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This article was first published on August 19, 2026 by CBS Austin and curated for The Austin readers.

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government

Special election set to replace Texas Sen. Brian Birdwell, who resigned for Pentagon post

Summary by The Austin Editorial Desk · Based on reporting from CBS Austin · August 19, 2026 · 1 min read

Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday set a special election to replace former Texas Sen. Brian Birdwell for Election Day after the five-term Granbury Republican resigned

Why this matters in The Austin

The special election to replace Texas Sen. Brian Birdwell will have implications for the Austin area, given the senator's role in shaping state policies that affect the city. As a member of the Texas Senate, Birdwell has voted on bills related to education, transportation, and healthcare, all of which have a direct impact on the daily lives of Austinites. The Austin Independent School District, which serves the small incorporated city of Austin, may be particularly affected by the outcome of this election, as the new senator will have a say in state education funding and policy. Additionally, the senator's stance on issues like flood mitigation and disaster relief will be crucial for Austin, which is prone to flooding and is vulnerable to Gulf hurricanes. The election will give voters in the area a chance to choose a representative who shares their priorities and values.

About this story

Original reporting by CBS Austin. The Austin selects stories from publishers’ feeds, summarises them, and links back to the publisher that reported them. We add no reporting of our own. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit CBS Austin. Have a tip or correction? Contact the editor.

Category: government · Published: August 19, 2026 · Source: CBS Austin · Reading time: 1 min

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