CINXE.COM
Hays Co. district judge accused of asking for students’ vote | The Texas Tribune
<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" class="no-js"> <head> <title>Hays Co. district judge accused of asking for students’ vote | The Texas Tribune</title> <meta charset="utf-8"> <link href="//cdnjs.cloudflare.com" rel="dns-prefetch"> <link href="//cdn.texastribune.org" rel="dns-prefetch"> <link href="//static.texastribune.org" rel="dns-prefetch"> <link href="//www.googletagmanager.com" rel="dns-prefetch"> <link href="//www.googletagservices.com" rel="dns-prefetch"> <link href="//ajax.googleapis.com" rel="dns-prefetch"> <link href="https://www.google.com" rel="preconnect"> <link href="https://www.gstatic.com" rel="preconnect" crossorigin> <!-- base favicons --> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="48x48" href="/static/images/favicon-48x48.7388fd83b75b.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="/static/images/favicon-32x32.ebd14081da36.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="/static/images/favicon-16x16.d0e640fbf205.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/static/images/apple-touch-icon.358661eab2b3.png"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/hays-county-district-judge-race-texas-state-student-vote/"> <script type="application/ld+json"> {"@context": "https://schema.org/", "@type": "ReportageNewsArticle", "url": "https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/hays-county-district-judge-race-texas-state-student-vote/", "mainEntityOfPage": {"@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/hays-county-district-judge-race-texas-state-student-vote/"}, "inLanguage": "en_US", "isAccessibleForFree": true, "headline": "Hays Co. district judge accused of asking for students’ vote", "alternativeHeadline": "Texas judge accused of breaking law after asking his university students to vote for him", "description": "A candidate running against the judge accused him of emailing his students at Texas State to vote for him. State law prohibits using public resources for political advertising.", "datePublished": "2024-10-29T00:39:03.462052+00:00", "dateModified": "2024-10-29T00:54:47.985449+00:00", "author": [{"@type": "Person", "name": "Kate McGee", "url": "https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/kate-mcgee/", "affiliation": {"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization", "name": "The Texas Tribune"}, "sameAs": ["https://twitter.com/McGeeReports"], "knowsAbout": [{"@type": "Thing", "name": "higher education"}, {"@type": "Thing", "name": "politics"}, {"@type": "Thing", "name": "state government"}, {"@type": "Thing", "name": "public education"}], "image": "https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/x7XYkcpLXgFPa0nvqK3AR5d6Z8I=/105x155/smart/filters:quality(85)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/Kate_McGee_TT_04.jpg", "jobTitle": "Higher Education Reporter", "description": "Kate McGee covers higher education for The Texas Tribune. She joined the Tribune in October 2020 after nearly a decade as a reporter at public radio stations across the country, including in Chicago, Washington D.C., Austin, Reno, Nev. and New York. Kate was born in New York City and primarily raised in New Jersey. She earned her bachelor's degree from Fordham University. Her work has appeared on NPR’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Here and Now, and The Takeaway. She is based in Austin.", "workLocation": {"@type": "Place", "name": "Texas, United States"}}], "articleSection": "higher education", "image": {"@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/BBm41Kp4KBCyeHU0VEchwfSFdrs=/450x300/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg", "width": 450, "height": 300, "caption": "Students walk through Texas State University campus in San Marcos on Jan. 30, 2018."}, "keywords": ["elections", "higher education", "Texas State University", "Hays County", "courts"], "publisher": {"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization", "name": "The Texas Tribune", "publishingPrinciples": "https://www.texastribune.org/about/", "logo": {"@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.texastribune.org/static/images/logo.png"}}, "thumbnailUrl": "https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/BBm41Kp4KBCyeHU0VEchwfSFdrs=/450x300/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg", "creator": [{"@type": "Person", "name": "Kate McGee", "url": "https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/kate-mcgee/", "affiliation": {"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization", "name": "The Texas Tribune"}, "sameAs": ["https://twitter.com/McGeeReports"], "knowsAbout": [{"@type": "Thing", "name": "higher education"}, {"@type": "Thing", "name": "politics"}, {"@type": "Thing", "name": "state government"}, {"@type": "Thing", "name": "public education"}], "image": "https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/x7XYkcpLXgFPa0nvqK3AR5d6Z8I=/105x155/smart/filters:quality(85)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/Kate_McGee_TT_04.jpg", "jobTitle": "Higher Education Reporter", "description": "Kate McGee covers higher education for The Texas Tribune. She joined the Tribune in October 2020 after nearly a decade as a reporter at public radio stations across the country, including in Chicago, Washington D.C., Austin, Reno, Nev. and New York. Kate was born in New York City and primarily raised in New Jersey. She earned her bachelor's degree from Fordham University. Her work has appeared on NPR’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Here and Now, and The Takeaway. She is based in Austin.", "workLocation": {"@type": "Place", "name": "Texas, United States"}}], "contributors": []} </script> <meta name="copyright" content="© The Texas Tribune" /> <meta name="publisher" content="The Texas Tribune" /> <meta name="robots" content="index,follow,max-image-preview:large" /> <meta name="siteinfo" content="http://www.texastribune.org/robots.txt" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/static/images/apple-touch-icon.358661eab2b3.png" /> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="3EMut9KLnb_7fohrI_bDaR4py76QIWAt4uPidjagbzI" /> <meta name="y_key" content="36169ff9ee60f3ab" /> <meta name="msvalidate.01" content="DB22C31255557D1E219990CA92192CBB" /> <meta name="pocket-site-verification" content="a03da537417a06100ceed0ab61a3d2" /> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="154122474650943"> <meta property="og:site_name" content="The Texas Tribune" /> <meta property="fb:pages" content="124434790836"> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@TexasTribune"> <meta name="twitter:dnt" content="on"> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/hays-county-district-judge-race-texas-state-student-vote/"> <meta name="description" content="A candidate running against the judge accused him of emailing his students at Texas State to vote for him. State law prohibits using public resources for political advertising."> <meta name="keywords" content="texas news, texas politics, texas policy, texas government, elections, higher education, Texas State University, Hays County, courts"> <meta name="author" content="By Kate McGee"> <meta property="og:title" content="Texas judge accused of breaking law after asking his university students to vote for him"> <meta property="og:description" content="A candidate running against the judge accused him of emailing his students at Texas State to vote for him. State law prohibits using public resources for political advertising."> <meta property="og:type" content="article"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/dzHIt_dFLK7MRvpi5jc6-nZc018=/1200x630/filters:quality(95):focal(0x0:3000x2017)/static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg"> <meta property="og:image:alt" content="Students walk through Texas State University campus in San Marcos on Jan. 30, 2018."> <meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/"> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2024-10-29T00:39:03.462052+00:00"> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Texas judge accused of breaking law after asking his university stude…"> <meta name="twitter:description" content="A candidate running against the judge accused him of emailing his students at Texas State to vote for him. State law prohibits using public resources for political advertising."> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/dzHIt_dFLK7MRvpi5jc6-nZc018=/1200x630/filters:quality(95):focal(0x0:3000x2017)/static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg"> <meta name="twitter:image:alt" content="Students walk through Texas State University campus in San Marcos on Jan. 30, 2018."> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@McGeeReports"> <meta name="twitter:label1" content="By" /> <meta name="twitter:data1" content="By Kate McGee" /> <meta name="twitter:label2" content="Published on" /> <meta name="twitter:data2" content="Oct. 28, 2024" /> <meta name="parsely-tags" content="courts, elections, Hays County, higher education, Texas State University, 2024 Texas Elections" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/static/css/chz-story.28fdb324b83ddc97d02e33ff493394fc.css"> <!-- series styles --> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://static.texastribune.org/media/series/election-module-gradient-5-24.css"> <script> /** Promises https://github.com/bramstein/fontfaceobserver */ (function(){'use strict';var f,g=[];function l(a){g.push(a);1==g.length&&f()}function m(){for(;g.length;)g[0](),g.shift()}f=function(){setTimeout(m)};function n(a){this.a=p;this.b=void 0;this.f=[];var b=this;try{a(function(a){q(b,a)},function(a){r(b,a)})}catch(c){r(b,c)}}var p=2;function t(a){return new n(function(b,c){c(a)})}function u(a){return new n(function(b){b(a)})}function q(a,b){if(a.a==p){if(b==a)throw new TypeError;var c=!1;try{var d=b&&b.then;if(null!=b&&"object"==typeof b&&"function"==typeof d){d.call(b,function(b){c||q(a,b);c=!0},function(b){c||r(a,b);c=!0});return}}catch(e){c||r(a,e);return}a.a=0;a.b=b;v(a)}} function r(a,b){if(a.a==p){if(b==a)throw new TypeError;a.a=1;a.b=b;v(a)}}function v(a){l(function(){if(a.a!