As the prelude to a general election, there were high stakes this runoff election.
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Photo: Gabriel C. Pérez/KUT
The stakes for a primary runoff election in Texas might seem relatively low in a year that’s brought pandemic, renewed demands for an end to systemic racism, record-setting job losses and economic change still too great to fully calculate. But as the prelude to a general election – one with consequences for which there are few parallels – what happened statewide on Tuesday was far from inconsequential. A primary runoff typically draws only a sliver of the state electorate to the polls. So it should be counted as no small victory that, for the most part, there were few major hitches. That’s in large part due to a delayed election day, an extended period of early voting and the courageous volunteers and voters who braved the spike in COVID-19 cases and the lack of a mask order in polling places. But as a test-run for November, there were still some warning signs: snags in the vote tally that kept some contests in limbo, and reports of difficulties obtaining, casting and counting mail-in ballots. But the stage is now set for a general election that many in Texas and beyond will be watching closely. The highest profile statewide race will be a battle between incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn and Democratic challenger MJ Hegar. And control of the Texas House may be at a political tipping point. We have more coverage of election results at TexasStandard.org and in the links below. And while you check out the great reporting from our partners across Texas, I invite you to explore the rest of the week's news in the highlights below, handpicked by our editors. Until next Wednesday, we'll see you on the radio.
- David Brown
Work safe, Texas. Texas Work Comp Insurance

This Rural County Has One Of The Highest COVID-19 Infection Rates In Texas


Titus Regional Medical Center is one of the last independent rural hospitals in northeast Texas. It’s caring for a population with unusually high percentage of COVID-19 cases.
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Calls For More Police Reforms On Five-Year Anniversary of Sandra Bland’s Death


Bland "was arrested for an alleged minor traffic violation," says Rep. Garnet Coleman. "We want to be able to limit those types of interactions that could escalate unnecessarily."
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Tejano Star Selena Is The Subject of A New College Course


"Selena: A Mexican-American Identity and Experience" will be offered this fall at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
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'Inmate #1' Chronicles Danny Trejo’s Journey From Prison To The Big Screen


Known for his role in the "Spy Kids" franchise and more, Trejo sees himself as "everybody’s Uncle Machete." He's using his platform to give hope to young fans.
Read More
  • MJ Hegar Claims Victory In Democratic Primary For U.S. Senate Race (KUT Austin)
  • In Texas, Problems At The Polls For COVID-Positive Voters (Texas Public Radio)
  • Ronny Jackson, Pete Sessions Win Texas Congressional Runoffs (KERA)
  • Mike Siegel Will Again Challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul For Seat That Spans From Houston To Austin (Houston Public Media)
Howdy from San Antonio! I’m Nathan Cone, and in May I celebrated 25 years of working at Texas Public Radio. Over my quarter-century at TPR I’ve hosted opera broadcasts, filed news reports, worked in operations, traffic, and as program director. In my current role I work on a variety of special projects related to cultural programming – from producing concert broadcasts to hosting a quarterly panel talk on science topics. But as my Twitter handle @TPRCinema belies, one of my favorite programs has been our summer film series, Cinema Tuesdays, which was supposed to celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. Instead, we’ve taken the program into the virtual world for a series of online "watch parties" – and if you’d like to take part, you’re welcome to do so! You can find out more at tprcinema.org . During the pandemic, I’ve been mostly at home, recording voice tracks in our closet and working from the dining room table. To get my head straight, at the end of nearly every day I take a walk. While I’m out, I often stop for 10 minutes to sketch the places I see on a blank USPS postcard, to share with friends near and far; I hope getting a piece of “real mail” will brighten their day just a little bit. You can see some of my sketches on Twitter or on this Instagram post. Every day, I marvel at the amazing work being done by my colleagues around the state. I’m glad Texas Standard is there to share their stories and yours. It’s an invaluable resource. Thanks for making it possible with your support!
- Nathan Cone
@TPRCinema
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