After this week's primary runoffs, attention shifts to the November general election.

Why it matters: Democrats are looking for signs of momentum, amid special election victories in Texas and elsewhere — even as Republicans are riding a three-decade winning streak for statewide office in Texas.

Zoom in: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa, a state lawmaker from Austin, suggested that local election results earlier this month have illustrated "the coalition that's going to send Greg Abbott packing in November."

State of play: Hinojosa cited school board and city council election results across the state.

• In San Antonio, for example, two candidates with Democratic backing — Michael Adam Wulczyn and Caprice Garcia — ousted GOP-aligned incumbents on the North East ISD board.

Yes, but: GOP-aligned candidates still had clout in some suburban areas. In Shavano Park, Air Force veteran Christian Lyons had conservative backing and came in first place to earn an alderman position, per the SA Report.

The big picture: Special elections across the country have reflected Democratic voters' enthusiasm — or, put another way, desperation — in the Trump era.

• In January, Democrat Taylor Rehmet flipped a Texas Senate district in Tarrant County, beating a President Trump-backed Republican.

The other side: "Every election, Democrats claim Texas is turning blue. Every election, Texans reject their radical agenda of open borders, boys in girls' sports, higher taxes, and soft-on-crime policies," Eduardo Leal, spokesperson for the Abbott campaign, tells Axios. "This November will be no different."

The intrigue: Austin McCarty, an Austin-based government affairs adviser for the law firm K&L Gates and who previously worked for the Texas Association of Counties, tells Axios that Democrats are "taking a page out of the Republican playbook in the Obama years."

• "Republicans became hyperfocused on municipal, county and school district races. That led to results farther up the ballot ... Wins have a way of creating momentum for a party."

Local elections results can indicate grassroots enthusiasm, but they're also of limited value for predicting statewide races in November, experts tell Axios.

Reality check: The May 2 elections Hinojosa cites (👆) were nonpartisan — that is, the candidates are not running on the ballot as Republican or Democratic, one of the reasons the results could have limited implications for November, Mark Jones, a Rice University political science professor, tells Axios.

• "At the end of the day, these races are about local issues," he says. In a state that has voted for Republicans the last 30 years, elections could be different when an R or D is by the candidates' names, he says.
• Also, turnout is dramatically lower in May elections — typically in the single-digits — compared to 45.9% of registered voters in the 2022 midterm election.

Follow the money: A lot more money will be at play, too. Republican statewide candidates in Texas typically have more money available than Democrats.

• As of late February, per the latest campaign finance reports, Texans for Greg Abbott had $95 million on hand. Hinojosa's campaign had $617,635.

Between the lines: For Hinojosa "to have any hope, she has to create some level of belief among Democratic donors that she has some potential for victory," Jones says.

The bottom line: Abbott leads Hinojosa by 6 percentage points among registered voters in the latest University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll.

• That's a narrower margin than in the group's February poll, which showed Abbott leading by 10 points.

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The flopping debate has dominated the Western Conference finals — and one Spurs fan found a viral way to weigh in.

Catch up quick: Nikki Swift sat courtside during Game 4 and held a miniature Oscars-style trophy labeled "Best Flopper," waving it every time an Oklahoma City Thunder player — especially Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — hit the floor trying to draw a foul.

• Photos of Swift quickly became one of the game's viral storylines, alongside the now-famous Salesian sisters.

What they're saying: "I was sitting courtside during Game 3 and was incredibly frustrated with the calls — as I'm sure every other Spurs and NBA fan was," Swift tells Axios. "I instantly got on my phone and ordered the trophy. I rarely taunt players courtside, but this just felt too funny not to do."

• Swift says she's received support from Spurs fans and other basketball fans who are "over OKC's flopping as well."

What's next: The Spurs face a do-or-die game tonight at the Frost Bank Center. Swift won't be there because of travel, but fans can rest assured that others will be ready to pick up the slack.

• Tipoff is at 7:30pm.

⚖️ As the Trump administration works to speed up deportation cases, an attorney with an immigration legal services nonprofit says mass hearings are expected to begin next week at San Antonio's immigration court. (TPR)

🌳 The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department acquired nearly 54,000 acres that will become the second-largest state park. The future Silver Lake State Park is located about 150 miles west of San Antonio near Uvalde. (TPWD)

Friday

🖼️ See student artwork at SAY Sí's free end-of-year showcase at 1906 Gallery, 6-9pm.

🎶 Check out free live '80s dance music at the Metzger Biergarten at Cool Crest Miniature Golf, 6:30-9:30pm.

Saturday

👟 Lace up your shoes for a run at McAllister Park, starting at 7:30am.

• Stick around after for a hot dog social with the Friends of McAllister Park, 11am-1pm.

🏳️‍🌈 Celebrate at Visit San Antonio's Pride River Parade, kicking off at 5pm on the Museum Reach section.

Sunday

🪴 Grab your plants and gently used clothes for a free swap event at Blue Falcon Bar, 10am-2pm.

🎙️ Enjoy a tribute to San Antonio's late Augie Meyers at Stable Hall, featuring Jimmie Vaughan, Joe King Carrasco and others. Doors open at 5pm; Show at 6:15pm.

• Tickets start around $28.