=p)for(;a.f.length;){var b=a.f.shift(),c=b[0],d=b[1],e=b[2],b=b[3];try{0==a.a?"function"==typeof c?e(c.call(void 0,a.b)):e(a.b):1==a.a&&("function"==typeof d?e(d.call(void 0,a.b)):b(a.b))}catch(h){b(h)}}})}n.prototype.g=function(a){return this.c(void 0,a)};n.prototype.c=function(a,b){var c=this;return new n(function(d,e){c.f.push([a,b,d,e]);v(c)})}; function w(a){return new n(function(b,c){function d(c){return function(d){h[c]=d;e+=1;e==a.length&&b(h)}}var e=0,h=[];0==a.length&&b(h);for(var k=0;k<a.length;k+=1)u(a[k]).c(d(k),c)})}function x(a){return new n(function(b,c){for(var d=0;d<a.length;d+=1)u(a[d]).c(b,c)})};window.Promise||(window.Promise=n,window.Promise.resolve=u,window.Promise.reject=t,window.Promise.race=x,window.Promise.all=w,window.Promise.prototype.then=n.prototype.c,window.Promise.prototype["catch"]=n.prototype.g);}()); </script> <script async src="https://www.google.com/recaptcha/enterprise.js?render=6Lf8phUgAAAAALezDJzYqEW07ZDmac978f9zIfup"></script> <script> var dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; dataLayer.push({ contentType: 'article', contentCategory: 'News' }); </script> <script> dataLayer.push({ author: 'Kate McGee', contentID: '45548', contentSeries: '2024 Texas Elections', primaryTags: 'courts', publishDate: '10-28-2024', tags: 'elections,higher education,Texas State University,Hays County,courts', title: 'Texas judge accused of breaking law after asking his university students to vote for him' }); </script> <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-P5L2Z5Z');</script> <script> window.ttGlobal = { pageType: 'generic' }; </script> <script> document .documentElement .classList .remove('no-js'); </script> </head> <body class="tt_body storypage"> <a href="#main-tt-content" class="c-button c-button--skip has-bg-teal has-text-white button button--s button--teal">Skip to main content</a> <noscript> <iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-P5L2Z5Z" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe> </noscript> <div style="display:none;"> <svg><symbol id="arrow-up" viewBox="0 0 26 28"><path d="M25.172 15.172c0 .531-.219 1.031-.578 1.406l-1.172 1.172c-.375.375-.891.594-1.422.594s-1.047-.219-1.406-.594L16 13.172v11C16 25.297 15.062 26 14 26h-2c-1.062 0-2-.703-2-1.828v-11L5.406 17.75a1.96 1.96 0 01-2.812 0l-1.172-1.172c-.375-.375-.594-.875-.594-1.406s.219-1.047.594-1.422L11.594 3.578C11.953 3.203 12.469 3 13 3s1.047.203 1.422.578L24.594 13.75c.359.375.578.891.578 1.422z"/></symbol><symbol id="bars" viewBox="0 0 24 28"><path d="M24 21v2c0 .547-.453 1-1 1H1c-.547 0-1-.453-1-1v-2c0-.547.453-1 1-1h22c.547 0 1 .453 1 1zm0-8v2c0 .547-.453 1-1 1H1c-.547 0-1-.453-1-1v-2c0-.547.453-1 1-1h22c.547 0 1 .453 1 1zm0-8v2c0 .547-.453 1-1 1H1c-.547 0-1-.453-1-1V5c0-.547.453-1 1-1h22c.547 0 1 .453 1 1z"/></symbol><symbol id="bug" viewBox="0 0 174.9 200"><path d="M0 0v200l40.2-25.1h134.6V0H0zm125.2 139.7l-38.3-25.2-38.3 25.2 12.1-44.2L25 66.8l45.8-2.1L87 21.8l16.2 42.9 45.8 2.1-35.8 28.6 12 44.3z"/></symbol><symbol id="camera" viewBox="0 0 30 28"><path d="M15 10.5c2.484 0 4.5 2.016 4.5 4.5s-2.016 4.5-4.5 4.5-4.5-2.016-4.5-4.5 2.016-4.5 4.5-4.5zM26 4c2.203 0 4 1.797 4 4v14c0 2.203-1.797 4-4 4H4c-2.203 0-4-1.797-4-4V8c0-2.203 1.797-4 4-4h3.5l.797-2.125C8.688.844 9.906 0 11 0h8c1.094 0 2.312.844 2.703 1.875L22.5 4H26zM15 22c3.859 0 7-3.141 7-7s-3.141-7-7-7-7 3.141-7 7 3.141 7 7 7z"/></symbol><symbol id="caret-down" viewBox="0 0 16 28"><path d="M16 11a.99.99 0 01-.297.703l-7 7C8.516 18.89 8.265 19 8 19s-.516-.109-.703-.297l-7-7A.996.996 0 010 11c0-.547.453-1 1-1h14c.547 0 1 .453 1 1z"/></symbol><symbol id="close" viewBox="0 0 22 28"><path d="M20.281 20.656c0 .391-.156.781-.438 1.062l-2.125 2.125c-.281.281-.672.438-1.062.438s-.781-.156-1.062-.438L11 19.249l-4.594 4.594c-.281.281-.672.438-1.062.438s-.781-.156-1.062-.438l-2.125-2.125c-.281-.281-.438-.672-.438-1.062s.156-.781.438-1.062L6.751 15l-4.594-4.594c-.281-.281-.438-.672-.438-1.062s.156-.781.438-1.062l2.125-2.125c.281-.281.672-.438 1.062-.438s.781.156 1.062.438L11 10.751l4.594-4.594c.281-.281.672-.438 1.062-.438s.781.156 1.062.438l2.125 2.125c.281.281.438.672.438 1.062s-.156.781-.438 1.062L15.249 15l4.594 4.594c.281.281.438.672.438 1.062z"/></symbol><symbol id="comments" viewBox="0 0 28 28"><path d="M22 12c0 4.422-4.922 8-11 8-.953 0-1.875-.094-2.75-.25a13.114 13.114 0 01-4.344 2 11.58 11.58 0 01-1.344.25h-.047c-.234 0-.453-.187-.5-.453-.063-.297.141-.484.313-.688.609-.688 1.297-1.297 1.828-2.594C1.625 16.796 0 14.531 0 11.999c0-4.422 4.922-8 11-8s11 3.578 11 8zm6 4c0 2.547-1.625 4.797-4.156 6.266.531 1.297 1.219 1.906 1.828 2.594.172.203.375.391.313.688-.063.281-.297.484-.547.453a11.58 11.58 0 01-1.344-.25 13.114 13.114 0 01-4.344-2c-.875.156-1.797.25-2.75.25-2.828 0-5.422-.781-7.375-2.063a20.4 20.4 0 001.375.063c3.359 0 6.531-.969 8.953-2.719C22.562 17.376 24 14.798 24 12.001c0-.812-.125-1.609-.359-2.375C26.282 11.079 28 13.392 28 16.001z"/></symbol><symbol id="envelope" viewBox="0 0 28 28"><path d="M28 11.094V23.5c0 1.375-1.125 2.5-2.5 2.5h-23A2.507 2.507 0 010 23.5V11.094c.469.516 1 .969 1.578 1.359 2.594 1.766 5.219 3.531 7.766 5.391 1.313.969 2.938 2.156 4.641 2.156h.031c1.703 0 3.328-1.188 4.641-2.156 2.547-1.844 5.172-3.625 7.781-5.391a9.278 9.278 0 001.563-1.359zM28 6.5c0 1.75-1.297 3.328-2.672 4.281-2.438 1.687-4.891 3.375-7.313 5.078-1.016.703-2.734 2.141-4 2.141h-.031c-1.266 0-2.984-1.437-4-2.141-2.422-1.703-4.875-3.391-7.297-5.078-1.109-.75-2.688-2.516-2.688-3.938 0-1.531.828-2.844 2.5-2.844h23c1.359 0 2.5 1.125 2.5 2.5z"/></symbol><symbol id="facebook" viewBox="0 0 16 28"><path d="M14.984.187v4.125h-2.453c-1.922 0-2.281.922-2.281 2.25v2.953h4.578l-.609 4.625H10.25v11.859H5.469V14.14H1.485V9.515h3.984V6.109C5.469 2.156 7.891 0 11.422 0c1.687 0 3.141.125 3.563.187z"/></symbol><symbol id="file-text-o" viewBox="0 0 24 28"><path d="M22.937 5.938c.578.578 1.062 1.734 1.062 2.562v18a1.5 1.5 0 01-1.5 1.5h-21a1.5 1.5 0 01-1.5-1.5v-25a1.5 1.5 0 011.5-1.5h14c.828 0 1.984.484 2.562 1.062zM16 2.125V8h5.875c-.094-.266-.234-.531-.344-.641L16.64 2.468c-.109-.109-.375-.25-.641-.344zM22 26V10h-6.5A1.5 1.5 0 0114 8.5V2H2v24h20zM6 12.5c0-.281.219-.5.5-.5h11c.281 0 .5.219.5.5v1c0 .281-.219.5-.5.5h-11a.494.494 0 01-.5-.5v-1zM17.5 16c.281 0 .5.219.5.5v1c0 .281-.219.5-.5.5h-11a.494.494 0 01-.5-.5v-1c0-.281.219-.5.5-.5h11zm0 4c.281 0 .5.219.5.5v1c0 .281-.219.5-.5.5h-11a.494.494 0 01-.5-.5v-1c0-.281.219-.5.5-.5h11z"/></symbol><symbol id="flag" viewBox="0 0 29 28"><path d="M5 4c0 .719-.391 1.359-1 1.719V25.5c0 .266-.234.5-.5.5h-1a.514.514 0 01-.5-.5V5.719c-.609-.359-1-1-1-1.719 0-1.109.891-2 2-2s2 .891 2 2zm23 1v11.922c0 .578-.359.797-.812 1.031-1.766.953-3.719 1.813-5.766 1.813-2.875 0-4.25-2.188-7.656-2.188-2.484 0-5.094 1.125-7.25 2.281A1.023 1.023 0 016 20c-.547 0-1-.453-1-1V7.406c0-.375.187-.641.484-.859.375-.25.828-.469 1.234-.672C8.687 4.875 11.077 4 13.296 4c2.453 0 4.375.812 6.547 1.828.438.219.891.297 1.375.297C23.671 6.125 26.312 4 26.999 4c.547 0 1 .453 1 1z"/></symbol><symbol id="info" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M12 2c5.514 0 10 4.486 10 10s-4.486 10-10 10-10-4.486-10-10 4.486-10 10-10zm0-2c-6.627 0-12 5.373-12 12s5.373 12 12 12 12-5.373 12-12-5.373-12-12-12zm1 18h-2v-8h2v8zm-1-12.25c.69 0 1.25.56 1.25 1.25s-.56 1.25-1.25 1.25-1.25-.56-1.25-1.25.56-1.25 1.25-1.25z"/></symbol><symbol id="instagram" viewBox="0 0 24 28"><path d="M16 14c0-2.203-1.797-4-4-4s-4 1.797-4 4 1.797 4 4 4 4-1.797 4-4zm2.156 0c0 3.406-2.75 6.156-6.156 6.156S5.844 17.406 5.844 14 8.594 7.844 12 7.844s6.156 2.75 6.156 6.156zm1.688-6.406c0 .797-.641 1.437-1.437 1.437S16.97 8.39 16.97 7.594s.641-1.437 1.437-1.437 1.437.641 1.437 1.437zM12 4.156c-1.75 0-5.5-.141-7.078.484-.547.219-.953.484-1.375.906s-.688.828-.906 1.375c-.625 1.578-.484 5.328-.484 7.078s-.141 5.5.484 7.078c.219.547.484.953.906 1.375s.828.688 1.375.906c1.578.625 5.328.484 7.078.484s5.5.141 7.078-.484c.547-.219.953-.484 1.375-.906s.688-.828.906-1.375c.625-1.578.484-5.328.484-7.078s.141-5.5-.484-7.078c-.219-.547-.484-.953-.906-1.375s-.828-.688-1.375-.906C17.5 4.015 13.75 4.156 12 4.156zM24 14c0 1.656.016 3.297-.078 4.953-.094 1.922-.531 3.625-1.937 5.031s-3.109 1.844-5.031 1.937c-1.656.094-3.297.078-4.953.078s-3.297.016-4.953-.078c-1.922-.094-3.625-.531-5.031-1.937S.173 20.875.08 18.953C-.014 17.297.002 15.656.002 14s-.016-3.297.078-4.953c.094-1.922.531-3.625 1.937-5.031s3.109-1.844 5.031-1.937c1.656-.094 3.297-.078 4.953-.078s3.297-.016 4.953.078c1.922.094 3.625.531 5.031 1.937s1.844 3.109 1.937 5.031C24.016 10.703 24 12.344 24 14z"/></symbol><symbol id="link" viewBox="0 0 72 72"><path d="M67.6 25.5L55 38.1c-1.2 1.2-3.1 1.2-4.2 0s-1.2-3.1 0-4.2l12.7-12.7c3.5-3.5 3.5-9.2 0-12.7s-9.2-3.5-12.7 0l-16.9 17c-1 1.1-6 6.7 0 12.7 1.2 1.2 1.2 3.1 0 4.2s-3.1 1.2-4.2 0c-8.3-8.3-3.6-17.4 0-21.1L46.5 4.4c5.8-5.8 15.3-5.8 21.1 0s5.9 15.2 0 21.1zm-25.3 4.2c-1.2-1.2-3.1-1.2-4.2 0-1.2 1.2-1.2 3.1 0 4.2 6 6 1 11.6 0 12.7L21.2 63.4c-3.5 3.5-9.2 3.5-12.7 0s-3.5-9.2 0-12.7L21.2 38c1.2-1.2 1.2-3.1 0-4.2s-3.1-1.2-4.2 0L4.4 46.5c-5.8 5.8-5.8 15.3 0 21.1 5.8 5.8 15.3 5.8 21.1 0l16.9-16.9c3.6-3.6 8.3-12.7-.1-21z"/></symbol><symbol id="linkedin" viewBox="0 0 24 28"><path d="M5.453 9.766V25.25H.297V9.766h5.156zm.328-4.782c.016 1.484-1.109 2.672-2.906 2.672h-.031C1.11 7.656 0 6.468 0 4.984c0-1.516 1.156-2.672 2.906-2.672 1.766 0 2.859 1.156 2.875 2.672zM24 16.375v8.875h-5.141v-8.281c0-2.078-.75-3.5-2.609-3.5-1.422 0-2.266.953-2.641 1.875-.125.344-.172.797-.172 1.266v8.641H8.296c.063-14.031 0-15.484 0-15.484h5.141v2.25h-.031c.672-1.062 1.891-2.609 4.672-2.609 3.391 0 5.922 2.219 5.922 6.969z"/></symbol><symbol id="long-arrow-left" viewBox="0 0 29 28"><path d="M28 12.5v3c0 .281-.219.5-.5.5H8v3.5c0 .203-.109.375-.297.453s-.391.047-.547-.078l-6-5.469A.508.508 0 011 14.047c0-.141.063-.281.156-.375l6-5.531A.5.5 0 118 8.5V12h19.5c.281 0 .5.219.5.5z"/></symbol><symbol id="long-arrow-right" viewBox="0 0 27 28"><path d="M27 13.953a.549.549 0 01-.156.375l-6 5.531A.5.5 0 1120 19.5V16H.5a.494.494 0 01-.5-.5v-3c0-.281.219-.5.5-.5H20V8.5c0-.203.109-.375.297-.453s.391-.047.547.078l6 5.469a.508.508 0 01.156.359z"/></symbol><symbol id="reddit" viewBox="0 0 28 28"><path d="M17.109 18.234c.141.141.141.359 0 .484-.891.891-2.609.969-3.109.969s-2.219-.078-3.109-.969c-.141-.125-.141-.344 0-.484a.34.34 0 01.469 0c.562.578 1.781.766 2.641.766s2.063-.187 2.641-.766a.34.34 0 01.469 0zm-4.796-2.828c0 .766-.625 1.391-1.391 1.391a1.397 1.397 0 01-1.406-1.391A1.4 1.4 0 0110.922 14c.766 0 1.391.625 1.391 1.406zm6.171 0c0 .766-.625 1.391-1.406 1.391a1.394 1.394 0 01-1.391-1.391c0-.781.625-1.406 1.391-1.406a1.4 1.4 0 011.406 1.406zm3.922-1.875a1.867 1.867 0 00-1.875-1.859c-.531 0-1 .219-1.344.562-1.266-.875-2.969-1.437-4.859-1.5l.984-4.422 3.125.703c0 .766.625 1.391 1.391 1.391.781 0 1.406-.641 1.406-1.406s-.625-1.406-1.406-1.406a1.42 1.42 0 00-1.25.781l-3.453-.766c-.172-.047-.344.078-.391.25l-1.078 4.875c-1.875.078-3.563.641-4.828 1.516a1.877 1.877 0 00-1.359-.578 1.867 1.867 0 00-1.875 1.859c0 .75.438 1.375 1.062 1.687a4.024 4.024 0 00-.094.875c0 2.969 3.344 5.375 7.453 5.375 4.125 0 7.469-2.406 7.469-5.375 0-.297-.031-.609-.109-.891a1.878 1.878 0 001.031-1.672zM28 14c0 7.734-6.266 14-14 14S0 21.734 0 14 6.266 0 14 0s14 6.266 14 14z"/></symbol><symbol id="rss" viewBox="0 0 32 32"><path d="M4.259 23.467A4.265 4.265 0 000 27.719a4.25 4.25 0 004.259 4.244 4.25 4.25 0 004.265-4.244 4.265 4.265 0 00-4.265-4.252zM.005 10.873v6.133c3.993 0 7.749 1.562 10.577 4.391A14.897 14.897 0 0114.966 32h6.16c0-11.651-9.478-21.127-21.121-21.127zM.012 0v6.136C14.255 6.136 25.848 17.74 25.848 32H32C32 14.36 17.648 0 .012 0z"/></symbol><symbol id="search" viewBox="0 0 26 28"><path d="M18 13c0-3.859-3.141-7-7-7s-7 3.141-7 7 3.141 7 7 7 7-3.141 7-7zm8 13c0 1.094-.906 2-2 2a1.96 1.96 0 01-1.406-.594l-5.359-5.344a10.971 10.971 0 01-6.234 1.937c-6.078 0-11-4.922-11-11s4.922-11 11-11 11 4.922 11 11c0 2.219-.672 4.406-1.937 6.234l5.359 5.359c.359.359.578.875.578 1.406z"/></symbol><symbol id="sign-in" viewBox="0 0 24 28"><path d="M18.5 14a.99.99 0 01-.297.703l-8.5 8.5A.996.996 0 019 23.5c-.547 0-1-.453-1-1V18H1c-.547 0-1-.453-1-1v-6c0-.547.453-1 1-1h7V5.5c0-.547.453-1 1-1a.99.99 0 01.703.297l8.5 8.5A.996.996 0 0118.5 14zM24 8.5v11c0 2.484-2.016 4.5-4.5 4.5h-5a.514.514 0 01-.5-.5c0-.438-.203-1.5.5-1.5h5c1.375 0 2.5-1.125 2.5-2.5v-11C22 7.125 20.875 6 19.5 6H15c-.391 0-1 .078-1-.5 0-.438-.203-1.5.5-1.5h5C21.984 4 24 6.016 24 8.5z"/></symbol><symbol id="sign-out" viewBox="0 0 25 28"><path d="M10 22.5c0 .438.203 1.5-.5 1.5h-5A4.502 4.502 0 010 19.5v-11C0 6.016 2.016 4 4.5 4h5c.266 0 .5.234.5.5 0 .438.203 1.5-.5 1.5h-5A2.507 2.507 0 002 8.5v11C2 20.875 3.125 22 4.5 22H9c.391 0 1-.078 1 .5zM24.5 14a.99.99 0 01-.297.703l-8.5 8.5A.996.996 0 0115 23.5c-.547 0-1-.453-1-1V18H7c-.547 0-1-.453-1-1v-6c0-.547.453-1 1-1h7V5.5c0-.547.453-1 1-1a.99.99 0 01.703.297l8.5 8.5A.996.996 0 0124.5 14z"/></symbol><symbol id="twitter" viewBox="0 0 1200 1227"><path d="M714.163 519.284 1160.89 0h-105.86L667.137 450.887 357.328 0H0l468.492 681.821L0 1226.37h105.866l409.625-476.152 327.181 476.152H1200L714.137 519.284h.026ZM569.165 687.828l-47.468-67.894-377.686-540.24h162.604l304.797 435.991 47.468 67.894 396.2 566.721H892.476L569.165 687.854v-.026Z"/></symbol><symbol id="user" viewBox="0 0 20 28"><path d="M20 21.859C20 24.14 18.5 26 16.672 26H3.328C1.5 26 0 24.141 0 21.859 0 17.75 1.016 13 5.109 13a6.979 6.979 0 009.782 0C18.985 13 20 17.75 20 21.859zM16 8c0 3.313-2.688 6-6 6s-6-2.688-6-6 2.688-6 6-6 6 2.688 6 6z"/></symbol><symbol id="volume-up" viewBox="0 0 26 28"><path d="M12 5.5v17c0 .547-.453 1-1 1a.99.99 0 01-.703-.297L5.094 18H1c-.547 0-1-.453-1-1v-6c0-.547.453-1 1-1h4.094l5.203-5.203A.996.996 0 0111 4.5c.547 