By Michael Phillips | TXBayNews
From a center-right perspective, 2025 was a defining year for Texas. The state faced historic natural disasters, intense political battles, and high-profile personal controversies—yet also delivered decisive conservative wins on elections, education, and governance. Texas remained solidly red, but not untouched by turmoil.
Here are the five biggest scandals and news stories that dominated the Lone Star State in 2025.
1. Catastrophic Central Texas Floods
July 2025
Historic flash flooding tore through the Texas Hill Country and along the Guadalupe River over the July 4th weekend, killing more than 135 people and causing billions in damage. The dead included dozens of children and counselors at summer camps, most notably Camp Mystic, a long-running Christian girls’ camp.
The tragedy sparked lawsuits, legislative hearings, and fierce debate over floodplain development, emergency alerts, and camp safety standards.
Takeaway:
This disaster exposed failures at the local and state-coordination level—not proof that Texas needs sweeping federal mandates. Conservatives emphasized infrastructure accountability, improved warning systems, and targeted safety reforms rather than Washington-driven overreach.
2. Mid-Decade Congressional Redistricting Showdown
Summer–Fall 2025
Texas Republicans launched a rare mid-cycle redraw of congressional maps, aiming to solidify GOP control ahead of the 2026 midterms. Democrats fled the state in quorum-breaking protests, lawsuits followed, and Governor Abbott threatened arrests to force a vote.
After months of legal battles, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the maps to stand pending appeal, reaffirming that partisan redistricting—however controversial—is constitutional.
Takeaway:
A hard-fought but legitimate victory. Republicans defended their majority against demographic and political manipulation, ensuring Texas’ conservative voice remains strong in Congress.
3. Ken Paxton’s Turbulent Year: Divorce and Senate Challenge
2025
Attorney General Ken Paxton endured a year of personal and political storms. His divorce from State Sen. Angela Paxton reignited scrutiny tied to past impeachment drama, even as he launched a primary challenge against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.
Despite the distractions, Paxton’s office secured major data-privacy settlements against Big Tech and pursued aggressive election-integrity enforcement statewide.
Takeaway:
To many conservatives, Paxton remains a fighter—imperfect, controversial, but relentless against corporate power and election misconduct. His Senate bid energized grassroots voters frustrated with establishment Republicans.
4. Conservative Overhaul of Texas Higher Education
2025
Republican lawmakers intensified efforts to reshape public universities. DEI programs were dismantled, leadership shakeups hit major campuses, and oversight expanded to counter what conservatives see as ideological capture of higher education.
Texas A&M, among others, faced national attention over firings, curriculum disputes, and governance reforms.
Takeaway:
Taxpayer-funded universities should serve students—not political ideology. Supporters framed the reforms as restoring academic balance, fiscal discipline, and merit-based leadership after years of left-leaning dominance.
5. Election Integrity Probes and Vote-Harvesting Indictments
2025
Paxton’s Election Integrity Unit pursued multiple indictments tied to alleged illegal ballot harvesting, particularly in South Texas counties. Local officials were accused of manipulating mail-in ballots under laws passed after 2020.
Critics cried suppression. Supporters called it overdue enforcement.
Takeaway:
Election security is not optional. These cases reinforced conservative arguments that voter-fraud laws matter—and that enforcement must be consistent, even when politically inconvenient.
Final Word
2025 tested Texas—but it also reaffirmed why the state remains a conservative stronghold. Tragedy forced hard conversations about preparedness. Political battles clarified the stakes of power. And Republicans, despite internal tensions, advanced priorities on elections, education, and accountability.
For supporters, Texas didn’t just endure 2025—it proved that red-state leadership can withstand crisis, controversy, and national pressure while still delivering results.
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