El Paso Matters

Catch this week’s top events across El Paso.
📚 Jazmine Ulloa discusses her new book
🍷 Wine and Wonder at La Nube
🎼 “Peter and the Wolf”
🏡 Home and Garden Show
🦜 Migratory Bird Day
🏀 UTEP men’s basketball home finale

Plan your week with our events roundup. elpasomatters.org/2026/03/04/e...

El Paso County sees record-breaking 2026 primary turnout amid high-profile Senate races Driven by high-profile U.S. Senate races and heightened political polarization, El Paso County’s 2026 primary turnout exceeded previous midterm highs and ranked among the strongest in local history.

More than 91,000 El Paso County residents voted in the March 3 primaries — shattering the midterm turnout record and even surpassing several presidential years. elpasomatters.org/2026/03/04/r...

Gonzales leads GOP race for District 23; Padilla Stout nears majority Early statewide results show Tony Gonzales leading the GOP primary for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District while Democrat Katy Padilla Stout is approaching the majority needed to avoid a runoff.

State primary returns show Tony Gonzales leading the GOP race in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District with 44%, followed by Brandon Herrera (41%).

Democrat Katy Padilla Stout leads with 54%, ahead of 3 candidates.
elpasomatters.org/2026/03/03/p... elpasomatters.org/2026/03/03/p...

Amanda Enriquez and Chris Anchondo win district judge races; other El Paso judicial races may need runoffs The primary runoffs will be held May 26. Two of the three district judge races have Republican challengers in November, while neither of the county courts at law races do.

Amanda Enriquez and Chris Anchondo are projected to win their district court races, while other judicial races are likely headed to the May primary runoffs, early voting results show. More from early voting in judicial races: elpasomatters.org/2026/03/03/p...

Adam Bauman leads Republican candidates for District 16 Congressional seat in early voting The winner of the Republican primary will advance to the Nov. 3 election to face incumbent U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, who’s unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Retired Border Patrol agent Adam Bauman is leading in early voting among seven candidates in the Republican primary for Texas’ District 16 congressional seat, likely heading into a May runoff. elpasomatters.org/2026/03/03/p...

Minerva Torres Shelton wins Republican nomination for county judge The former law enforcement officer has secured the Republican nomination against consultant Guadalupe Giner. She will advance to the November election to face Democrat incumbent Ricardo Samaniego,…

Minerva Torres Shelton secures Republican nomination for El Paso County judge against consultant Guadalupe Giner. elpasomatters.org/2026/03/03/p...

Incumbents trail early voting in El Paso County commissioners Democratic primary Democratic incumbents David Stout and Sergio Coronado are vying against Miguel Teran and Annette Griego, respectively. The winners will face Republicans Matt Sistrunk and Leo Arcos, respectively, in…

Miguel Teran and Annette Griego lead incumbents David Stout and Sergio Coronado, respectively, in early voting in the El Paso County commissioners Democratic primary. elpasomatters.org/2026/03/03/p...

Voting hours at El Paso County polling sites extended to 8 p.m. after glitch A district judge granted a temporary injunction extending voting hours from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at all county vote centers after reports of equipment malfunctions and delays at some polling locations…

A district judge has extended voting hours across El Paso County until 8 p.m. after technical issues with voter check-in tablets slowed lines at several polling sites during Tuesday’s primary election. elpasomatters.org/2026/03/03/v...

El Paso election results: Follow live March 3 primary results with El Paso Matters Polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 3. Check back with El Paso Matters throughout the evening for live results and updates from the El Paso County Elections Department.

Today is Election Day! 🗳️ Follow us starting at 7 p.m. for early voting tallies, then final voting results. elpasomatters.org/2026/03/02/e...