0 1 .453 1 1zm6 8.5c0 1.563-.953 3.078-2.422 3.672a.869.869 0 01-.391.078c-.547 0-1-.438-1-1 0-1.188 1.813-.859 1.813-2.75s-1.813-1.563-1.813-2.75c0-.562.453-1 1-1 .125 0 .266.016.391.078C17.047 10.906 18 12.437 18 14zm4 0c0 3.172-1.906 6.125-4.844 7.359a1.158 1.158 0 01-.391.078 1.01 1.01 0 01-1.016-1c0-.438.25-.734.609-.922.422-.219.812-.406 1.188-.688 1.547-1.125 2.453-2.922 2.453-4.828s-.906-3.703-2.453-4.828c-.375-.281-.766-.469-1.188-.688-.359-.187-.609-.484-.609-.922 0-.547.453-1 1-1 .141 0 .281.031.406.078 2.938 1.234 4.844 4.188 4.844 7.359zm4 0c0 4.797-2.859 9.141-7.266 11.031a1.172 1.172 0 01-.406.078c-.547 0-1-.453-1-1 0-.453.234-.703.609-.922.219-.125.469-.203.703-.328.438-.234.875-.5 1.281-.797 2.562-1.891 4.078-4.875 4.078-8.062s-1.516-6.172-4.078-8.062a11.006 11.006 0 00-1.281-.797c-.234-.125-.484-.203-.703-.328-.375-.219-.609-.469-.609-.922 0-.547.453-1 1-1 .141 0 .281.031.406.078A12.009 12.009 0 0126 14z"/></symbol><symbol id="your-texas" viewBox="0 0 500 500"><path d="M270.19 448.13l-79.76-143.39-66.32 42.04L15 211h127.16V23.6h114.9v96.95l195.47 19.06L485 259.33l-11.46 53.57-124.58 87.57 9.54 75.93z"/></symbol><symbol id="youtube" viewBox="0 0 24 28"><path d="M15.172 19.437v3.297c0 .703-.203 1.047-.609 1.047-.234 0-.469-.109-.703-.344v-4.703c.234-.234.469-.344.703-.344.406 0 .609.359.609 1.047zm5.281.016v.719h-1.406v-.719c0-.703.234-1.062.703-1.062s.703.359.703 1.062zM5.359 16.047h1.672v-1.469H2.156v1.469h1.641v8.891H5.36v-8.891zm4.5 8.891h1.391v-7.719H9.859v5.906c-.313.438-.609.656-.891.656-.187 0-.297-.109-.328-.328-.016-.047-.016-.219-.016-.547v-5.688H7.233v6.109c0 .547.047.906.125 1.141.125.391.453.578.906.578.5 0 1.031-.313 1.594-.953v.844zm6.703-2.313v-3.078c0-.719-.031-1.234-.141-1.547-.172-.578-.562-.875-1.109-.875-.516 0-1 .281-1.453.844v-3.391h-1.391v10.359h1.391v-.75c.469.578.953.859 1.453.859.547 0 .938-.297 1.109-.859.109-.328.141-.844.141-1.563zm5.282-.156v-.203h-1.422c0 .562-.016.875-.031.953-.078.375-.281.562-.625.562-.484 0-.719-.359-.719-1.078v-1.359h2.797v-1.609c0-.828-.141-1.422-.422-1.813-.406-.531-.953-.797-1.656-.797-.719 0-1.266.266-1.672.797-.297.391-.438.984-.438 1.813v2.703c0 .828.156 1.437.453 1.813.406.531.953.797 1.687.797s1.313-.281 1.687-.828a1.8 1.8 0 00.328-.844c.031-.141.031-.453.031-.906zm-9.5-14.266V4.922c0-.719-.203-1.078-.672-1.078-.453 0-.672.359-.672 1.078v3.281c0 .719.219 1.094.672 1.094.469 0 .672-.375.672-1.094zm11.234 11.735c0 1.797-.016 3.719-.406 5.469-.297 1.234-1.297 2.141-2.5 2.266-2.875.328-5.781.328-8.672.328s-5.797 0-8.672-.328c-1.203-.125-2.219-1.031-2.5-2.266-.406-1.75-.406-3.672-.406-5.469 0-1.813.016-3.719.406-5.469.297-1.234 1.297-2.141 2.516-2.281 2.859-.313 5.766-.313 8.656-.313s5.797 0 8.672.313c1.203.141 2.219 1.047 2.5 2.281.406 1.75.406 3.656.406 5.469zM7.984 0h1.594L7.687 6.234v4.234H6.124V6.234c-.141-.766-.453-1.859-.953-3.313-.344-.969-.688-1.953-1.016-2.922h1.656L6.92 4.108zm5.782 5.203v2.734c0 .828-.141 1.453-.438 1.844-.391.531-.938.797-1.656.797-.703 0-1.25-.266-1.641-.797-.297-.406-.438-1.016-.438-1.844V5.203c0-.828.141-1.437.438-1.828.391-.531.938-.797 1.641-.797.719 0 1.266.266 1.656.797.297.391.438 1 .438 1.828zM19 2.672v7.797h-1.422V9.61c-.562.656-1.094.969-1.609.969-.453 0-.781-.187-.922-.578-.078-.234-.125-.609-.125-1.172V2.673h1.422v5.734c0 .328 0 .516.016.547.031.219.141.344.328.344.281 0 .578-.219.891-.672V2.673h1.422z"/></symbol></svg> </div> <div style="display:none;"> <svg><symbol id="arrow-right" viewBox="0 0 14 13"><path d="M13.0043 6.79589L7.0778 12.7393L5.51837 11.1799L8.56281 8.15912H0.339447V5.43266H8.57296L5.52852 2.42881L7.0778 0.869385L13.0043 6.79589Z"/></symbol><symbol id="close-thin" viewBox="0 0 14 15"><path stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" d="M13 1.5L1 13.5M13 13.5L1.00001 1.5"/></symbol><symbol id="plus" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M24 10h-10v-10h-4v10h-10v4h10v10h4v-10h10z"/></symbol><symbol id="tick-in-circle" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M12 0c-6.627 0-12 5.373-12 12s5.373 12 12 12 12-5.373 12-12-5.373-12-12-12zm-1.959 17l-4.5-4.319 1.395-1.435 3.08 2.937 7.021-7.183 1.422 1.409-8.418 8.591z"/></symbol><symbol id="tick" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M9 22l-10-10.598 2.798-2.859 7.149 7.473 13.144-14.016 2.909 2.806z"/></symbol></svg> </div> <nav class="c-navbar c-navbar--dark has-bg-black-off" aria-label="sitewide"> <div class="c-navbar__top l-align-center-x c-navbar__top--standard"> <a href="/" class="c-navbar__logo l-align-center-self" aria-label="The Texas Tribune Homepage"> <svg aria-hidden="true" xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 585.7 64.51' class="l-display-block l-width-full"><path fill="#fff" d='M84.94 10.23v45.85H74.63V10.23H64.49V1.16H95v9.07zM120.08 56.08V33.57h-11.46v22.51H98.39V1.16h10.23v23.25h11.46V1.16h10.31v54.92zM136.78 56.08V1.16H163V10h-16v13.59h11.05v8.08H147v15.26h16v9.15zM198.62 10.23v45.85h-10.31V10.23h-10.14V1.16h30.51v9.07zM213.1 56.08V1.16h26.23V10h-16v13.59h11v8.08h-11v15.26h16v9.15zM265.89 56.08l-6.44-19-7 19h-10l11.29-27.71-10.62-27.21h10.73l6 19 6.59-19h10.07l-11 26.39 11.05 28.53zM301.7 56.08l-1.81-10.8h-9.73l-2 10.8h-9.57l11.07-54.92h11.47l11 54.92zM295.27 16l-3.71 21.2h7zM328.66 57.32c-9.4 0-15.25-5.61-15.25-14.19v-3.79h9.4v3.22c0 4 1.9 6.26 5.61 6.26s5.44-2.14 5.44-5.52c0-4.37-2.8-7.34-8.25-11.38-5.6-4-11.71-9.49-11.71-17.15C313.9 6.85 319 0 328.91 0c8.66 0 14.43 5.94 14.43 14.1v3.55H334v-3.3c0-3.38-1.72-5.85-5.19-5.85a4.63 4.63 0 0 0-4.95 4.94c0 4.62 2.72 7 8.82 11.47 6.52 4.86 11.14 9.81 11.14 17.23.02 8.86-6.08 15.18-15.16 15.18zM377.84 10.23v45.85h-10.31V10.23h-10.15V1.16h30.52v9.07zM417.57 56.41c-4.05 0-5.61-3.3-5.61-8.08V38c0-2.56-1.32-4.7-4.21-4.7h-5.36v22.78h-10.22V1.16h16.9c7.51 0 12.54 4.29 12.54 12v7.76c0 4.12-1.9 7.17-6.19 8.49a8.42 8.42 0 0 1 6.35 8.33v10.01a7.69 7.69 0 0 0 2 5.61v3zm-5.94-42.88c0-2.48-1.07-4-3.63-4h-5.61v16.2h5.2c2.64 0 4-1.4 4-4.37zM429.8 56.08V1.16H440v54.92zM465.59 56.08h-17.32V1.16h17.16c7.5 0 12.12 4 12.12 11.62v5.94c0 4.7-1.81 8.25-6.51 9.24 4.95 1.32 6.76 4.7 6.76 9.32v7.17c0 7.67-4.7 11.63-12.21 11.63zm2.15-42.55c0-2.48-1.08-4-3.63-4h-5.53v15.13h5.12c2.63 0 4-1.4 4-4.29zm.16 23c0-2.89-1.4-4.37-4-4.37h-5.28v15.5h5.78c2.55 0 3.54-1.4 3.54-4zM499.34 57.32c-8.9 0-15.5-5.69-15.5-13.94V1.16h10.39v42.22c0 3.22 1.81 5 5.11 5s5.2-1.81 5.2-5V1.16h10v42.22c-.02 8.25-6.29 13.94-15.2 13.94zM544.66 56.08L534 32.66l-3.87-8.74v32.16h-9.4V1.16h8.82L539.71 25l3.63 8.74V1.16h9.24v54.92zM559.48 56.08V1.16h26.22V10h-16v13.59h11v8.08h-11v15.26h16v9.15z'/><path d='M0 .6v63.91l12.85-8h43V.6zm40 44.63l-12.22-8.06-12.24 8.06 3.88-14.13L8 22l14.63-.68 5.15-13.76L33 21.27l14.58.73-11.44 9.1z' fill='#ffc200'/></svg> </a> <div class="c-navbar__content "> <ul class="c-navbar__items t-uppercase t-size-xxs hide_until--l is-hidden-until-bp-l js-toggle-on-search "> <li class="c-navbar__item"> <a class="c-navbar__item-content c-navbar__clickable c-navbar__clickable--animated " href="/series/investigations/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="investigations">Investigations</a> </li> <li class="c-navbar__item"> <a class="c-navbar__item-content c-navbar__clickable c-navbar__clickable--animated " href="/series/guides/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="guides">Guides</a> </li> <li class="c-navbar__item"> <a class="c-navbar__item-content c-navbar__clickable c-navbar__clickable--animated " href="/newsletters/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="subscribe intent" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="not frontpage">Newsletters</a> </li> <li class="c-navbar__item"> <a class="c-navbar__item-content c-navbar__clickable c-navbar__clickable--animated " href="/events/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="events">Events</a> </li> <li class="c-navbar__item"> <a class="c-navbar__item-content c-navbar__clickable c-navbar__clickable--animated " href="/series/news-apps-graphics-databases/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="data">Data</a> </li> </ul> <ul class="c-navbar__items c-navbar__items--no-space js-toggle-on-search hide_until--l is-hidden-until-bp-l"> <li class="c-navbar__item"> <a class="t-uppercase t-size-xxs c-navbar__item-content c-navbar__clickable c-navbar__clickable--animated " href="/about/?utm_medium=top-nav-about" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="about">About</a> </li> <li class="c-navbar__item"> <a class="t-uppercase t-size-xxs c-navbar__item-content c-navbar__clickable c-navbar__clickable--animated" href="https://support.texastribune.org/donate?installmentPeriod=yearly&amount=200&campaignId=7016f000002Gv2vAAC" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="donations" ga-event-action="membership-intent" ga-event-label="c-navbar"><span class="has-text-yellow">Donate</span></a> </li> <li class="c-navbar__item"> <button id="nav-search-open" class="c-navbar__item-content c-navbar__clickable" aria-label="Show site search form" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="search-open"> <span class="c-icon t-size-s"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#search"></use></svg></span> </button> </li> </ul> <ul class="c-navbar__items t-size-xxs hide_from--l is-hidden-from-bp-l"> <li id="nav-menu-open" class="c-navbar__item c-navbar__item--no-space"> <button class="c-navbar__item-content c-navbar__text c-navbar__clickable has-text-gray-light t-uppercase" aria-label="Show menu" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="menu-open"> <span class="c-icon c-icon--yellow t-size-s"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#bars"></use></svg></span> <span> Menu</span> </button> </li> <li id="nav-menu-close" class="c-navbar__item hidden"> <button class="c-navbar__item-content c-navbar__text c-navbar__clickable has-text-gray-light t-uppercase" aria-label="Hide menu" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="menu-close"> <span class="c-icon c-icon--yellow t-size-s"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#close"></use></svg></span> <span> Close</span> </button> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="nav-search-form" class="c-navbar__search hidden hide_until--l is-hidden-until-bp-l"> <form class="c-navbar__search-form" method="get" action="/search/"> <button class="c-navbar__search-button c-navbar__clickable" type="submit" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="search-submit"> <span class="c-icon t-size-s"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#search"></use></svg></span> </button> <input class="js-search-input c-navbar__search-input" name="q" type="text" placeholder="Search The Texas Tribune" aria-label="Search The Texas Tribune"> <button id="nav-search-close" class="c-navbar__clickable" type="button" aria-label="Close site search form" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="search-close"> <span class="c-icon t-size-s"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#close"></use></svg></span> </button> </form> </div> </div> <div id="nav-dropdown" class="c-navbar__dropdown hide_from--l is-hidden-from-bp-l hidden"> <div class="c-navbar__dropdown-search grid_separator has-b-btm-marg l-width-full"> <form class="c-navbar__search-form" method="get" action="/search/"> <button class="c-navbar__search-button c-navbar__clickable" type="submit" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="search-submit"> <span class="c-icon t-size-s"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#search"></use></svg></span> </button> <input class="js-search-input c-navbar__search-input" name="q" type="text" placeholder="Search The Texas Tribune" aria-label="Search The Texas Tribune"> </form> </div> <ul class="c-navbar__dropdown-items t-uppercase t-size-xxs"> <li class="c-navbar__dropdown-item"> <a class="c-navbar__clickable" href="https://support.texastribune.org/donate?installmentPeriod=yearly&amount=200&campaignId=7016f000002Gv2vAAC" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="donations" ga-event-action="membership-intent" ga-event-label="c-navbar"><span