The State of Texas: The caravan and the blue wave

What Texas is talking about today No Images? [Click here]( [TexPats: A Texan's Guide to Steamboat, Colorado]( [Texas Monthly]( November 5, 2018 QUOTE OF THE DAY "We’re constantly told we’re a distraction and it’s OK to pull us out of class and hinder our chance to learn. It’s kind of like they’re looking out for the boys and not the girls." —Alexandria Evans, a senior at Harlandale High School . Evans is [one of a swelling number of students]( fighting what many believe to be harsh dress codes in San Antonio. THE LATEST [Underdog: Beto vs. Cruz on the Caravan and the Blue Wave]( TEXAS MONTHLY On the eve of the election, Eric Benson examines the effects of early voting and the possibility of a number of Democratic victories come Tuesday. [Read more.]( Election Day is tomorrow! Follow senior editors Carlos Sanchez and R.G. Ratcliffe [on Twitter](, and [check out our site]( for election news and analysis. THE TEXANIST [The Texanist: Contemplating the ‘Texas Exit’]( DAVID COURTNEY Q: During a recent visit to Texas I noticed a pattern of behavior that I believe is unique to Texans and maybe those experiencing temporary Texanity (a condition in which non-Texans adopt the local traits and habits while inside the Republic’s borders). I’m speaking of the “Texas Detour.” You know, that most Texan of maneuvers, when traffic comes to a standstill on a freeway and, rather than wait it out like everybody else, a flood of pickups and SUVs suddenly head for the frontage road via the ditch. Is this a uniquely Texan move? And can you think of any other behavior that more fully encapsulates the Texan spirit of independence and disinterest in both conformity and authority? Alex Pemberton, Wichita, Kansas A: Welcome to Texas! And congratulations for being a perceptive visitor during your stay. The Texanist, who considers himself fairly well-traveled, is also careful to note local behaviors when he is abroad. But he also tries his best to proceed with due caution before diving headlong into locale-specific practices. The old “when in Rome” adage sounds good, but it does not always have pleasurable results, a lesson the Texanist has learned the hard way more times than he cares to remember. Like, for instance, that time when . . . ah, the Texanist will spare you the gory details, but suffice it to say, if you ever find yourself down in Brazil, do not feel compelled to don that country’s particular style of swimwear. And do not under any circumstance ever enter an Ipanema barbearia wearing one of those tiny slingshot-shaped garments and request a trim. Fair warning has been issued. [Read more.]( Look here every Monday for the latest from the Texanist, or [peruse his archives here.]( Tomorrow, and every Tuesday, you’ll find a selection from our archives. [TexPats: A Texan's Guide to Steamboat, Colorado]( OUR TOP STORIES [Did Post Malone Deserve That Viral Takedown?]( Pop music’s current king got a savage review of his festival. We’re not sure he deserved it. [Read more.]( [The Only Texas Chili Recipe You’ll Ever Need]( Winter is coming. [Read more.]( [Catfishing and Conspiracy in Groves]( A young city councilman’s Grindr photos were leaked, and he now faces a recall election. Was there a conspiracy to oust him, and did it come from inside City Hall? [Read more.]( THE STATE OF TEXAS Remembering Sutherland Springs On November 5, 2017, a gunman entered into First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs and opened fire, killing 26 people and wounding 20 others. This Sunday, the community [came together to remember]( the friends and family they lost. Crowds gathered at the church's worship center for food, live music, and speakers, including Governor Greg Abbott. "The horrific shooting that took place here could've ripped this community apart, but it didn't," [Abbott said](. "Instead, you came together and turned to the Lord for strength, guidance, and healing. While we may never fully understand why these things happen, we know it is through Him that we can overcome these challenges." Early Voting In the 30 counties where most registered voters in the state live, more than 4,884,528 people cast ballots [during the early voting period](. Between October 22 and November 2, 4,514,930 voters went to the polls, and 369,598 mailed in their ballots, accounting for 40 percent of the 12.3 million registered voters in those counties. As the Texas Tribune points out, 78 percent of all registered voters in the state reside in those thirty counties. These early voting totals surpassed those of the 2012 presidential election for the same counties. Weekend Update Saturday Night Live cast member Pete Davidson [mocked a Texas Republican congressional candidate](who wears an eyepatch because of an injury he sustained during his third tour in Afghanistan. On Saturday's "Weekend Update" segment, Davidson said that though Dan Crenshaw was "kinda cool," viewers might be "surprised he's a congressional candidate from Texas and not a hit man in a porno movie." Davidson added, "I'm sorry, I know he lost his eye in war or whatever." Crenshaw, a Navy SEAL veteran, tweeted Sunday: "Good rule in life: I try hard not to offend; I try harder not to be offended. That being said, I hope @nbcsnl recognizes that vets don’t deserve to see their wounds used as punchlines for bad jokes." NEWS & POLITICS [Texas Monthly Reader Poll: Beto O’Rourke Outpaces Ted Cruz Among Readers]( CARLOS SANCHEZ In our very unscientific poll, Texas Monthly readers chose Democrats over Republicans in all statewide contests. [Read more.]( [Stay Roped in with Rodeo Report]( [Stay Roped in with Rodeo Report]( Get an inside look into the high-intensity world that combines talented athletes with horses and livestock, steep competition, old-school traditions, and family fun. Rodeo Report’s coverage from the PRCA circuit includes competitor updates, performance analysis, and behind-the-scenes stories of triumphs, challenges, injuries, and rerides.Read More]( [TexPats: A Texan's Guide to Steamboat, Colorado]( MORE FROM TEXAS MONTHLY [The New Menil Drawing Institute Completes a Major Makeover]( MICHAEL HARDY [Honoring My Loved Ones on Día de los Muertos]( CAT CARDENAS [What Would Amazon’s HQ2 Do to the Austin and Dallas Housing Markets?]( DAN SOLOMON [Subscribe to Texas Monthly today and save!]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Website]( Texas Monthly PO Box 1569 Austin, TX 78767 Texas Monthly has sent you this alert because you signed up to receive it either online at texasmonthly.com, at the website of one of our business partners, or when you filled out a reader response card. You may opt-out from Texas Monthly newsletters at any time. Please see our Privacy Policy. 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