# Texas Cities Gain Local Control After Democratic Sweep

> Democrats sweep Texas state offices, ending GOP's years-long assault on cities' authority.
- Title: Texas Cities Gain Local Control After Democratic Sweep
- Summary: Democrats sweep Texas state offices, ending GOP's years-long assault on cities' authority.
- Keywords: texas, democrats, republicans, local government, property tax, housing affordability, city control, state legislature, housing bills, project connect, light rail, indigent care
- Source: Texastribune — https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17517395/texas-local-control-wars-over-cities-counties
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: texas, democrats, republicans, local government, property tax, housing affordability, city control, state legislature, housing bills, project connect, light rail, indigent care
## Texas cities face GOP attacks
For years, Republican state lawmakers engaged in an unrelenting assault on Texas cities to curb urban power and stop progressive policies.
## Fracking ban blocked by state
When Denton residents voted to ban fracking in city limits, the GOP-dominated Texas Legislature made it illegal for cities to do so.
## Mask mandates overruled
When local officials enacted mask mandates during the pandemic, Gov. Greg Abbott overruled them.
## Austin light rail blocked
Austin voters raised property taxes to build light rail, but Republican officials tried to stop it before tracks were laid.
## Democrats sweep state offices
After Tuesday, Democrats won statewide offices and a majority in the Texas House of Representatives, ending years of GOP control.
## Austin mayor on partnership
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said, 'I don’t think we need to be on the defense the way we have in the past'.

> I don’t think we need to be on the defense the way we have in the past
## Fort Worth mayor on partnership
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, a Republican, said, 'The number one ask right now is partnership'.

> The number one ask right now is partnership
## Local leaders draft wishlists
Local leaders across Texas are drawing up wishlists for what they want from state lawmakers in January.
## Travis County judge on partnership
Travis County Judge Andy Brown said, 'So many of the things we are trying to do will be easier with a partner concerned about middle class Texans'.

> So many of the things that we are trying to do are going to be so much easier to have a partner that is concerned about helping middle class texans
## Democrats flip county governments
Democrats flipped GOP-controlled Tarrant County Commissioners Court and won the county judge seat, controlling all five largest urban counties.
## Death Star bill remains
Republicans passed the 'Death Star' bill to stop cities from adopting progressive policies, but it remains on the books.
## Housing affordability push
Democrats signed bipartisan housing bills to make it easier to build homes in major cities, bypassing local approval processes.
## Frisco resists housing laws
Cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, including Frisco and Grand Prairie, want to see housing laws curtailed to retain local control.
## State may ease housing crisis
Texas could expand Medicaid or help cities with school security to address housing and financial pressures.
## Key takeaway

Texas Democrats now control state government and major urban areas, ending Republican efforts to limit local tax power and policy decisions.