Hobby Talks
Hobby Talks is a podcast series from the Hobby School of Public Affairs produced in partnership with the Center for Student Media at the University of Houston. Hosted by Dean Jim Granato and Hobby School faculty, the podcast features timely conversations on politics and policy with experts, scholars and those guiding the most complex challenges facing our region and state.
Hobby Talks
Texas's Redistricting Plan: The Race to Control Congress
On this episode of Hobby Talks, political scientist Richard Murray breaks down the proposed Texas maps for the 2026 midterm elections with podcast host Dean Jim Granato. Murray explains what the newly drawn congressional districts mean for Texans and the balance of power in Congress, as well as the political party strategies and national-level implications. He also reflected on his decades-long career at the University of Houston and introduced listeners to his new newsletter, Letter from Texas, where he provides insights on the shifting demographics and the future of Republican dominance in the Lone Star State.
Richard Murray is a professor emeritus in the University of Houston Department of Political Science and a senior research fellow at the Hobby School.