class="has-text-yellow">Donate</span></a> </li> <li class="c-navbar__dropdown-item"> <a class="c-navbar__clickable c-navbar__clickable--animated " href="/about/?utm_medium=top-nav-about" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="about">About</a> </li> <li class="c-navbar__dropdown-item"> <a class="c-navbar__clickable" href="/series/investigations/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="investigations">Investigations</a> </li> <li class="c-navbar__dropdown-item"> <a class="c-navbar__clickable" href="/series/guides/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="guides">Guides</a> </li> <li class="c-navbar__dropdown-item"> <a class="c-navbar__clickable " href="/newsletters/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="subscribe intent" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="not frontpage">Newsletters</a> </li> <li class="c-navbar__dropdown-item"> <a class="c-navbar__clickable " href="/events/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="events">Events</a> </li> <li class="c-navbar__dropdown-item"> <a class="c-navbar__clickable " href="/series/news-apps-graphics-databases/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="data">Data</a> </li> </ul> <ul id="mobile-greeting" class="c-navbar__dropdown-items t-uppercase t-size-xxs"></ul> </div> </nav> <script> (function() { function bindSearchOpen(elements) { var searchOpen = elements.searchOpen; var searchForm = elements.searchForm; var searchInput = elements.searchInput; var toggleOnSearch = elements.toggleOnSearch; searchOpen.addEventListener('click', function () { searchForm.classList.remove('hidden'); toggleOnSearch.forEach(function (el) { el.classList.add('hidden'); searchInput.focus(); }); }); } function bindSearchClose(elements) { var searchClose = elements.searchClose; var searchForm = elements.searchForm; var toggleOnSearch = elements.toggleOnSearch; searchClose.addEventListener('click', function () { searchForm.classList.add('hidden'); toggleOnSearch.forEach(function (el) { el.classList.remove('hidden'); }); }); } function bindMenuOpen(elements) { var menuOpen = elements.menuOpen; var menuClose = elements.menuClose; var dropdown = elements.dropdown; menuOpen.addEventListener('click', function () { menuOpen.classList.add('hidden'); menuClose.classList.remove('hidden'); dropdown.classList.remove('hidden'); }); } function bindMenuClose(elements) { var menuOpen = elements.menuOpen; var menuClose = elements.menuClose; var dropdown = elements.dropdown; menuClose.addEventListener('click', function () { menuOpen.classList.remove('hidden'); menuClose.classList.add('hidden'); dropdown.classList.add('hidden'); }); } function getElements() { var toggleOnSearch = document.querySelectorAll('.js-toggle-on-search'); var menuOpen = document.querySelector('#nav-menu-open'); var menuClose = document.querySelector('#nav-menu-close'); var searchForm = document.querySelector('#nav-search-form'); var searchInput = document.querySelector('.js-search-input'); var searchOpen = document.querySelector('#nav-search-open'); var searchClose = document.querySelector('#nav-search-close'); var dropdown = document.querySelector('#nav-dropdown'); return { toggleOnSearch: toggleOnSearch, menuOpen: menuOpen, menuClose: menuClose, searchForm: searchForm, searchInput: searchInput, searchOpen: searchOpen, searchClose: searchClose, dropdown: dropdown }; } function bindNavEvents() { const elements = getElements(); bindSearchOpen(elements); bindSearchClose(elements); bindMenuOpen(elements); bindMenuClose(elements); } bindNavEvents(); }()); </script> <aside class="c-topic-bar c-topic-bar--btm-border c-topic-bar--sticky t-links-underlined-hover t-size-xs t-align-center has-bg-white" aria-labelledby="topic-bar-label" data-test-name="topicbar"> <h2 id="topic-bar-label" class="is-sr-only">Key coverage</h2> <div class="c-topic-bar__inner"> <div class="flatblock block-homepage-topic-bar"> <div class="flatblock-content"><ul> <li> <a href="https://support.texastribune.org/donate?installmentPeriod=yearly&amount=200&campaignId=7016f000002GvB9AAK" class="c-button c-button--s has-bg-yellow t-links-unset">Donate</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/23/brooke-rollins-agriculture-secretary-trump/">Brooke Rollins</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/22/scott-turner-nomination-housing-urban-development/">Scott Turner</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/06/texas-house-greg-abbott-school-vouchers-funding/">School Vouchers</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/22/texas-tuition-freeze-universities-colleges/">College Tuition</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/19/alayer-personalized-reading/">Personalize The Trib</a> </li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </aside> <div class="has-l-btm-marg" aria-hidden="true"></div> <div class="has-xl-btm-marg is-hidden-print"> <div id="ad-unit-4231" class="js-ad-unit t-align-center"> <div class="c-ad-ldbd"> <div class="c-ad-ldbd__unit"></div> </div> </div> </div> <main id="main-tt-content" class="has-xxxl-btm-marg"> <article> <!-- headline + lead media --> <section class="l-container l-container--l"> <header class="has-page-padding has-s-btm-marg"> <div id="article-hed-byline" class="t-links"> <!-- series kicker --> <a class="t-uppercase t-lsp-b t-weight-bold l-display-ib has-xxxs-btm-marg has-text-vert-padding" href="/series/texas-2024-election-voting/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="series label click" ga-event-label="2024 Texas Elections">2024 Texas Elections</a> <!-- headline --> <h1 itemprop="headline" class="t-headline t-serif t-lh-s has-b-btm-marg">Texas judge accused of breaking law after asking his university students to vote for him</h1> <!-- summary --> <div class="has-notch is-hidden-from-bp-s has-b-btm-marg has-bg-yellow"></div> <p class="has-s-btm-marg has-vert-bar has-vert-bar--from-bp-s t-size-b has-text-yellow"> <span class="has-text-gray-dark">A candidate running against the judge accused him of emailing his students at Texas State to vote for him. State law prohibits using public resources for political advertising.</span> </p> <!-- Styles: _article-details.scss --> <!-- Article Details --> <div class="c-details l-flex t-size-xs t-uppercase t-lsp-m t-lh-b has-text-black-off has-text-vert-padding has-s-btm-marg"> <!-- Byline --> <div>By <a href="/about/staff/kate-mcgee/">Kate McGee</a></div> <div class="c-details__wrapper l-flex l-align-end-self"> <!-- Timestamp --> <time class="byline--item t-byline__item l-display-ib" datetime="Mon, 28 Oct 2024 19:39:03 -0500" title="2024-10-28 19:39 CDT">Oct. 28, 2024</time><time class="byline--item t-byline__item l-display-ib" datetime="Mon, 28 Oct 2024 19:39:03 -0500" title="2024-10-28 19:39 CDT">7 PM Central</time> <!-- Spacer --> <div class="c-details__spacer"></div> <!-- Share --> <div class="c-details__social-share"> <details class="c-social-share"> <summary class="c-social-share__btn" id="native-share"> <span class="c-details__icon-link t-weight-bold has-text-hover-teal" ga-event-category="social-share" ga-event-action="share-intent">Share</span> </summary> <ul class="c-social-share__dropdown has-border t-titlecase has-text-gray-dark"> <li><a class="t-links-unset l-flex t-weight-bold has-text-hover-teal" href="https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/hays-county-district-judge-race-texas-state-student-vote/?utm_campaign=trib-social-buttons&utm_source=copy&utm_medium=social" ga-event-category="social-share" ga-event-action="copy-url-intent" aria-label="Copy URL" id="copy-url"><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#link"></use></svg></span> <span id="copy-url-text">Copy URL</span></a></li> <li class="is-hidden-from-bp-l"> <a class="t-links-unset l-flex t-weight-bold has-text-hover-teal" href="/republish?article=/2024/10/28/hays-county-district-judge-race-texas-state-student-vote/" ga-event-category="Republish" ga-event-action="republish-intent" aria-label="Republish this story"> <span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline"> <svg width="21" height="20" viewBox="0 0 21 20" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M10.94 2.11L17.1001 2.13L0.7 18.53L2.17 20L18.5701 3.6L18.5901 9.76L20.68 9.74V0L18.25 0.00999999H10.9501L10.94 2.11Z"/></svg> </span> Republish </a> </li> <li><a class="t-links-unset l-flex t-weight-bold has-text-hover-teal" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/hays-county-district-judge-race-texas-state-student-vote/%3Futm_campaign%3Dtrib-social-buttons%26utm_source%3Dtwitter%26utm_medium%3Dsocial&text=Texas%20judge%20accused%20of%20breaking%20law%20after%20asking%20his%20university%20students%20to%20vote%20for%20him&via=TexasTribune" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" ga-event-category="social-share" ga-event-action="twitter-intent" aria-label="Share on Twitter"><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#twitter"></use></svg></span> Twitter</a></li> <li><a class="t-links-unset l-flex t-weight-bold has-text-hover-teal" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/hays-county-district-judge-race-texas-state-student-vote/%3Futm_campaign%3Dtrib-social-buttons%26utm_source%3Dfacebook%26utm_medium%3Dsocial" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" ga-event-category="social-share" ga-event-action="facebook-intent" aria-label="Share on Facebook"><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#facebook"></use></svg></span> Facebook</a></li> <li><a class="t-links-unset l-flex t-weight-bold has-text-hover-teal" href="https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/hays-county-district-judge-race-texas-state-student-vote/%3Futm_campaign%3Dtrib-social-buttons%26utm_source%3Dreddit%26utm_medium%3Dsocial&title=Texas%20judge%20accused%20of%20breaking%20law%20after%20asking%20his%20university%20students%20to%20vote%20for%20him" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" ga-event-category="social-share" ga-event-action="reddit-intent" aria-label="Share on Reddit"><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#reddit"></use></svg></span> Reddit</a></li> <li><a class="t-links-unset l-flex t-weight-bold has-text-hover-teal" href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/hays-county-district-judge-race-texas-state-student-vote/%3Futm_campaign%3Dtrib-social-buttons%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin%26utm_medium%3Dsocial&title=Texas%20judge%20accused%20of%20breaking%20law%20after%20asking%20his%20university%20students%20to%20vote%20for%20him" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" ga-event-category="social-share" ga-event-action="linkedin-intent" aria-label="Share on LinkedIn"><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#linkedin"></use></svg></span> LinkedIn</a></li> <li><a class="t-links-unset l-flex t-weight-bold has-text-hover-teal" href="mailto:?subject=Texas%20judge%20accused%20of%20breaking%20law%20after%20asking%20his%20university%20students%20to%20vote%20for%20him&body=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/hays-county-district-judge-race-texas-state-student-vote/%3Futm_campaign%3Dtrib-social-buttons%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Dsocial" ga-event-category="social-share" ga-event-action="email-intent" aria-label="Share this story by email"><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#envelope"></use></svg></span> Email</a></li> </ul> </details> </div> <!