VOTE IN THE MARCH 3 TEXAS PRIMARY ELECTION. In this episode, we head back to Texas and discuss why this isn’t as off a year as you might think. Also, if you haven’t done it yet, VOTE!

References

March 3 are the primaries in Texas:

Texas Secretary of State. “March 3, 2026 Primary Election Law Calendar and May 26, 2026 Primary Runoff Election Law Calendar.” https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/laws/advisory2025-17-mar-3-2026-primary-elec-law-cal-and-may-26-2026-primary-runoff-elec-law-cal.shtml

We had a whole episode on primaries:

https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-2szpe-1544115

It’s an election among the Republican candidates for office to decide who is going to be the Republican candidate in the general election, and then you have the Democratic candidates for office—same deal:

Drusch, Andrea. “How Does the Primary Election Work in Texas?” February 16, 2026. San Antonio Report. https://sanantonioreport.org/how-does-the-primary-election-work-in-texas/

Except Iowa:

Hull, Christopher C. “Iowa caucuses.” Updated February 1, 2024. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Iowa-caucuses

There are open primaries, blanket primaries, closed primaries:

USA.gov. “Presidential Primaries and Caucuses.” February 25, 2026. https://www.usa.gov/primaries-caucuses

Texas has been characterized as a modified open or a modified closed:

Ballotpedia. “Primary Elections in Texas.” https://ballotpedia.org/Primary_elections_in_Texas

New York has a closed primary:

Ballotpedia. “Primary Elections in New York.” https://ballotpedia.org/Primary_elections_in_New_York

Whereas in Minnesota, they have same day voter registration:

Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. “Register on Election Day.” https://www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/register-to-vote/register-on-election-day/

In Texas, you have to have registered in advance:

VoteTexas.gov. “Texas Voter Registration Information.” https://www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/

Fact check—For the general election, you can vote for any party regardless of how you voted in the primary. However, you have to vote the same party in primary run-offs as you did in the primary. You do NOT have to vote in the primary in order to vote in a primary run-off:

Ingram, Keith. “Election Advisory N. 2020-05.” February 11, 2020. Texas Secretary of State. https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/laws/advisory2020-05.shtml

Since Mack mentioned voter ID cards, we’d like to provide some additional information we have learned about since recording this podcast. Due to redistricting, several voter ID cards have not been issued in time for the primary election. This does not affect you if you are registered. You can still vote even without a voter ID card:

Pope, Pachatta. “Voter Registration Cards Delayed by Redistricting, But Not Needed to Vote.” February 15, 2026. KSAT. https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/02/16/voter-registration-cards-delayed-by-redistricting-but-not-needed-to-vote/

Things like equal protection…:

Constitution Annotated. “Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection and Other Rights.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/amendment-14/

…and due process still apply:

Constitution Annotated. “Amdt14.S1.3 Due Process Generally.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt14-S1-3/ALDE_00013743/

In Texas, there was the White primaries case:

Oyez. “Smith v. Allwright.” https://www.oyez.org/cases/1940-1955/321us649

They have changed the rules about postmarks on the mail-in ballots:

Contreras, Natalia. “Postal Service Changes Mean Texas Voters Shouldn’t Wait to Mail Voter Registrations and Ballots.” January 21, 2026. VoteBeat.org. https://www.votebeat.org/texas/2026/01/21/usps-postal-service-postmark-mail-ballot-voter-registration-deadline/

If you are eligible to do a mail-in ballot in Texas:

VoteTexas.gov. “Voting by Mail Eligibility Requirements.” https://www.votetexas.gov/voting-by-mail/eligibility-requirements.html

There is a way to check if your ballot was received:

VoteTexas.gov. “Track My Ballot and Correct ID Information.” https://www.votetexas.gov/voting-by-mail/track-my-ballot.html

The Bexar County Elections Department has been very good about putting out information about the new rules:

https://www.bexar.org/1568/Elections-Department

We voted this in, that we will require certain forms of voter ID to prove that you’re a U.S. citizen:

Contreras, Natalia. “Bill Requiring Voters to Show Proof of Citizenship Clears Texas Senate.” April 1, 2025. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/01/texas-proof-of-citizenship-voting-senate-bill-16/

We’re not the only ones that did stuff like that (to clarify, not Florida in this case, Anne just has a low opinion of their elected officials):

Ballotpedia. “Proof of Citizenship Requirements for Voter Registration by State.” https://ballotpedia.org/Proof_of_citizenship_requirements_for_voter_registration_by_state

There are still several different forms of valid ID:

VoteTexas.gov. “Identification Requirements for Voting.” http://votetexas.gov/voting/need-id.html

There’s been a lot of news about the SAVE act:

Sweren-Becker, Eliza and Bacskai, Owen. “New SAVE Act Bills Would Still Block Millions of Americans From Voting.” Updated February 9, 2026. Brennan Center for Justice. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/new-save-act-bills-would-still-block-millions-americans-voting

Conservative opinion leaders that have talked about repealing the Nineteenth Amendment, or saying things on Fox News like a wife should just vote the way her husband tells her to:

Padilla, Mariel; Panetta, Grace; and Barclay, Mel Leonor. “Who’s Questioning Women’s Right to Vote?” August 12, 2025. 19thNews.org. https://19thnews.org/2025/08/pete-hegseth-doug-wilson-women-voting/

Where are the cases of any kind of voter fraud:

Brennan Center for Justice. “Project: The Myth of Voter Fraud.” https://www.brennancenter.org/topics/voting-elections/vote-suppression/myth-voter-fraud

Double-check that you’re registered:

Texas.gov. “Texas Voter Registration.” https://www.texas.gov/living-in-texas/texas-voter-registration/

You can order one. (Note, this reference is for Texas. To obtain a birth certificate, you must order from the state you were born in.):

Texas Health and Human Services. “Order A Birth Certificate.” https://ovra.txapps.texas.gov/ovra/order-birth-certificate

That’s because of them fully implementing the Real ID Act:

Texas Department of Public Safety. “Federal Real ID Act.” https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/federal-real-id-act

They don’t have badges:

Cameron, Dell and Haskins, Caroline. “FBI Warns of Criminals Posing as ICE, Urges Agents to ID Themselves.” November 4, 2025. Wired. https://www.wired.com/story/fbi-warns-of-criminals-posing-as-ice-urges-agents-to-id-themselves/

If you happen to live in a town where ICE is buying warehouses:

Sterling, Phil. “Massive San Antonio Warehouse to be Turned Into 1,500-bed ICE Processing Center.” February 13, 2026. News4SA. https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/new-details-on-wearhouse-to-be-turned-into-ice-processing-center-texas-mexico-immigration-detention-department-of-homeland-security

Basically, every major office in Texas is up for vote right now:

Astudillo, Carla and Méndez, María. “Here’s Your Texas 2026 March Primary Ballot.” January 6, 2026. The Texas Tribune. https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/

Alas, Ted Cruz is not up:

Ballotpedia. “Ted Cruz.” https://ballotpedia.org/Ted_Cruz

Texas changed their districts, recently, through some partisan gerrymandering to try to pick-up five more seats:

Lo Wang, Hansi. “Supreme Court Lets Texas Use Gerrymandered Map That Could Give GOP 5 More House Seats.” December 4, 2025. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/12/04/nx-s1-5619692/supreme-court-texas-redistricting-map

When the national polling has shifted dramatically toward Democrats:

Morris, G. Elliott. “Seven Data-Driven Lessons From the 2025 Elections.” November 5, 2025. Strength in Numbers. https://www.gelliottmorris.com/p/seven-data-driven-takeaways-from

Buy our merch:

https://www.redbubble.com/people/CivcsRocks/shop?asc=u

Look at Fort Worth:

Hanna, John. “Texas Democrat Taylor Rehmet Flips Republican State Senate Seat Trump Won by 17 Points.” February 2, 2026. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/texas-democrat-taylor-rehmet-flips-republican-state-senate-seat-trump-won-by-17-points

But it was really cold that weekend:

Davis, Sarah. “Texas House Republican Blames Special Election Stunner on Winter Storm.” February 2, 2026. The Hill. https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5718666-pete-sessions-texas-election-weather/

The fact that Democrats have, in I don’t know how long, put up candidates in every race:

Guo, Kayla. “Texas Democrats Fill Every State and Federal Race on 2026 Ballot, a First for Either Party.” December 7, 2025. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/17/texas-democrats-down-ballot-2026/

They got the toe in the little pool of self-destruction:

Bowman, Bridget. “Viral Dispute Over ‘Mediocre’ Comment Exposes Racial Divides in Democrats’ Texas Senate Primary.” February 5, 2026. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/viral-dispute-mediocre-comment-exposes-racial-divides-democrats-texas-rcna257284

Desperation in the Republican ads:

Crampton, Liz; Carney, Jordain; Benson, Samuel; Gangitano, Alex; and Wren, Adam. “Republicans are Freaking Out Over Texas Senate Race.” February 26, 2026. Politico. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/26/republicans-alarm-grows-about-holding-texas-senate-seat-00799856

Some of their advertising is just disgusting:

Birenbaum, Gabby. “Anti-Islam Rhetoric Takes Center Stage in Texas Republican Primary.” January 26, 2026. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2026/01/26/texas-republicans-sharia-law-anti-muslim-rhetoric/

In pretty blue San Antonio:

Drusch, Andrea. “5 Takeaways From San Antonio’s 2025 City Election.” June 12, 2025. San Antonio Report. https://sanantonioreport.org/5-takeaways-from-san-antonios-2025-city-election/

They only have, like, 219 in the House:

U.S. House of Representatives Press Gallery. “Party Breakdown.” https://pressgallery.house.gov/member-data/party-breakdown

The Republican party has been in control of the state for about a quarter century:

Ballotpedia. “Party Control of Texas State Government.” https://ballotpedia.org/Party_control_of_Texas_state_government

Where Steve found the recipe for our Irish coffees, and one of his favorite authors:

Larry Niven. Playgrounds of the Mind. 1991. Tor Books.

Here’s all the board games we mentioned in a short amount of time.

Darwin’s Journey:

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/322289/darwins-journey

Botany: A Victorian Expedition:

https://duxsomnium.com/pages/botany

Twilight Struggle:

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12333/twilight-struggle

Pan Am:

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/303057/pan-am

Mapmaker: The Gerrymandering Game:

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/252997/mapmaker-the-gerrymandering-game

1960: The Making of the President:

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/27708/1960-the-making-of-the-president

About a month ago, lasers in El Paso:

Lubold, Gordon; Kube, Courtney; De Luce, Dan. And Gains, Mosheh. “CBP Shot Down Party Balloons With Anti-Drone Tech Before FAA Closed El Paso Airspace, Sources Say.” February 12, 2026. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/cbp-shot-party-balloons-anti-drone-tech-faa-closed-el-paso-airspace-so-rcna258731

More recently, lasers in El Paso:

Gains, Mosheh; Helsel, Phil; and The Associated Press. “U.S. Military Reportedly Used a Laser to Shoot Down Customs and Border Protection Drone, Sparking New Air Closure.” February 26, 2026. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/us-military-used-laser-take-border-protection-drone-lawmakers-say-rcna260887

A very large military base, Fort Bliss:

Military.com. “Fort Bliss Army Base Guide.” https://www.military.com/base-guide/fort-bliss

It’s essentially a city of a million people with a country line between it:

Communications and Publishing. “El Paso – Juarez [Satellite image].” USGS. https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/el-paso-juarez

 Through the lens of a September 11:

Bergen, Peter L. “September 11 Attacks.” Updated December 9, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/September-11-attacks

NORTHCOM:

https://www.northcom.mil/HomelandDefense/

This isn’t a pointer laser, which should never be used around an airport:

Public Affairs Officer. “The FBI Reminds the Public About the Severity of Laser Strikes Toward Aircraft.” February 25, 2026. FBI. https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/cleveland/news/the-fbi-reminds-the-public-about-the-severity-of-laser-strikes-toward-aircraft

This is one of these tactical high-powered lasers:

Demarest, Colin. “Laser Weapon That Shut Down El Paso’s Skies Was LOCUST System.” February 12, 2026. Axios. https://www.axios.com/2026/02/12/el-paso-laser-weapon-locust-drone

This is not just something you can pull out of your backpack:

Defense Updates. “What Can AeroVironment LOCUST Laser Weapon System Do for U.S. Military [YouTube video]?” https://youtu.be/huTcf6aoKMM?si=aXi_qCbyG3yFd76D

The mayor found out from the morning news:

Kim, Seung Min; Finley, Ben; Jalonick, Mary Clare; Lee, Morgan; and Boak, Josh. “Pentagon-FAA Dispute Over Lasers to Thwart Cartel Drones Led to Airspace Closure, AP Sources Say.” February 11, 2026. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/pentagon-faa-dispute-over-lasers-to-thwart-cartel-drones-led-to-airspace-closure-ap-sources-say

The Malaysian Airlines flight over Ukraine:

United Nations. “UN Aviation Council Finds Russia Responsible for Downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight.” May 13, 2025. https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/05/1163161

There was a midair collision between a U.S. Army helicopter and a passenger plane:

Skores, Alexandra. “Chain of Errors Led to Deadly Midair Collision Near Washington, DC, Investigators Conclude.” Updated February 27, 2026. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/17/us/washington-dc-plane-crash-cause

They slashed the budgets and fired people:

