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jenrice.bsky.social
jen rice
@jenrice.bsky.social
reporter @democracydocket.com // from the floodplain // bad at sleeping // texan in DC // signal: jenrice.77
Reposted by jen rice
Ok this is not a drill: voting has started in the TX 2026 primary elections

Houston voters: I can't stress this enough - you should be reading the @lwvhouston.bsky.social voter guide, it has literally all the info you need all in one place for free 🧵

irp.cdn-website.com/af2f04f7/fil...
irp.cdn-website.com
February 17, 2026 at 3:41 PM
It's been interesting to see Chris Gober run for newly redrawn TX congressional district 10 with no one mentioning that he's (maybe still?) working for the RNC, was in charge of last year's TX redistricting

Seems like that part is flying under the radar

www.texastribune.org/2026/02/12/t...
Former Elon Musk lawyer leads crowded District 10 GOP race
10 Republicans, including Trump-endorsed attorney Chris Gober, are competing for the red-leaning 10th Congressional District in Central Texas.
www.texastribune.org
February 18, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Reposted by jen rice
I think the San Antonio city council should launch a massive public works project that closes the street at this facility's entrance, with an estimated end-construction date of 2029. Pull up the street to fix leaky pipes, bury power lines, whatever. But slow this sucker down.
February 18, 2026 at 10:57 AM
Reposted by jen rice
Texas voters need your help!

Train to become a poll monitor today, and learn how to help protect Texas voters from intimidation at the polls.

We host virtual trainings every week! Sign up here: bit.ly/EPTRAININGS
February 5, 2026 at 6:50 PM
Reposted by jen rice
📤️ And if you see or hear about anything related to the state primaries that Democracy Docket should cover, drop a line to Jen Rice at rice@democracydocket.com.
February 17, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Reposted by jen rice
🚨 ATTENTION TEXANS 🚨

🤠 Today is the first day of early voting in the 2026 Texas primary elections, which runs until 2/27.

If you have any voting-related questions or need any more election information, check out the Election Protection Hotline:
Texas - Election Protection
Last Updated: January 2026 Questions about voting in Texas? Contact us! Upcoming Elections in Texas
866ourvote.org
February 17, 2026 at 4:26 PM
omg gwen bless you
two years ago we put together some cool houston ideas
www.chron.com/politics/art...
February 17, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Ok this is not a drill: voting has started in the TX 2026 primary elections

Houston voters: I can't stress this enough - you should be reading the @lwvhouston.bsky.social voter guide, it has literally all the info you need all in one place for free 🧵

irp.cdn-website.com/af2f04f7/fil...
irp.cdn-website.com
February 17, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Reposted by jen rice
On Thanksgiving, the immigrant children held at the Dilley detention center gathered in the gym for what they thought was a holiday feast.

The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.

But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
February 13, 2026 at 7:41 PM
wow
February 13, 2026 at 3:41 PM
BREAKING: Virginia Supreme Court says redistricting vote can go forward

www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
In victory for Democrats, Virginia Supreme Court says redistricting vote can go forward
Voters will get to decide on a proposed “10-1” map that could deliver four more Democratic seats in Congress.
www.democracydocket.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Reposted by jen rice
30 countries use mail voting
February 12, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Reposted by jen rice
A federal judge rejected Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's attempt to demote Sen. Mark Kelly over a video reminding the military of unlawful orders.

The judge's fiery decision against Hegseth included 15 exclamation points (!) and a quote from Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues."
‘Horsefeathers!’: Judge blasts Hegseth’s attempt to demote Sen. Kelly over video to U.S. troops
The fiery decision against Hegseth included 15 exclamation points.
www.democracydocket.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:36 PM
i'm glad to see a statement from harris county flood control today with some explanation of the (so far) confusing rollout of houston's (long-awaited, very important) new flood risk map. they say they will launch a "public-friendly online map viewer next week"
February 12, 2026 at 1:19 AM
Reposted by jen rice
BREAKING: House Republicans just passed the SAVE America Act — a sweeping federal bill that could disenfranchise millions.

