Texas Political Spotlight

Texas Flags 33 Voters as Possible Noncitizens, Refers Cases for Investigation

Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson announced Thursday that her office has referred the names of 33 individuals identified as “potential noncitizens” who voted in the November 2024 general election to the state Attorney General’s Office for investigation. The referrals come after Texas gained access to the federal SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) database, which is managed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Nelson said the database not only helped flag the 33 voters but also confirmed the naturalization of dozens more. The individuals in question represent a small fraction of the more than 11.3 million Texans who cast ballots in that election, and state officials have not disclosed which counties the cases originated from.

The announcement follows a broader national debate over voter eligibility and efforts in several states, including Texas, to require proof of citizenship to register to vote. Although such legislation failed to pass during Texas’ most recent legislative session, Republicans have proposed a constitutional amendment to reinforce the existing legal requirement that only U.S. citizens can vote. Similar audits in states like Michigan, Ohio, and Georgia have led to referrals of small numbers of potential noncitizen voters. Past attempts by Texas to purge voter rolls have sparked controversy, with investigations revealing that some removals were based on outdated or incomplete data, occasionally flagging naturalized citizens as ineligible. Nelson’s office noted that Texas recently joined a pilot program with federal agencies aimed at improving the accuracy of the SAVE database.

Rep. Jolanda Jones Enters Race for 18th District Congressional Seat

Rep. Jolanda Jones, announced Monday that she is entering the special election to succeed the late U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner. Jones, an attorney and former Houston City Council member, joins a growing field that includes Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee and former City Council member Amanda Edwards. The district, a Democratic stronghold and longtime center of Houston’s Black political leadership, was previously represented by Sheila Jackson Lee, who also died last year. Governor Greg Abbott scheduled the special election for November 4th, 2025.

Jones, elected to the Texas House in 2022, cited her experience across various levels of government, including the city council, school board, and courtroom. During her time in the Legislature, she served on key committees such as criminal jurisprudence and public health, and said she delayed her campaign launch to prioritize work on behalf of her constituents during the legislative session. Jones has positioned herself as a candidate focused on healthcare access, Social Security protections, and abortion rights. Though Menefee launched his campaign earlier and has gained several prominent endorsements, including from former Reps. Colin Allred and Beto O’Rourke, Jones has received bipartisan praise, including from Republican colleagues in the House.

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