Story perspectives

Texas AG Declares 100+ DEI Laws Unconstitutional Ahead of Primary

1/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton declared more than 100 DEI laws unconstitutional in a 74-page opinion on January 19, 2026.
The opinion bans DEI practices in public and private sectors and cites a 2023 Supreme Court ruling against race-based affirmative action.
The Texas primary is scheduled for March 3, 2026, as Paxton campaigns against Senator John Cornyn.

History

Historical Context

In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard that race-based affirmative action in college admissions violates the Equal Protection Clause. This decision echoes past rulings, including the 1996 Hopwood v. Texas, which initially curtailed affirmative action in Texas. The ruling's implications may reshape diversity and inclusion policies across the U.S., particularly in states like Texas, where over 100 DEI laws face scrutiny.

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Story summary

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton declared more than 100 DEI laws unconstitutional in a 74-page opinion on January 19, 2026.
The opinion bans DEI practices in public and private sectors and cites a 2023 Supreme Court ruling against race-based affirmative action.
The Texas primary is scheduled for March 3, 2026, as Paxton campaigns against Senator John Cornyn.

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