The bill now heads to the Senate, where it faces long odds amid unified Democratic resistance.
House GOP passes sweeping anti-voting bill that could disenfranchise millions, sends measure to Senate
The GOP’s push for the measure was driven by blatantly false claims.
www.democracydocket.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:46 PM
Today's must read story:
BREAKING: The DOJ publicly released the search warrant affidavit that initiated the FBI’s raid on Fulton County’s central election hub for 2020 election materials.

The release sheds new light on what evidence federal prosecutors presented to acquire the warrant.

Follow below for more👇
After court order, DOJ divulges search warrant affidavit for FBI’s Fulton County election raid
Through the search, federal agents seized thousands of county records — including original 2020 ballots.
www.democracydocket.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:43 PM
Reposted by jen rice
NEW: In a loss for students in North Carolina, a judge declined to open early voting sites on three college campuses in the state, including the nation’s largest HBCU.

While the ruling deals a blow to students’ attempt to restore sites ahead of the state’s upcoming primary, they can appeal.
Judge denies North Carolina students' plea for early voting site at nation's largest Black college
Despite the decision, the students' lawsuit over the sites is ongoing.
www.democracydocket.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:11 PM
🧵 Voting starts next week in TX primaries. Many voters don't know they were just moved into a different congressional district.
TX voters: have you gotten your voter registration card in the mail yet? (you don't need it to vote but it tells you which districts you're in)
It looks like this:
February 9, 2026 at 3:56 PM
I'm gathering that he laid off the comms people
Jeff Bezos' statement, his first since last week's layoffs: "The Post has an essential journalistic mission and an extraordinary opportunity. Each and every day our readers give us a roadmap to success. The data tells us what is valuable and where to focus."
February 7, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Reposted by jen rice
🚨BREAKING: Virginia Democrats just dropped a new congressional map — and it could flip FOUR more House seats blue in 2026.

If courts greenlight it, Virginia voters will decide whether the new map takes effect.
Virginia Democrats release proposed map aimed at picking up 4 congressional seats
Virginia’s congressional delegation could look a lot more blue.
www.democracydocket.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:44 AM
ok well I feel seen
February 5, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Reposted by jen rice
NEW: Florida voters sued Gov. Ron DeSantis for calling a special legislative session to redraw the state’s electoral maps.

The pro-voting plaintiffs argued that the governor unconstitutionally encroached upon the powers of the state legislature.
Voters sue DeSantis for ordering Florida legislature to pursue pro-GOP gerrymander
DeSantis cannot constitutionally issue orders to the state legislature, the suit alleges.
www.democracydocket.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Reposted by jen rice
To any of the talented journalists and creatives that were laid off by @washingtonpost.com today — come join our independent, pro-democracy news outlet powered by readers, not corporate billionaires.

We want to work with those who value protecting democracy and voting rights: https://bit.ly/45Qaw4K
February 4, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Reposted by jen rice
A coalition of House Democrats is sounding the alarm over new U.S. Postal Service changes they say could put voters at risk in the 2026 midterm elections, particularly in rural communities and states with strict election deadlines.
Democrats warn USPS changes could threaten mail voting in midterms
The lawmakers stress that voting by mail has been repeatedly shown to be secure and that any changes to postal operations must not interfere with ballot delivery.
www.democracydocket.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Reposted by jen rice
Trump made it clear he wants to call off the midterms.

He wished he had seized ballot boxes after he lost the 2020 presidential election, and turned the DOJ into an extension of his political will.

We need to realize it's up to us to defend free and fair elections, @marcelias.bsky.social writes.
Trump wants to take over voting. Mike Johnson is willing to help
Trump raised the threat to the 2026 midterm elections to an entirely new level.
www.democracydocket.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:08 PM