Copp, Tara. “Some of the 400 Jobs That Were Cut at the FAA Helped Support Air Safety, a Union Says.” Updated February 19, 2025. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/faa-firings-trump-doge-safety-airlines-27390c6a7aac58063652302df5a243d3

There are, apparently, nine Manhattans:

GeoTargit.com “How Many Places are Named Manhattan?” https://geotargit.com/called.php?qcity=Manhattan

Anne was incorrect, there was never a tribe that called themselves Manhattan. Colonizers assigned the name Manhattan to any native peoples they encountered on the island:

Schenawolf, Harry. “How Manhattan Island of New York was Named.” March 28, 2015. Revolutionary War Journal. https://revolutionarywarjournal.com/manhattan-name-sources/

Mack’s being a bit pedantic. The Army Corps of Engineers officially created the Manhattan Engineer District but, even at the time, it was commonly referred to as the Manhattan Project:

Atomic Heritage Foundation. “The Manhattan Project.” May 12, 2017. https://ahf.nuclearmuseum.org/ahf/history/manhattan-project/

In case, like Steve, you get your types of luminescence confused too:

Physical Chemistry. “Types of Luminescence [YouTube video].” https://youtu.be/B1Z7iD2FlJA?si=rT5dC0DDKff5Nsvi

They have to drink the radioactive stuff for the scans:

Cleveland. “PET Scan.” Updated October 29, 2022. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/10123-pet-scan

The FBI raided Fulton County in Georgia:

Levine, Sam and Chidi, George. “Debunked Claims From Election Deniers Influenced FBI Raid in Georgia, Affidavit Reveals.” February 10, 2026. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/10/fbi-raid-fulton-county-voting-office-search-affidavit

Including Mike “Fucking” Johnson is up for election:

Hilburn, Greg. “Speaker Mike Johnson Qualifies for Re-election, Predicts GOP Will Defy History in Midterms.” February 11, 2026. Shreveport Times. https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2026/02/11/house-speaker-mike-johnson-qualifies-for-re-election-predicts-gop-gains/88613862007/

Like Epstein file votes:

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Did Congress Vote to Release the Epstein Files?” Updated February 27, 2026. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/question/Did-Congress-vote-to-release-the-Epstein-files

The tariff thing:

McCarthy, Mia and Desrochers, Daniel. “GOP Revolt Sinks Effort to Block Votes on Trump’s Tariffs.” February 10, 2026. Politico. https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/02/10/congress/gop-revolt-sinks-effort-to-block-votes-on-trumps-tariffs-00775107

The Republicans made that a thing:

Chidi, George. “From Praise to Rage: Conservative Response to Epstein Release is Mixed.” December 20, 2025. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/20/conservative-response-epstein-release

He’s the most mentioned person in the Epstein files:

Herb, Jeremy and Cohen, Marshall. “What 3 Million New Documents Tell Us About Trump’s Ties to Jeffrey Epstein.” Updated January 31, 2026. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/31/politics/new-documents-trump-epstein

What are other countries’ governments doing about it:

CBS Mornings. “Epstein Files Fallout Prompts Investigations in At Least 10 Countries [YouTube video].” February 16, 2026. https://youtu.be/0fTIZaVJ1z0?si=ZzVxeI8vNdt9U89-

Or Pam Bondi:

Greene, Connor. “Pam Bondi Declines to Directly Apologize to Epstein Victims During Capitol Hill Testimony.” February 11, 2026. Time. https://time.com/7377755/bondi-epstein-victims-files-house-hearing/

There’s a lot of Republicans in Texas, right now, sweating:

McCaskill, Nolan D. “As Trump Allies Battle in Texas, A Safe Republican Senate Seat Suddenly Looks Fragile.” February 27, 2026. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-allies-battle-texas-safe-republican-senate-seat-suddenly-looks-fragile-2026-02-27/

Look at the grand juries over the last year:

Lee, Ella. “Grand Juries Take on Growing Importance Amid Trump’s Legal Retribution Campaign.” February 15, 2026. The Hill. https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5738221-grand-juries-trump-interference/

Or the streets of Minneapolis:

NPR. “Special Series: Minneapolis Shootings and Protests.” https://www.npr.org/series/g-s1-107333/minneapolis-shootings-protests

The Texas Tribune, who have been doing an excellent job providing voter information in the State of Texas:

The Texas Tribune. “Texas Votes 2026.” https://www.texastribune.org/2026-vote/

Our podcast favorite, Vote411.org by the League of Women Voters:

https://www.vote411.org/

And “jazz hands” is a dance move that involves holding your hands up, palms out, and shaking them. But you already knew that.