-- Republish --> <a href="/republish?article=/2024/10/28/hays-county-district-judge-race-texas-state-student-vote/" class="c-details__icon-link c-details__icon-link--spaced t-weight-bold t-links-unset has-text-hover-teal is-hidden-until-bp-l" ga-event-category="Republish" ga-event-action="republish-intent" aria-label="Republish this story"> Republish <span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline"> <svg width="21" height="20" viewBox="0 0 21 20" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M10.94 2.11L17.1001 2.13L0.7 18.53L2.17 20L18.5701 3.6L18.5901 9.76L20.68 9.74V0L18.25 0.00999999H10.9501L10.94 2.11Z"/></svg> </span> </a> </div> </div> </div> </header> </section> <div class="l-container l-container--l has-page-padding-at-bp-l has-xl-btm-marg is-hidden-print"> <figure class="l-pos-rel"> <div class="c-image"> <div class="c-image__placeholder has-bg-white-off"> <picture> <source sizes="(min-width: 845px) 845px, 100vw" srcset="https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/mA9LYfLFIyevetWBFG7WpWE2TXI=/3000x2010/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg 3000w, https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/Vzq6UEcxkKefFjYJXJawpWOD1ZQ=/2500x1675/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg 2500w, https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/ziKLX9db__okivdIH3-6uyhOgzg=/1550x1038/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg 1550w, https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/a9wzo61r2Hp9RwZh2r2WVNCVjtM=/1200x804/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg 1200w, https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/rJhGx1SvRO7Bovcqy5FUU5BegZQ=/1000x670/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg 1000w, https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/ZVrYvKK1J20LOw8EuC6wd8x5qww=/850x570/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg 850w, https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/oT8_gUT4wRgQtlYyllUZRAiLvFA=/640x429/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg 640w, https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/Xg5ayDlnjGUyHSD_PJZif03v2YE=/375x251/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg 375w" type="image/webp"> <source sizes="(min-width: 845px) 845px, 100vw" srcset="https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/ghKJM0anljrCnkloT6EvvekBbX4=/3000x2010/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg 3000w, https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/e9p4c9W3UTNHc48uUi7FOxfzjuE=/2500x1675/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg 2500w, https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/njXAqAWQkaEWiOvuFmeD_hGOkZA=/1550x1038/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg 1550w, https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/dv-ZKFR5CqzSbyyDI6L9P5YLAHc=/1200x804/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg 1200w, https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/AiacD2UdyeAheFA_M0RfPy8h5us=/1000x670/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg 1000w, https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/DZTbVZVsNpxKzVHKbAX0KKQH5KQ=/850x570/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg 850w, https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/E3vBmFv49TwuSMwrKOdBBvXhwXE=/640x429/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg 640w, https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/yur4rWJokTJQeO18J52RmEjARF4=/375x251/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg 375w"> <img src="https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/DZTbVZVsNpxKzVHKbAX0KKQH5KQ=/850x570/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a58ff10f3b3ac01b90e9b567f249988/Texas%20State%20campus%2012.jpg" alt="Students walk through Texas State University campus in San Marcos on Jan. 30, 2018." class="did-load c-image__img"> </picture> </div> </div> <figcaption class="c-caption t-links-underlined l-display-block t-size-xs"> <span aria-hidden="true"> Students walk through Texas State University campus in San Marcos on Jan. 30, 2018. </span> <cite> <span class="is-sr-only">Credit:</span><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#camera"></use></svg></span> Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune </cite> </figcaption> </figure> </div> <!-- story body --> <div class="story_body c-story-body t-size-b has-giant-btm-marg"> <div class="c-story-body"> <div class="c-plugin c-plugin--default c-plugin--narrow is-hidden-print c-plugin--seamless"> <div class="c-plugin__inner"> <figure> <iframe title="Article narration" style="width: 100%; height: 100px; border: none; display: none;" data-project-id="kJdMwATp9zKnrhK0cHGq" allowfullscreen="false" allowtransparency allow="clipboard-read; clipboard-write" frameborder="0" id="ad-auris-iframe" scrolling="no"></iframe> <figcaption class="has-text-gray-dark t-links-underlined t-size-xs" aria-hidden="true">Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story. See our <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/ethics/#ai-policy" tabindex="-1">AI policy</a>, and give us <a href="https://airtable.com/appFeleeKVUN0Iytx/pagPG40gbkU0EfjIr/form?prefill_Where+did+you+view+the+content%3F=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/hays-county-district-judge-race-texas-state-student-vote/" tabindex="-1">feedback</a>.</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left"><em><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/newsletters/the-brief/?utm_medium=website&utm_source=trib-ads-owned&utm_campaign=trib-marketing&utm_term=inline-CTA-brief">Sign up for The Brief</a>, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.</em> </p> <hr class="t-copy has-xxl-vert-marg"> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">A candidate running against a Central Texas district judge is accusing her opponent of using his adjunct teaching position at Texas State University to encourage students to campaign and vote for him, violating state law.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">According to a letter sent to Texas State President Kelly Damphousse by a lawyer representing Alicia Key, Judge Tanner Neidhardt emailed his students on Oct. 21 asking them to vote for him and to encourage their friends to do so as well.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">Any student who helped campaign for him at the on-campus polling location would receive a free campaign t-shirt and pizza, according to a screenshot of the email provided to The Texas Tribune by Key’s attorney, Chevo Pastrano.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">“I’ve always told you that you will make a difference in the future of our justice system,” Neidhardt wrote. “In fact, you can make a difference right now. When you support a judge committed to a better justice system, I can keep working to improve it.”</p> <div class="c-plugin c-plugin--flush "> <div class="c-plugin__inner"> <div id="ad-unit-2935" class="js-ad-unit"> <div class="c-ad-flex"> <div class="c-ad-flex__inner"> <div class="c-ad-flex__unit"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">A spokesperson for the university said it does not comment on personnel issues. Neidhardt did not immediately respond to requests for comment.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">State law prohibits any state employee from using an internal mail system for political advertising. It is also a third-degree felony for public employees to use official information, such as student email addresses, for nongovernmental purposes.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">Neidhardt is running for the first time to keep his seat since Gov. <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/directory/greg-abbott/">Greg Abbott</a> appointed him to the newly created 483rd Judicial District Court in Hays County in 2022. He started teaching as an adjunct professor at Texas State in August 2023, according to his LinkedIn page. He previously served as deputy general counsel for the office of the governor and as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas School of Law.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">Pastrano asked the university to terminate Neidhardt. Pastrano told the Tribune he filed a criminal complaint against Neidhardt with the Texas State University Police Department and the Hays County District Attorney. Hays County District Attorney Kelly Higgins said he had received Pastrano’s letter but could not comment further on the matter.</p> <div class="c-plugin c-plugin--seamless c-plugin--flush "> <div class="c-plugin__inner"> <div class="c-prompt c-prompt--box c-prompt--livestream" onclick="event.stopPropagation();"> <div class="c-prompt__content t-align-center"> <img class="c-prompt__img" src="https://static.texastribune.org/media/prompts/promo-brief-logo.png" alt="Logo for The Brief newsletter."/> <div class="c-prompt__txt t-size-b t-lsp-s t-lh-m">The most important Texas news,<br />sent weekday mornings.</div> <div class="c-prompt__newsletter" id="newsletter-subscribe-7884"> <div class="loading loading--s c-loading c-loading--s" aria-hidden="true"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">Pastrano told the Tribune that he felt Neidhardt’s actions put students in an uncomfortable situation.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">“When you sign up for a class, it's not on the syllabus that you're going to be propositioned to support a campaign for the guy who's got control of your grade at the end of the semester,” he said.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">Pastrano also included in the letter to Damphousse a copy of another email Neidhardt sent to a large number of Texas State students in which he introduced himself as a district judge and professor and asked for their vote. At least three students confirmed to the Tribune they received the email.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">Texas State junior Emma Bean said she had never been contacted directly by an individual running for political office through her university email before.</p> <div class="c-plugin c-plugin--flush "> <div class="c-plugin__inner"> <div id="ad-unit-2496" class="js-ad-unit"> <div class="c-ad-flex"> <div class="c-ad-flex__inner"> <div class="c-ad-flex__unit"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">“It almost felt like Mr. Neidhart had a bit of an unfair advantage since he is also a professor at the school,” she said in an email. “I was less uncomfortable by the email and more put off [by] the idea of Mr. Neidhart as a candidate.”</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">Neidhardt’s emails to students came two weeks after Texas State University System lawyers sent an email to faculty reminding them that state law prohibits the use of state programs and resources to support candidates or influence an election.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">“We should not use university property or resources, including its e-mail resources, to attempt to influence elections or legislation,” Vice Chancellor and General Counsel Nelly Herrera wrote in an email to faculty and staff on Oct. 7.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">Brian Baker, a San Marcos lawyer who teaches at Texas State, said the university repeatedly emails faculty and staff reminders to not violate state law leading up to an election.</p> <div class="c-plugin c-plugin--flush "> <div class="c-plugin__inner"> <div id="ad-unit-7256" class="js-ad-unit"> <div class="c-ad-flex"> <div class="c-ad-flex__inner"> <div class="c-ad-flex__unit"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">“I think it would be wildly inappropriate for me to campaign for other people,” he said. “Even more so when you're doing it for yourself.”</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">Key, Neidhardt’s opponent, is a former district attorney who worked in the child support division of the Texas attorney general’s office and as administrative director for the State Office of Court Administration. She also served as a former assistant district attorney and an associate judge in Wichita County.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">In a statement, Key slammed her opponent’s behavior.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">“I am running to serve my fellow Hays County residents with integrity, dignity, and fairness,” said Key. “Tanner Neidhardt is apparently running for his personal gain and ambition, and is willing to break the law and abuse his position to try to win. Hays County deserves better."</p> <div class="c-plugin c-plugin--flush "> <div class="c-plugin__inner"> <div id="ad-unit-384" class="js-ad-unit"> <div class="c-ad-flex"> <div class="c-ad-flex__inner"> <div class="c-ad-flex__unit"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left"><em>The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.</em></p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left"><i>Disclosure: Texas State University System has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/support-us/corporate-sponsors/">list of them here</a>.</i></p> </div> </div> <!-- member cta --> <div class="c-plugin c-plugin--default c-plugin--narrow is-hidden-print "> <div class="c-plugin__inner"> <div class="has-vert-bar has-vert-bar--padded-xxl has-vert-bar--thin has-text-yellow"> <h2 class="t-headline t-serif t-lh-s t-size-l has-b-btm-marg has-text-black-off"><em id="articleCounter"></em></h2> <div class="flatblock block-donations-cta"> <div class="flatblock-content"><h2 class="t-headline t-serif t-lh-s t-size-l has-b-btm-marg has-text-black-off"> <!-- title here --> Texans need truth. Help us report it. </h2> <p class="t-size-b t-serif t-links-underlined has-b-btm-marg has-text-black-off"> <!-- graf here --> Independent Texas reporting needs your support. The Texas Tribune delivers fact-based journalism for Texans, by Texans — and our community of members, the readers who donate, make our work possible. Help us bring you and millions of others in-depth news and information. Will you support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation of any amount? </p> <!-- <a href="https://support.texastribune.org/donate?installmentPeriod=yearly&amount=60&campaignId=7016f000002GvLdAAK&utm_medium=site&utm_source=CTA" class="c-button has-bg-yellow has-text-black-off l-display-block has-b-btm-marg" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="donations" ga-event-action="membership-intent" ga-event-label="story-cta-button"><span class="t-size-s">Yes, I'll donate today</span> </a>--></div> </div> <div class="c-plugin c-plugin--default c-plugin--narrow is-hidden-print "> <div class="c-plugin__inner"> <section class="c-cta-block has-border is-rounded-b c-cta-block--horiz-from-bp-m has-xl-padding has-giant-btm-marg"> <div class="c-cta-block__msg t-size-s"> <h2 class="t-size-s t-uppercase t-lsp-m t-lh-b has-text-gray-dark has-xxs-btm-marg"> Support independent Texas news </h2> <p class="has-text-gray-dark has-xxs-btm-marg t-size-m"><strong>Become a member. Join today.</strong></p> <p class="has-text-gray-dark t-links-underlined">Choose an amount or <a href="https://support.texastribune.org/donate?installmentPeriod=yearly&campaignId=" class="l-display-ib" ga-event-category="donations" ga-event-action="membership-intent" ga-event-label="story-inline-link">learn more about membership</a>.</p> </div> <div class="c-cta-block__btns t-align-center c-cta-block__btns--4 c-cta-block__btns--2-from-bp-m"> <a class="c-button is-rounded-l has-reset-padding l-align-center-children has-bg-yellow" href="https://support.texastribune.org/donate?installmentPeriod=monthly&campaignId=7016f000002GvLdAAK&amount=20#join-today" ga-event-category='donations' ga-event-action='membership-intent' ga-event-label='story-inline-dollars'> <span class="c-button__inner has-text-black t-titlecase">$20</span> </a> <a class="c-button is-rounded-l has-reset-padding l-align-center-children has-bg-yellow" href="https://support.texastribune.org/donate?installmentPeriod=monthly&campaignId=7016f000002GvLdAAK&amount=25#join-today" ga-event-category='donations' ga-event-action='membership-intent' ga-event-label='story-inline-dollars'> <span class="c-button__inner has-text-black t-titlecase">$25</span> </a> <a class="c-button is-rounded-l has-reset-padding l-align-center-children has-bg-yellow" href="https://support.texastribune.org/donate?installmentPeriod=monthly&campaignId=7016f000002GvLdAAK&amount=50#join-today" ga-event-category='donations' ga-event-action='membership-intent' ga-event-label='story-inline-dollars'> <span class="c-button__inner has-text-black t-titlecase">$50</span> </a> <a class="c-button is-rounded-l has-reset-padding l-align-center-children c-button--outline has-bg-white has-text-yellow" href="https://support.texastribune.org/donate?installmentPeriod=yearly&campaignId=7016f000002GvLdAAK&amount=250#join-today" ga-event-category='donations' ga-event-action='membership-intent' ga-event-label='story-inline-dollars'> <span class="c-button__inner has-text-black t-titlecase">Other</span> </a> </div> <a href="https://support.texastribune.org/donate?installmentPeriod=yearly&amount=120&campaignId=7016f000002GvLdAAK" class="c-button has-bg-yellow has-text-black-off l-display-block" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="donations" ga-event-action="membership-intent" ga-event-label="story-cta-button"><span class="t-size-s">Donate now</span></a> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <!-- author info --> <section class="t-copy t-links-underlined is-hidden-print"> <hr class="has-bg-gray-light has-giant-btm-marg"></hr> <h2 class="is-sr-only">Information about the authors</h2> <div class="c-author-info__container l-flex l-flex-column has-giant-btm-marg"> <div id="staff-author" class="c-author-info__container l-flex l-flex-column"> <div class="c-author-info__trib-author-container l-flex l-ai-center"> <a class="t-links-unset" href="/about/staff/kate-mcgee/"> <noscript> <img width="68" height="100" alt="Kate McGee’s staff photo" src="https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/x7XYkcpLXgFPa0nvqK3AR5d6Z8I=/105x155/smart/filters:quality(85)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/Kate_McGee_TT_04.jpg"> </noscript> <img alt="Kate McGee’s staff photo" class="l-display-block js-lazy-image js-lazy-image--target has-bg-gray-dark" data-src="https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/x7XYkcpLXgFPa0nvqK3AR5d6Z8I=/105x155/smart/filters:quality(85)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/Kate_McGee_TT_04.jpg" width="68" height="100" > </a> <div> <h3 class="has-xxxs-btm-marg t-weight-bold t-size-m"> <a href="/about/staff/kate-mcgee/"> Kate McGee </a> </h3> <h4 class="has-text-gray-dark t-weight-normal has-b-btm-marg t-size-xs t-sans t-lsp-m t-uppercase">Higher Education Reporter</h4> <div class="c-author-info__contacts-container l-flex l-flex-column t-size-xs t-sans"> <p class="l-flex l-ai-center"> <a tabindex="-1" href="mailto:mcgee@texastribune.org" class="c-icon t-links-unset has-text-teal c-author-info__contact-icon"> <span class="c-icon"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#envelope"></use></svg></span> </a> <a href="mailto:mcgee@texastribune.org"> mcgee@texastribune.org </a> </p> <p class="l-flex l-ai-center"> <a tabindex="-1" href="https://twitter.com/McGeeReports" class="c-icon t-links-unset t-size-xs c-author-info__contact-icon"> <svg aria-hidden="true"> <use xlink:href="#twitter"></use> </svg> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/McGeeReports">@McGeeReports</a> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <!-- trust project --> <p class="t-copy t-size-b t-links-underlined t-lh-m"> <span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline t-size-m has-tiny-right-marg"><svg aria-hidden="true" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 64"><path fill="#fff" d="M60.2 53.8c0 3.5-2.9 6.4-6.4 6.4H10.2c-3.5 0-6.4-2.9-6.4-6.4V10.2c0-3.5 2.9-6.4 6.4-6.4h43.5c3.5 0 6.4 2.9 6.4 6.4v43.6z"/><g fill="#121212"><path d="M53.8 0H10.2C4.6 0 0 4.6 0 10.2v43.5C0 59.4 4.6 64 10.2 64h43.5C59.4 64 64 59.4 64 53.8V10.2C64 4.6 59.4 0 53.8 0zm6.4 53.8c0 3.5-2.9 6.4-6.4 6.4H10.2c-3.5 0-6.4-2.9-6.4-6.4V10.2c0-3.5 2.9-6.4 6.4-6.4h43.5c3.5 0 6.4 2.9 6.4 6.4v43.6z"/><path d="M38.3 49.3H25.7c-.3 0-.5-.2-.5-.5V27.3c0-.3-.3-.6-.6-.6H13.5c-.3 0-.5-.2-.5-.5v-11c0-.3.2-.5.5-.5h37.1c.3 0 .5.2.5.5v11.1c0 .3-.2.5-.5.5H39.3c-.3 0-.5.2-.5.5v21.6c0 .2-.2.4-.5.4z"/></g></svg></span> <em><a href="/about/privacy-policy/">Learn about The Texas Tribune’s policies</a>, including our partnership with <a href="/about/#trust-project" class="l-display-ib">The Trust Project</a> to increase transparency in news.</em> </p> <!-- article tags --> <section class="c-plugin c-plugin--default c-plugin--narrow is-hidden-print"> <h2 class="t-size-s has-xs-btm-marg">Explore related story topics</h2> <p class="c-tags l-flex"> <a href="/topics/courts/" ga-event-category="article-tag" class="c-tag c-tag__inner has-bg-white-off is-rounded-b">Courts</a> <a href="/topics/higher-education/" ga-event-category="article-tag" class="c-tag c-tag__inner has-bg-white-off is-rounded-b">Higher education</a> </p> </section> <!-- read more --> <div class="c-plugin c-plugin--default c-plugin--narrow is-hidden-print "> <div class="c-plugin__inner"> <div id="article-recs-9091"> <div class="loading loading--s" aria-hidden="true"></div> </div> </div> </div> <!-- paid post --> <div class="c-plugin c-plugin--default c-plugin--narrow is-hidden-print"> <div id="ad-unit-7687" class="js-ad-unit"> <div class="c-ad-fluid"></div> </div> </div> </article> </main> <aside class="c-story-bottom has-bg-white-off has-giant-btm-marg is-hidden-print" aria-label="Latest Texas Tribune events and articles"> <h2 class="is-sr-only">Latest Texas Tribune events and articles</h2> <div class="l-container l-container--xxl has-m-btm-marg is-hidden-print"> <div id="rug"> <div class="c-rug"> <div class="c-rug__featured"> <section aria-label="Upcoming events"> <h3 class="is-sr-only">Upcoming events</h3> <p class="is-sr-only">Loading content …</p> <div aria-hidden="true"> <!-- From: https://github.com/danilowoz/react-content-loader Used with permission from author under the MIT license --> <svg aria-labelledby="block-loader-3958" role="img" viewBox="0 0 400 300" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="block-loader-3958">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#block-loader-clip-5465)" style="fill: url("#block-loader-gradient-4629");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clipPath id="block-loader-clip-5465"> <circle cx="30" cy="258" r="30"></circle> <rect x="75" y="233" rx="4" ry="4" width="35%" height="13"></rect> <rect x="75" y="260" rx="4" ry="4" width="20%" height="8"></rect> <rect x="0" y="210" rx="5" ry="5" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="5" ry="5" width="100%" height="200"></rect> </clipPath> <linearGradient id="block-loader-gradient-4629"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </linearGradient> </defs> </svg> <div class="c-block-grid"> <!-- From: https://github.com/danilowoz/react-content-loader Used with permission from author under the MIT license --> <svg aria-labelledby="block-loader-8084" role="img" viewBox="0 0 400 300" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="block-loader-8084">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#block-loader-clip-2096)" style="fill: url("#block-loader-gradient-4735");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clipPath id="block-loader-clip-2096"> <circle cx="30" cy="258" r="30"></circle> <rect x="75" y="233" rx="4" ry="4" width="35%" height="13"></rect> <rect x="75" y="260" rx="4" ry="4" width="20%" height="8"></rect> <rect x="0" y="210" rx="5" ry="5" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="5" ry="5" width="100%" height="200"></rect> </clipPath> <linearGradient id="block-loader-gradient-4735"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </linearGradient> </defs> </svg> <!