In a special episode of the Here & Now podcast, host Jeremy Hobson takes a trip to Austin, Texas, where there are a number of politics stories drawing attention ahead of November’s midterm elections. We start with a look at the race in the state’s 21st Congressional District, which has been solidly in Republican hands for decades — but an incumbent’s retirement has sparked hopes on the Democratic side, with signs of a possible wave election for Democrats. Also we check in with U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, who’s trying to unseat GOP Sen. Ted Cruz and become the first Democrat elected to statewide office in Texas in decades. Plus, NPR’s Wade Goodwyn shares takeaways from his interview with Cruz, and we round up more midterm races to watch with KUT’s Ben Philpott and Alana Rocha of the Texas Tribune. And one thing you can’t miss in Austin? Dockless electric scooters. We ride along with one Uber driver to see what it’s like to navigate the city alongside all the tourists using them.