Good morning, 

Yesterday, we asked readers about the Great Cranberry Debate. You'll find those responses below.

This is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Poll Shows Cornyn Slipping to Third in GOP Senate Primary

• A new poll of likely Republican primary voters finds support for U.S. Sen. John Cornyn declining ahead of the 2026 Texas GOP primary, with the incumbent now falling into third place. Brandon Waltens has the details.
     
• The poll was conducted by Stratus Intelligence. It found Attorney General Ken Paxton leading with 36 percent, followed by U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt at 26 percent, and Cornyn at 25 percent. Fourteen percent of voters remain undecided.
     
• In hypothetical head-to-head matchups, the poll shows that Paxton leads Cornyn 51 percent to 34 percent, while Hunt leads Cornyn 52 percent to 29 percent. According to Stratus Intelligence, the survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.
      
• The poll was first reported by journalist Ben Jacobs, who attributed it to a pro-Hunt super PAC.

Republican Candidates File Amicus Brief in Redistricting Case

• Travis Morgan reports that six Republican congressional candidates have filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court arguing in favor of Texas’ emergency application for a stay of a three-judge district court order that would force the 2026 primary elections to be conducted under the 2021 map. In short, they want the new congressional map to be used.
      
• The candidates are James E. “Trey” Trainor (CD-21), Eric Flores (CD-34), Chris Gober (CD-10), John Lujan (CD-35), Alexandra del Moral Mealer (CD-9), and Jessica Steinman (CD-8).
     
• Trainor, the former chairman of the Federal Election Commission, notes that there would be “severe and irreparable harm” arising from using the district court’s interim map because campaigning is already underway. And, he adds, the will of the state legislature is being disregarded by activist judges.
      
• Nearly two weeks into candidate filing, the three-judge panel in El Paso issued a preliminary injunction blocking the 2025 congressional map in a 2-1 decision. That order was put on hold pending further review by the Supreme Court.

Paxton Launches Investigation Into Use of CCP-Aligned Tech Products in Texas Power Grid

• Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into the use of Chinese Communist Party-aligned technology in critical state infrastructure. As Sydnie Henry reports, Paxton's team is targeting components supplied by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited at a power storage facility near Mabank.
     
• The investigation centers on allegations that the power station’s use of CATL battery systems—which have reportedly failed certain tests—may violate state law by providing prohibited actors potential access to Texas’ electrical grid.
      
• Under the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act, contracts and agreements with companies under CCP influence are forbidden for critical infrastructure projects. Violators could face fines for reporting incomplete or false information to the state's grid operator.
      
• "Texas must not allow foreign communists to infiltrate, interfere, or otherwise undermine our power grid or other parts of our state infrastructure." – Ken Paxton

OTHER LEGAL NEWS

• He is accusing the agency of blocking churches and faith-based nonprofits from fully participating in housing and homelessness programs unless they suppress religious expression. Paxton argues the TDHCA's policies effectively blacklist religious groups from state-supported participation simply because of their faith.

Texas Tech Raises Concerns Over College Sports Commission Agreement

• An internal Texas Tech University System memo has raised concerns over a proposed agreement with the College Sports Commission. Robert Montoya has the story.
      
• Texas Tech's vice chancellor and general counsel has warned that actions taken independently by the attorney general could "penalize the university," including the loss of conference revenue and postseason eligibility. As a result, Tech System Board Chair Cody Campbell has asked for the College Sports Commission to discuss revising the agreement’s "rules and regulations" section.
      
• The commission has given Tech and the other Big 12 schools until Dec. 3 to sign the agreement. 

Texas Association of Business Slammed With Lawsuit

• The Texas Association of Business and its CEO, Glenn Hamer, have been sued by a woman identified as "Jane Doe." She alleges sexual harassment, assault, coercion, and retaliation, according to a lawsuit filed Monday by Houston attorney Tony Buzbee. The legal action, filed in Travis County, seeks more than $10 million.

New Braunfels ISD Teacher Jailed for Indecent Exposure

• Erin Anderson reports that an elementary school teacher in New Braunfels has been arrested and charged with indecent exposure and stalking. 
       
•  Jacob Lyn Peters has taught fourth-grade math and science at Voss Farms Elementary in the New Braunfels ISD. Parents have been notified that the alleged crimes did not occur on campus or involve NBISD students, and that the district intended to terminate Peters’ employment.
      
• Online records show Peters worked for three other Texas school districts in the past four years: San Marcos, Navarro, and Bastrop. His teaching certificate is still valid, according to state records.

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Quote-Unquote

"When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude."

– G.K. Chesterton​

Y'All Answered

When families gather for the Thanksgiving holiday, there are a series of traditions and foods that unite everyone ... and some that spur annual debate.

So, we asked readers how they prefer cranberries served: jellied out of the can, or as a freshly-made relish.

Here's a sampling of the responses.

• “Most things are better homemade, and cranberry sauce is definitely one of them!” – Kimery McKaskle
       
• “WHAT? There's another kind of cranberry sauce than the OFFICIAL cranberry sauce with the rings around it?  Truthfully, cranberry sauce with rings around it is the BEST!” – Gail Keker
      
• “I must vote third party, as neither cranberry 'sauce' nor cranberry 'relish' is fit for human consumption. I must therefore cast a write-in ballot in favor of cranberry wine, preferably from Bruno & George, Sour Lake, TX.” – Chris Breaux
       
• “Grew up on the canned version, matured to the homemade fresh version! (But I’ll still eat both, in a crunch!)” – Peggy Morris
       
• “There is something about that can-shaped cranberry sauce that is sliced.  A nice slice on top of the turkey and dressing is unmatched in flavor.” – Roger Taylor 
     
• “Freshly made cranberries are the way to go.  Granddaughters and I prepare them.” – Debra Davis
      
• “I make homemade cranberry sauce/relish using allulose, a natural sugar which has no effect on blood glucose levels.” – Thomas Bacon
     
• “My Cranberry Orange Mold beats anything out of the can. Fresh cranberries, navel orange pieces, orange juice, a little orange rind, grated, sugar, and plain gelatin have been my go-to for over 30 years! It’s delicious!” – Leslie Collins
      
• “Growing up, all I ate was the jellyroll of cranberries, but my wife, who makes them from scratch, cured me of my ways.” – John Raymond
      
• “My mother's fresh cranberry relish is a must-have for our family Thanksgiving. Mixed with her made-from-scratch dressing, it is delicious.” – Belinda Stanley

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