Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has become the de facto conservative culture war leader — ahead of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott — despite similar priorities and policies.

Driving the news: DeSantis is on a three-day fundraising tour of Texas, with stops in Midland, Fort Worth, Dallas, Houston, Austin and The Woodlands.

• He stops in Houston today and The Woodlands tomorrow.

Why it matters: Texas has long been considered the nation's flagship for conservative policies.

Yes, but: That's not the case anymore. As the 2024 presidential election nears, DeSantis has emerged as the leading Republican challenger to former President Donald Trump, positioning the Sunshine State as the place "where woke goes to die."

The big picture: DeSantis and Abbott have jostled for the title of most conservative governor, taking turns enacting policies and backing bills that push both states further to the right.

• Both governors worked to reopen businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, ban abortion, expand access to guns, transport migrants to Democrat-led cities, and limit diversity policies.
• DeSantis also answered Abbott's call for help at the border, committing 1,100 National Guard soldiers and law enforcement personnel to Texas.

Zoom in: The biggest difference between them has been style and rhetoric. Abbott eventually signed into law legislation like the state's "heartbeat bill" and "constitutional carry," but he didn't publicly support the bills until it was clear they'd pass in the Texas House and Senate.

Meanwhile: DeSantis recently said that if he's elected president, he'll "destroy leftism."

• DeSantis has also publicly battled Disney, one of his state's largest employers. Abbott hasn't done anything equivalent in Texas.

What they're saying: "Abbott's posture in the culture war is much more akin to the old guard establishment wing of the GOP," Luke Macias, a conservative political consultant in Texas, told the Texas Tribune earlier this year.

• "DeSantis acknowledges the culture war and publicly talks about the need to take on the left."

The bottom line: The road to the Republican nomination for president still goes through Texas.

👋 Jay here! Tuesday evening was a night to remember for Houston's Pride ride, a social bike ride that departs from Eagle Houston every week.

Catch up quick: The weekly ride is a cornerstone of Montrose culture, combining the neighborhood's LGBTQ+ pride with the Bayou City's devout and vibrant cycling community.

What happened: Tuesday's ride was like no other. Dozens of riders whipped through Montrose and rode to Near Northside, winding up at Trash Panda Drinking Club's Stonewall Inn Takeover.

• The one-night-only affair saw actual bartenders from New York City's historic Stonewall Inn slinging drinks all night.

Driving the news: Tuesday's ride was the first during Pride Month.

• Organizer David Loredo has several rides planned during the month.
• Each ride will feature a special midway stop.

What they're saying: "We are selecting welcoming bars, especially if they have a Pride theme element to it," Loredo tells Axios. "We're combining forces and trying to go for the ultimate midpoint."

This year's banner ride, the annual Pride ride, will take place June 17.

• The route will look a lot like the old-school Pride parade route when it took place in Montrose (the annual Pride Parade now takes place downtown).

Get involved: If you'd like to join the ride, it takes off at 7:30pm every Tuesday from Eagle Houston.

🏢 The University of Houston will spend $38 million to add safety and security measures to a campus academic building after two students killed themselves there within six weeks earlier this year. (Chron)

👨‍🏫 Former HISD superintendent Millard House II has been hired as the head of a Maryland school district. (KHOU)

🍻 8th Wonder Brewery & Distillery was acquired by Bayou City Hemp Co. The two have been collaborating since 2021, and the acquisition will combine Bayou City, one of Texas' first and largest hemp processors, with 8th Wonder's brewing and distilling capabilities, along with its distribution network. (Houston Chronicle)

Bun B's Trill Burgers quietly opened its first brick-and-mortar location yesterday.

Catch up quick: Trill Burgers was previously only open at pop-up locations, notably during the Houston Rodeo in March and Mayor Sylvester Turner's Trill Burgers pop-up in September.

Driving the news: Trill Burgers' long-anticipated opening was announced hours before workers opened up shop in the former James Coney Island location on South Shepherd Drive at Richmond Avenue yesterday morning.

Details: Bun B's original mouthwatering OG Burger features two smashed all-beef patties, Trill Sauce, pickles, caramelized onions and American cheese on a potato roll bun.

• The eatery also offers the vegan OG Burger with vegan cheese and vegan mayonnaise.

If you go: Trill Burgers is located at 3607 S. Shepherd Dr. and is open from 11am to 9pm daily.

✔ Check out our Local Job Board.

1. Manager of Investor Relations and Corporate Development at Stewart Investor Relations.
2. Finance Manager at DHL.
3. Director Post Surgical at The Woman's Hospital of Texas.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Use code FIRST50 for $50 off your first job post.

📍Explore the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston's current exhibitions through a scavenger hunt from 1pm to 4pm Saturday.

• The museum has two free exhibits: One features work by 25 Houston-area teen artists, and the other is Ming Smith's solo exhibition documenting Black life in the U.S.

🏠 Tour three historic houses designated by UNESCO as "sites of memory" in its Routes of Enslaved Peoples project, including the Rev. Jack Yates house.

• The Heritage Society has several tours from 10am to 2:30pm Saturday for $15.

🎤 Dress to impress at the free Slay All Day drag show Saturday at the Social Beer Garden.

• Drag queens will be serving looks and lip-syncing from 3pm to 4:30pm.

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