El Paso City Council may reconsider Flock Safety camera contract Some city of El Paso leaders are considering whether to renew a controversial contract for Flock Safety license plate reader cameras, citing privacy concerns and growing national debate over use of…

El Paso City Council is considering whether to renew its contract with Flock Safety, the company behind police license plate reader cameras. The technology has drawn privacy concerns nationwide as other cities end agreements. Here’s what’s at stake: elpasomatters.org/2026/03/02/f...

UTEP president revives old plagiarism case after federal investigators clear professor in 2024 grant review Years before securing and then being stripped of a major economic development grant in 2024, UTEP aerospace leader Ahsan Choudhuri resigned his tenure-track role amid plagiarism findings. He…

After federal investigators rejected falsification allegations tied to a potential $160 million NSF grant, UTEP President Wilson made public a 20-year-old plagiarism case involving aerospace leader Ahsan Choudhuri. elpasomatters.org/2026/03/02/u...

Opinion: After 30 days in ICE detention at Fort Bliss, a Minnesota mother resumes her fight to stay with her U.S. citizen children, including one in the National Guard After a month in an ICE detention facility, a Minnesota mother of three was released with an ankle monitor as her U.S. citizen son in the National Guard fights to help her gain legal status.

A Minnesota mother of 3 — whose son serves in the Army National Guard — spent 30 days detained by ICE at Fort Bliss even though she’s seeking legal status through “military parole in place.” Her attorney calls the conditions a nightmare. elpasomatters.org/2026/03/02/o...

El Paso Democrats, Republicans post historic primary turnout ahead of Election Day El Paso primary early voting shatters records El Paso County Democrats and Republicans shattered early voting records in this year’s midterm primary elections, driven largely by new and younger voters. Primary elections: Early voting turnout…

El Paso County Democrats and Republicans shattered early voting records in this year’s primaries, driven by a surge of new and younger voters. Here’s what the numbers show about who turned out. elpasomatters.org/2026/03/01/e...

Mexican American studies classes are disappearing from El Paso high schools, leaving just five campuses offering the elective. Teachers warn policy shifts and declining enrollment could limit access to local history. elpasomatters.org/2026/03/01/e...

‘God-given dignity’: Border bishops urge U.S., Mexico to reject ‘inhumane’ immigration enforcement The discussions centered on recent documents from the U.S. Catholic bishops calling for restoring access to asylum at the border, safeguarding due process, protecting family unity and pressing for…

A delegation of Texas-Mexico border Catholic bishops is urging both nations to adopt immigration policies that protect migrants’ “God-given dignity.” Meeting in El Paso, the bishops warned that mass detention risks people being “forgotten.” elpasomatters.org/2026/02/27/b...

This week in El Paso:
• County seeks volunteers to plant 155 trees
• UTEP installs free naloxone vending machine
• City Council adopts two-year policy priorities

Read more in our weekly roundup. elpasomatters.org/2026/02/27/e...

Can I write my address on my city of El Paso trash bin? Online posts question whether El Paso residents can write their addresses on trash and recycling bins. Here’s what the city says.

Fact check: Can I write my address on my city of El Paso trash bin? Here’s our latest Fact Brief, which we produce in partnership with Gigafact to correct misinformation and amplify factual information. elpasomatters.org/2026/02/26/g...

Rep. Veronica Escobar, two dozen Democrats call on ICE to close troubled Camp East Montana detention center Three deaths have been reported recently at the hastily constructed camp. One was ruled a homicide involving staff. Claims of medical neglect and unsanitary conditions are rife.

In their letter, Democrats said the administration should close Camp East Montana, the largest ICE facility in the country that opened in August at a cost of about $1.2 billion. From the Texas Tribune: elpasomatters.org/2026/02/26/c...

Arrest numbers don’t equal the size of El Paso’s drunk driving problem. They measure enforcement — not behavior. If we want fewer alcohol-related crashes, we need local data, research and evidence-based solutions, Matthew J. Durán writes. elpasomatters.org/2026/02/25/o...

Catch this week’s top events across El Paso.

