U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and state Rep. James Talarico (D-Austin) finished 2025 with far more cash on hand than their party rivals in the race for U.S. Senate in Texas, per campaign finance reports filed over the weekend.

Why it matters: A stunning upset by a Democrat in a special Texas Senate election in a deep-red Tarrant County district on Saturday could attract more money to the U.S. Senate race as Democrats seek to win back the Senate majority.

• No Democrat has won statewide in Texas since 1994.

The big picture: The Republican and Democratic nominations remain up in the air, despite Cornyn's and Talarico's fundraising advantages.

By the numbers: Cornyn and political action committees that support him remain a money-raising machine, outraising Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Houston), his opponents for the Republican nomination.

• Collectively, the Cornyn campaign and two committees that support him finished the year with more than $15 million on hand — money Cornyn will lean on as he buys ads ahead of the primary and a possible runoff.

By comparison, Paxton had about $3.7 million on hand.

• Hunt finished the year with close to $800,000 on hand. A PAC that supports him— Wesley Hunt Victory Fund — finished the period with about $325,000 on hand.

Yes, but: Paxton and Cornyn are tight in the polls, and Paxton is a favorite of the MAGA faithful.

What they're saying: "The fundamental question in this race is 'Does John Cornyn's money matter?'" Joshua Blank, research director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas, tells Axios.

The other side: Talarico finished the year with $7.1 million on hand.

• U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Dallas) who entered the race on Dec. 8, had $4.5 million on hand.
• "As much attention and energy as Crockett entered the race with, Talarico appears to at least have the resources to match going into the final stretch," Blank says.

What's next: Primary day is March 3. Early voting starts Feb. 17.

As Black History Month kicks off, signs of Texas' history with slavery remain around us — literally.

Zoom in: "When Texas joined the Confederacy in 1861, some men disagreed," an awkwardly written state historical plaque at Camp Mabry reads. "Mainly these were from foreign countries or the North, or did not uphold states' rights. Some of them left here and joined Northern army units."

• The implication appears to be that real Texans — whatever that means — supported the Confederate cause.

Between the lines: The plaque was erected in 1965, part of a statewide effort to memorialize the centennial of the Civil War, per documents provided to Axios by the Texas Historical Commission.

What they're saying: We asked H.W. Brands, a scholar of American history at the University of Texas, what he thinks of the Camp Mabry sign.

• "Texas Unionists did include large numbers of recent immigrants and former Northerners," he tells us. "These groups tended not to own slaves. But some Texas Unionists were as Texan as could be, starting with Sam Houston."

Flashback: In 2019, a state board that oversees the Texas Capitol grounds voted to remove a plaque that falsely asserted that the Civil War was "not a rebellion, nor was its underlying cause to sustain slavery."

The bottom line: The Camp Mabry plaque "is less misleading than many in its genre," Brands says. "A lot of accounts of Texas in the Civil War don't even acknowledge that any Texans opposed secession, let alone fought for the Union."

Today is the last day to register to vote before March's primary elections.

Why it matters: The primaries will determine the Republican and Democratic candidates for Congress, the U.S. Senate (see above ☝️), state Legislature and statewide offices, including governor.

The big picture: Democrats are seeking to retake the majority in the U.S. House and Senate in the November midterms.

How it works: Voters have to pick whether to vote in the Republican primary or the Democratic primary.

• You don't have to be affiliated with either party to vote in a primary.

Key dates: Applications to register to vote must be postmarked no later than Monday.

• Early voting is Feb. 17-27. Election day is March 3.

What you can do: Check whether your voter registration is active.

• To register, you can fill out the application online but you must print and sign the paperwork to mail.

Zoom in: Voter registration must be completed with your county elections office.

🪧 Thousands of people gathered on Congress Avenue and in East Austin over the weekend to protest federal immigration operations. (KVUE)

🏗️ Two new towers have been proposed near the University of Texas, by West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and West 18th Street where they intersect with Rio Grande Street. (Austin Business Journal 🔒)

🧑‍🎓 Texas A&M University is cutting its women's and gender studies degree program, after university leaders restricted the teaching of race and gender ideology. Officials also cited low enrollment. (NPR)

✈️ Delta is launching a new nonstop seasonal route from Austin to Asheville this summer. (KXAN)

Axios Austin delivers clear, trustworthy reporting that helps you make sense of what's happening in your area.

• By becoming a member, you directly support your newsroom and help keep it focused on what matters most in your community.

We appreciate your support.

After-hours fun on our radar this workweek.

Monday

🐊 Brace yourself for the 1980 "Jaws"-inspired film "Alligator," about a ravenous reptile eager to feast on human flesh. At AFS Cinema at 7:30pm. $14.

Tuesday

🏀 Cheer on the University of Texas men's basketball team against South Carolina, 6pm at the Moody Center. The game is sold out, but tickets are available on the secondary market.

Wednesday

🎬 Check out Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise and Demi Moore in "A Few Good Men," screening at 5:30pm at the John Gillum library branch. Free.

🪩 Get your bounce on at the Funk Dance Party with Henry Invisible, at the Far Out Lounge. 8pm, free.

Thursday

🎻 Nod along to "Tradition" at Austin Opera's production of "Fiddler on the Roof" at the Long Center at 7:30pm. With performances through Sunday. Ticket prices vary.