-- From: https://github.com/danilowoz/react-content-loader Used with permission from author under the MIT license --> <svg aria-labelledby="block-loader-1651" role="img" viewBox="0 0 400 300" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="block-loader-1651">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#block-loader-clip-3233)" style="fill: url("#block-loader-gradient-4420");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clipPath id="block-loader-clip-3233"> <circle cx="30" cy="258" r="30"></circle> <rect x="75" y="233" rx="4" ry="4" width="35%" height="13"></rect> <rect x="75" y="260" rx="4" ry="4" width="20%" height="8"></rect> <rect x="0" y="210" rx="5" ry="5" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="5" ry="5" width="100%" height="200"></rect> </clipPath> <linearGradient id="block-loader-gradient-4420"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </linearGradient> </defs> </svg> </div> </div> </section> </div> <div class="c-rug__reporters"> <section aria-label="Latest from our reporters"> <h3 class="is-sr-only">Latest from our reporters</h3> <p class="is-sr-only">Loading content …</p> <div aria-hidden="true"> <!-- From: https://github.com/danilowoz/react-content-loader Used with permission from author under the MIT license --> <svg aria-labelledby="list-loader-1336" role="img" viewBox="0 0 400 130" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="list-loader-1336">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#list-loader-clip-8775)" style="fill: url("#list-loader-gradient-2519");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clipPath id="list-loader-clip-8775"> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="20" rx="3" ry="3" width="90%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="40" rx="3" ry="3" width="70%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="60" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="80" rx="3" ry="3" width="80%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="100" rx="3" ry="3" width="20%" height="10"></rect> </clipPath> <linearGradient id="list-loader-gradient-2519"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </linearGradient> </defs> </svg> <!-- From: https://github.com/danilowoz/react-content-loader Used with permission from author under the MIT license --> <svg aria-labelledby="list-loader-3831" role="img" viewBox="0 0 400 130" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="list-loader-3831">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#list-loader-clip-9632)" style="fill: url("#list-loader-gradient-7306");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clipPath id="list-loader-clip-9632"> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="20" rx="3" ry="3" width="90%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="40" rx="3" ry="3" width="70%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="60" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="80" rx="3" ry="3" width="80%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="100" rx="3" ry="3" width="20%" height="10"></rect> </clipPath> <linearGradient id="list-loader-gradient-7306"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </linearGradient> </defs> </svg> <!-- From: https://github.com/danilowoz/react-content-loader Used with permission from author under the MIT license --> <svg aria-labelledby="list-loader-8067" role="img" viewBox="0 0 400 130" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="list-loader-8067">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#list-loader-clip-3593)" style="fill: url("#list-loader-gradient-7728");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clipPath id="list-loader-clip-3593"> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="20" rx="3" ry="3" width="90%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="40" rx="3" ry="3" width="70%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="60" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="80" rx="3" ry="3" width="80%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="100" rx="3" ry="3" width="20%" height="10"></rect> </clipPath> <linearGradient id="list-loader-gradient-7728"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </linearGradient> </defs> </svg> <!-- From: https://github.com/danilowoz/react-content-loader Used with permission from author under the MIT license --> <svg aria-labelledby="list-loader-7730" role="img" viewBox="0 0 400 130" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="list-loader-7730">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#list-loader-clip-3920)" style="fill: url("#list-loader-gradient-4109");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clipPath id="list-loader-clip-3920"> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="20" rx="3" ry="3" width="90%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="40" rx="3" ry="3" width="70%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="60" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="80" rx="3" ry="3" width="80%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="100" rx="3" ry="3" width="20%" height="10"></rect> </clipPath> <linearGradient id="list-loader-gradient-4109"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </linearGradient> </defs> </svg> <!-- From: https://github.com/danilowoz/react-content-loader Used with permission from author under the MIT license --> <svg aria-labelledby="list-loader-1850" role="img" viewBox="0 0 400 130" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="list-loader-1850">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#list-loader-clip-8558)" style="fill: url("#list-loader-gradient-6772");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clipPath id="list-loader-clip-8558"> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="20" rx="3" ry="3" width="90%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="40" rx="3" ry="3" width="70%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="60" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="80" rx="3" ry="3" width="80%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="100" rx="3" ry="3" width="20%" height="10"></rect> </clipPath> <linearGradient id="list-loader-gradient-6772"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </linearGradient> </defs> </svg> <!-- From: https://github.com/danilowoz/react-content-loader Used with permission from author under the MIT license --> <svg aria-labelledby="list-loader-4872" role="img" viewBox="0 0 400 130" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="list-loader-4872">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#list-loader-clip-6739)" style="fill: url("#list-loader-gradient-2928");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clipPath id="list-loader-clip-6739"> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="20" rx="3" ry="3" width="90%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="40" rx="3" ry="3" width="70%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="60" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="80" rx="3" ry="3" width="80%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="100" rx="3" ry="3" width="20%" height="10"></rect> </clipPath> <linearGradient id="list-loader-gradient-2928"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </linearGradient> </defs> </svg> <!-- From: https://github.com/danilowoz/react-content-loader Used with permission from author under the MIT license --> <svg aria-labelledby="list-loader-927" role="img" viewBox="0 0 400 130" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="list-loader-927">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#list-loader-clip-6923)" style="fill: url("#list-loader-gradient-651");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clipPath id="list-loader-clip-6923"> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="20" rx="3" ry="3" width="90%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="40" rx="3" ry="3" width="70%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="60" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="80" rx="3" ry="3" width="80%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="100" rx="3" ry="3" width="20%" height="10"></rect> </clipPath> <linearGradient id="list-loader-gradient-651"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </linearGradient> </defs> </svg> <!-- From: https://github.com/danilowoz/react-content-loader Used with permission from author under the MIT license --> <svg aria-labelledby="list-loader-3603" role="img" viewBox="0 0 400 130" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="list-loader-3603">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#list-loader-clip-1293)" style="fill: url("#list-loader-gradient-9998");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clipPath id="list-loader-clip-1293"> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="20" rx="3" ry="3" width="90%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="40" rx="3" ry="3" width="70%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="60" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="80" rx="3" ry="3" width="80%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="100" rx="3" ry="3" width="20%" height="10"></rect> </clipPath> <linearGradient id="list-loader-gradient-9998"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </linearGradient> </defs> </svg> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> </aside> <div class="grid_separator has-giant-btm-marg is-hidden-print"> <div id="ad-unit-4875" class="js-ad-unit"> <div class="c-ad-ldbd-then-cube"> <div class="c-ad-ldbd-then-cube__unit"></div> </div> </div> </div> <footer id="site_footer" class="c-site-footer has-bg-black-off has-text-white t-size-xs is-hidden-print"> <div class="l-container grid_container c-site-footer__inner c-site-footer__inner--standard"> <div class="c-site-footer__col c-site-footer__col--1"> <span class="c-icon c-icon--yellow c-site-footer__logo has-giant-btm-marg" style="font-size: 4rem;"> <svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#bug"></use></svg> </span> <div class="border--yellow_notch has-notch has-notch--thin has-bg-yellow has-b-btm-marg"></div> <ul class="c-site-footer__links c-site-footer__links--standard"> <li class="has-text-blue"> <!