of American federalism. If not, it risks becoming a cautionary tale of growth without effective governance. For independents, Texas is a proving ground for testing whether pragmatic solutions can cut through partisan gridlock.
To learn more about Texas’s issues, read: