Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Monday, May 25, 2026.
What to know ahead of tomorrow’s primary runoffs
Tomorrow, when Texans go to the polls in the last day of voting in the primary runoffs — barring any logistical surprises — a total of 38 party nomination contests will be settled. That’s because the candidates in those races didn’t get more than 50% of the vote during the March primary.
In terms of statewide runoffs, there are two Democratic and four Republican statewide races — including a Republican contest for U.S. Senator, Republican and Democratic runoffs for attorney general, a Democratic runoff for lieutenant governor and a Republican runoff for railroad commissioner.
Blaise Gainey, who covers politics for the Texas Newsroom, and Lauren McGaughy of the New York Times joins Texas Standard with what you need to know if you still need to cast your ballot.
This week in Texas music history
Jason Mellard with the Center for Texas Music History checks the archives.
‘Wild Thumb’ app aims to help Texans plant native gardens
A new free app from Texas Parks & Wildlife foundation aims to make native gardening a lot less intimidating for Texans, and a lot more helpful for pollinators. It’s called “Wild Thumb,” and its goal is to help Texans with planting and caring for drought-tolerant native plants that help struggling pollinators like native bees and butterflies.
Julie Shaddox, director of Development and Conservations Programs at Texas Parks and Wildlife, joins us with the details.
Ice Age fossil discovery in Texas reshapes understanding of prehistoric wildlife
A discovery in a Central Texas cave is challenging long-held assumptions about which species lived in the region during the Ice Age. Fossils from large, lion-sized animals suggest a more complex prehistoric ecosystem than previously believed.
John Moretti, paleontologist at the University of Texas, joins the Texas Standard to explain.
New book highlights women’s role in Texas conservation history
From Big Bend to Caddo Lake and Padre Island to Palo Duro, Texas has no shortage of public lands — but the path to conserve that land wasn’t simple. In her new book “Wild Women for Good,” author Jennifer Bristol documents the role female Texans played in shaping the state’s conservation and public preservation.
Bristol joins the Texas Standard with more.
US House seats on the ballot for primary runoff
Voters across Texas who did not already vote early will be heading to the polls tomorrow for the state’s primary runoff elections. Some U.S. House seats in Texas are still up for grabs by their respective parties. The winners of these runoffs will be on the ballot in November, the first general election since the Texas Legislature redrew the state’s congressional maps.
Andrew Schneider, senior reporter on politics and government at Houston Public Media and Gabby Birenbaum, Washington Correspondent for the Texas Tribune, join Texas Standard with a breakdown of some of the key House races.