-- Default --> <a href="https://support.texastribune.org/donate?installmentPeriod=yearly&amount=200&campaignId=7016f000002Gv2vAAC" title="Donate" class="donate" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="donations" ga-event-action="membership-intent" ga-event-label="footer">Donate</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://support.texastribune.org/account/" title="View your giving history" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="view your giving history">View your giving history</a> </li> <li> <a href="/contact/" title="Contact us" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="contact us">Contact us</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://mediakit.texastribune.org/" title="Advertise" class="advertise" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="advertise">Advertise</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/tips/" title="Send a Tip" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="send us a confidential tip">Send us a confidential tip</a> </li> <li><a href="/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="copyright">© 2024 The Texas Tribune</a></li> </ul> </div> <section id="footer-sections" class="hide_until--m is-hidden-until-bp-m c-site-footer__col c-site-footer__col--2"> <h2 class="c-site-footer__header t-size-xs has-text-yellow t-uppercase has-xxs-btm-marg"> Topics </h2> <ul class="c-site-footer__links c-site-footer__links--standard"> <li> <a href="/topics/congress/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="Congress"> Congress </a> </li> <li> <a href="/topics/courts/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="courts"> Courts </a> </li> <li> <a href="/topics/criminal-justice/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="criminal justice"> Criminal justice </a> </li> <li> <a href="/topics/demographics/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="demographics"> Demographics </a> </li> <li> <a href="/topics/economy/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="economy"> Economy </a> </li> <li> <a href="/topics/energy/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="energy"> Energy </a> </li> <li> <a href="/topics/environment/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="environment"> Environment </a> </li> <li> <a href="/topics/health-care/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="health care"> Health care </a> </li> <li> <a href="/topics/higher-education/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="higher education"> Higher education </a> </li> <li> <a href="/topics/immigration/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="immigration"> Immigration </a> </li> <li> <a href="/topics/politics/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="politics"> Politics </a> </li> <li> <a href="/topics/public-education/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="public education"> Public education </a> </li> <li> <a href="/topics/state-government/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="state government"> State government </a> </li> <li> <a href="/topics/transportation/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="transportation"> Transportation </a> </li> <li><a href="/topics/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="topics">View all</a></li> </ul> </section> <section class="c-site-footer__col c-site-footer__col--3"> <h2 class="c-site-footer__header t-size-xs has-text-yellow t-uppercase has-xxs-btm-marg"><span class="is-sr-only">Company </span>Info</h2> <ul class="c-site-footer__links c-site-footer__links--standard"> <li> <a href="/about/" title="About Us" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="about us">About Us</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/staff/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="our staff">Our Staff</a> </li> <li> <a href="/jobs/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="jobs">Jobs</a> </li> <li> <a href="/support-us/donors-and-members/" title="Who Funds Us?" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="who funds us">Who Funds Us?</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/texas-tribune-strategic-plan/" title="Strategic Plan" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="strategic plan">Strategic Plan</a> </li> <li> <a href="/republishing-guidelines/" title="Republishing Guidelines" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="republishing guidelines">Republishing Guidelines</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/ethics" title="Code of Ethics" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="code of ethics">Code of Ethics</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/terms-of-service/" title="Terms of Service" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="terms of service">Terms of Service</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/privacy-policy/" title="Privacy Policy" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="privacy policy">Privacy Policy</a> </li> <li> <a href="/corrections/" title="Corrections" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="corrections">Corrections</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/feeds/" title="Feeds" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="feeds">Feeds</a> </li> <li> <a href="/newsletters/" title="Newsletters" ga-event-category="subscribe intent" ga-event-action="footer link">Newsletters</a> </li> <li> <a href="/audio/" title="Audio" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="audio">Audio</a> </li> <li> <a href="/video/" title="Video" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="video">Video</a> </li> </ul> </section> <section class="c-site-footer__col c-site-footer__col--4"> <h2 class="c-site-footer__header t-size-xs has-text-yellow t-uppercase has-xxs-btm-marg">Social Media</h2> <ul class="c-site-footer__links c-site-footer__links--standard"> <li> <a href="https://facebook.com/texastribune" title="Facebook" class="external" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="facebook"><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline c-site-footer__icon"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#facebook"></use></svg></span> Facebook</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://twitter.com/texastribune" title="Twitter" class="external" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="twitter"><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline c-site-footer__icon"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#twitter"></use></svg></span> Twitter</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://youtube.com/user/thetexastribune?sub_confirmation=1" title="YouTube" class="external" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="youtube"><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline c-site-footer__icon"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#youtube"></use></svg></span> YouTube</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://instagram.com/texas_tribune" title="Instagram" class="external" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="instagram"><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline c-site-footer__icon"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#instagram"></use></svg></span> Instagram</a> </li> <li> <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/company/texas-tribune" title="LinkedIn" class="external" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="linkedin"><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline c-site-footer__icon"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#linkedin"></use></svg></span> LinkedIn</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/texastribune" title="Reddit" class="external has-xxs-btm-marg l-display-ib" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="reddit"><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline c-site-footer__icon"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="#reddit"></use></svg></span> Reddit</a> </li> </ul> </section> </div> </footer> <script defer src="/static/build/runtime.51f5e7bf651d4b2f5158.js"></script> <script defer src="/static/build/445.80a21269288aacf3076f.js"></script> <script defer src="/static/build/324.37c7784a7e60296f5541.js"></script> <script defer src="/static/build/353.7024fd01bc69529125ab.js"></script> <script defer src="/static/build/252.8c0ae6e498d1d1e734a8.js"></script> <script defer src="/static/build/100.5011506082d1156e2841.js"></script> <script defer src="/static/build/162.f726a48511ea9294d297.js"></script> <script defer src="/static/build/165.e305269b6e9d71452ee9.js"></script> <script defer src="/static/build/content.4d2fe58672cb26aa1dcf.js"></script> <!-- START Parse.ly Include: Standard --> <div id="parsely-root" style="display: none"> <div id="parsely-cfg" data-parsely-site="texastribune.org"></div> </div> <script> (function(s, p, d) { var h=d.location.protocol, i=p+"-"+s, e=d.getElementById(i), r=d.getElementById(p+"-root"), u=h==="https:"?"d1z2jf7jlzjs58.cloudfront.net" :"static."+p+".com"; if (e) return; e = d.createElement(s); e.id = i; e.async = true; e.src = h+"//"+u+"/p.js"; r.appendChild(e); })("script", "parsely", document); </script> <!-- END Parse.ly Include --> <a href="/test/hotbots/" aria-hidden="true" rel="nofollow" tabindex="-1"> </a> <script> (function() { var gutenTags = [], authors = [], series = []; gutenTags.push('subject-elections'); gutenTags.push('subject-higher-education'); gutenTags.push('organization-texas-state-university'); gutenTags.push('place-hays-county'); gutenTags.push('subject-courts'); series.push('texas-2024-election-voting'); authors.push('kate-mcgee'); var updates = { contentId: 45548, authors: authors, pageType: 'article', gutenTags: gutenTags, series: series }; Object.keys(updates).forEach(function(key) { window.ttGlobal[key] = updates[key]; }); }()); </script> <script> window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() { jsBundle.buildAdUnit({ selectorSuffix: '4231', slot: 'roofline', collapseOnFail: true }); jsBundle.buildAdUnit({ selectorSuffix: '2935', slot: 'first', collapseOnFail: true }); jsBundle.buildSignUp({ interestId: '20c921ee0a', selectorSuffix: '7884', title: 'The Brief', display: { isVertical: true, skipSecondaryForm: true, hideImage: true, }, gaLabel: "prompt-Ay3HTYkZ", }); window.dataLayer?.push({ event: 'promptShow', gaAction: 'box', gaCategory: 'livestream', gaValue: 'Ay3HTYkZ', }); jsBundle.buildAdUnit({ selectorSuffix: '2496', slot: 'flex', collapseOnFail: true }); jsBundle.buildAdUnit({ selectorSuffix: '7256', slot: 'flex', collapseOnFail: true }); jsBundle.buildAdUnit({ selectorSuffix: '384', slot: 'flex', collapseOnFail: true }); jsBundle.buildArticleRecs({ selectorSuffix: '9091', recCount: 4, articleId: 45548, }) jsBundle.buildAdUnit({ selectorSuffix: '7687', slot: 'paidPost', collapseOnFail: true }); jsBundle.buildRug({ featuredType: 'UpcomingEvents', ga: { label: 'story page' } }); jsBundle.buildAdUnit({ selectorSuffix: '4875', slot: 'footer', collapseOnFail: true }); jsBundle.buildLazyImages(); jsBundle.makeVidsResponsive(); }); </script> <!-- Copy URL Script --> <script> const copy = document.querySelector("#copy-url"); const copyText = document.querySelector("#copy-url-text"); copy.onclick = function(e) { e.preventDefault(); if (navigator.clipboard) { navigator.clipboard.writeText(copy.href); copyText.innerHTML = "Copied!"; setTimeout(function() { copyText.innerHTML = "Copy URL"; }, 1000); } else { alert("Copying to clipboard is not available."); } } </script> <!-- Native Share Script --> <script> const share = document.querySelector("#native-share"); share.onclick = function(e) { const isMobileDevice = window.matchMedia("(max-width: 845px)").matches; if (navigator.share && isMobileDevice) { e.preventDefault(); window.dataLayer.push({ event: 'customSocialShare', gaCategory: 'social-share', gaAction: 'native-share', }); navigator.share({ title: "Texas judge accused of breaking law after asking his university students to vote for him", url: "https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/hays-county-district-judge-race-texas-state-student-vote/?utm_campaign=trib-social-buttons&utm_source=native-share&utm_medium=social", }); } } </script> <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/ad-auris-iframe-distribution-nextgen@latest/location-href-script.production.js" integrity="sha384-0ItnuJ+xx2noj8kRX5gxxpZTWVP3/4EYJGf0ZXn31VvIksKLXRiExKuJmdiLtfBH" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> <script> (function () { // Get counter. const counterKey = 'counter'; try { data = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem(counterKey)) || {}; } catch { data = {}; } // Init counter or reset if new month. let today = new Date(); if (!('firstRead' in data) || new Date(data.firstRead).getMonth() != today.getMonth()) { data.firstRead = new Date().toISOString(); data.articles = []; } // Update counter. data.lastRead = new Date().toISOString(); const identifier = "qn3RP8w5"; if (!data.articles.includes(identifier)) data.articles.push(identifier); // Save counter. localStorage.setItem(counterKey, JSON.stringify(data)); // Update DOM. const articleCounter = document.getElementById('articleCounter'); const count = data.articles.length; if (articleCounter) { articleCounter.appendChild(document.createTextNode("You've read ")); const mark = document.createElement('mark'); mark.textContent = `${count} article${count > 1 ? "s": " "}`; articleCounter.appendChild(mark); articleCounter.appendChild(document.createTextNode(" this month. You have unlimited free articles remaining because we don't have a paywall.")); } })(); </script> </body> </html>