We fact check Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke’s second debate
During their second U.S. Senate debate in San Antonio, Beto O’Rourke and Ted Cruz went back and forth on a number of issues. But how much of what each candidate said is true? Full Story
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Alex Samuels
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Alex Samuels was a reporter for The Texas Tribune from 2017 to 2021. She helped with national campaign coverage, wrote stories about the intersection of race and politics in Texas, and covered the hottest political news bubbling out of local communities. She was also one of the primary authors of The Blast, the Tribune’s subscription-only daily newsletter for political insiders. Alex began at the Tribune as a fellow in 2016. She graduated in 2017 from the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Journalism. She originally is from Massachusetts and is the best pingpong player at the Tribune.
Past Contributions
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![Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke in their first debate for U.S. Senate in McFarlin Auditorium at SMU in Dallas on Sept. 21, 2018.]()
Credit: Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News/Pool -
Q&A: State Rep. Joe Moody on criminal justice and the Legislature
To close out This is Our Texas' month-long discussion about criminal justice, we did a Q&A with the Democratic chair of the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee. Full Story
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![Chairman of the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee Joe Moody, D-El Paso, listens to testimony on March 13, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Texas Republicans mostly outraising opponents in key state races
The Democrats running against Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and Attorney General Ken Paxton outraised the incumbents in the most recent fundraising period. Full Story
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Watch our symposium on rural Texas, and include your community in the conversation
We're livestreaming our two-day event in College Station, diving into the most pressing issues facing rural communities across Texas. Tune in and include your community in the conversation. Full Story
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Early voting begins in Texas on Oct. 22. Here's what you need to know.
We’ve compiled an overview of everything you need to know about casting a ballot in the 2018 midterms. Use our guide to learn when early voting begins and more. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
T-Squared: Help us spark policy conversations in your communities
Through live events, investigative reporting and interactive data projects, we've been diving deep into the biggest issues facing communities across Texas. Now we want to hear from you. Full Story
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Want to discuss affordable housing in your community? This guide can start the conversation.
We've prepared a toolkit to help Texans build a dialogue about housing issues in their community. It has everything you need to get started. Full Story
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Some Texas interest groups are endorsing in every statewide race — but not in Sid Miller's
Is this par for the course or are the groups weary of the agriculture commissioner? Full Story
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![Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller speaks at the Republican Party of Texas convention on Saturday, June 16, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
How much money have Ted Cruz and Beto O'Rourke raised outside Texas? We don't know for sure.
Each Texas candidate for U.S. Senate has criticized the other for raising money outside the state. But campaign finance rules make it difficult to say who has raised more. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (left) and U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, at their first debate, in Dallas, on Sept. 21, 2018.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
With a supermajority, Republicans have complete control of the Texas Senate. That's at risk this election cycle.
While the Texas Senate will remain Republican-dominated, the party could lose its ability to move legislation out of the chamber without the support of any Democrats. Full Story
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![State Sens. Konni Burton, R-Colleyville, Don Huffines, R-Dallas, and Joan Huffman, R-Houston.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich: Burton/Marjorie Kamys Cotera: Huffines/Laura Skelding: Huffman