💃 UTEP Dance Championship
🧧 Downtown Lunar New Year Celebration
🎨 “Desert Dreamscapes” exhibition
📚 Turn the Page Story Fest
🕉️ Tibetan sand mandala installation

Plan your week with our events roundup. elpasomatters.org/2026/02/25/e...

Fordham Law students and volunteer attorneys say they witnessed hunger, medical neglect and violence inside El Paso’s Camp East Montana — the largest immigrant detention center in U.S. history. They’re calling on Congress to investigate and halt more ICE funding. elpasomatters.org/2026/02/24/o...

Early voting in El Paso primaries up sharply from 2022 as new voters drive turnout A surge in El Paso County primary voting is being driven largely by voters who did not participate in the 2022 primaries, with Democrats holding a turnout, gender and age advantage so far.

Early voting in El Paso’s primaries is outpacing 2022 by a wide margin. Democratic turnout is up 51%, Republican turnout up 35% — with many voters new to primary elections. Here’s what the data shows ahead of March 3. elpasomatters.org/2026/02/23/e...

Opinion: When we support the caregiver, we strengthen Texas - El Paso Matters Military and veteran caregivers support Texas families and communities every day. Recognizing and supporting their work strengthens veterans, households and the region as a whole.

Military and veteran caregivers quietly support those who served — and strengthen families and communities in the process. Recognizing their work benefits all of Texas, Tom Palladino and Linda Mais write. elpasomatters.org/2026/02/23/o...

Texas’ new Education Freedom Accounts voucher-like program could provide families with disabled children more schooling options, though critics argue that it can create further disparities in an already uneven playing field. elpasomatters.org/2026/02/23/e...

Jasmine Crockett, in El Paso visit, says border security and immigration are two distinct issuesDuring El Paso stop, Jasmine Crockett says Democrats can back border security and advocate for immigrants - El Paso Matters Campaigning in El Paso, Senate candidate Jasmine Crockett said improved border technology — not more walls — is key to securing the U.S.-Mexico border. She also pledged to open a district office in…

Senate candidate Jasmine Crockett told El Paso voters that Democrats can support strong border security while also backing immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship. She also pledged to open a district office in El Paso if elected.
elpasomatters.org/2026/02/22/j...

In 2024, UTEP investigated a $160 million grant. It was conducted outside the university’s policies, and federal investigators later couldn’t substantiate the findings. The grant was killed. Here are the findings of an El Paso Matters investigation. elpasomatters.org/2026/02/22/h...

At El Paso ICE facility, James Talarico argues for ‘pro-immigrant, pro-security’ approach Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico campaigned in El Paso, arguing that voters want leaders who are both pro-immigrant and strong on border security.

Standing outside El Paso’s Camp East Montana ICE detention facility, U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico said Democrats can reclaim the immigration debate with a message that’s both pro-immigrant and pro-security. elpasomatters.org/2026/02/21/j...

El Paso Electric rates will rise, but not as much as company requested, regulators rule El Paso Electric’s rates will not rise as much as the company requested, the Texas Public Utility Commission ruled Friday.

State regulators reduced El Paso Electric’s rate increase request Friday, approving a smaller hike than the utility sought. The decision comes as the city challenges a Texas Gas Service rate increase and implements higher water rates. elpasomatters.org/2026/02/20/e...

Opinion: Economic investment, financial education help shape El Paso’s future Bank of America’s 2025 initiatives in El Paso focused on financial education, workforce development and community partnerships aimed at expanding opportunity and supporting long-term economic growth.

El Paso’s binational economy depends on investment in education, workforce development and community partnerships. Bank of America El Paso President Ruben H. Torres outlines the bank’s 2025 initiatives. elpasomatters.org/2026/02/20/o...

This week in El Paso:
• UTEP housing complex budget cuts
• Children’s Grief Center to open facility
• EPISD offers $3,000 buyout incentive
• School districts reject prayer period
• City advances public art plan

Read more in our weekly roundup. elpasomatters.org/2026/02/20/e...