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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.
The Texas House is in the midst of a months-long scramble for control. Here's an updated look at who is running to lead the chamber after Speaker Joe Straus steps down in January as well as who may soon throw their hats in the ring. Full Story
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Angela Paxton is the favorite to win a Texas Senate seat and have a vote on the state budget, which includes funding for her husband’s office. Legal experts and ethics lawyers weigh in on how such a situation is addressed in Texas law. Full Story
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President Donald Trump has asked former national campaign spokeswoman Katrina Pierson to rejoin the Trump Campaign as a senior adviser. Before joining Trump's orbit in 2015, Pierson had been a fixture in Texas Tea Party politics. Full Story
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As part of our ongoing efforts to engage people directly affected by policy issues, we want to learn more about what measures, if any, young Texans think should be taken to address mass shootings and school safety. Full Story
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If no candidate in a primary election receives a majority of the vote, the top two vote-getters go head-to-head in a runoff. Here's everything you need to know about how they work and how to vote. Full Story
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Vote counts Tuesday night once again showed how Texas is a red state. Despite an apparent early rush to the polls for Democrats, Republicans ended up casting more ballots in the 2018 primaries. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton are all heavy favorites to win their Republican primary races next week. Texas law allows them to give their campaign funds to other politicians in more precarious positions. Full Story
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The Texas Tribune is launching its first-ever Facebook group for people who want to engage in a constructive dialogue about the policy challenges facing our state. Are you in? Full Story
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The Texas Tribune asked Texas community leaders, politicians and advocates how policy shapes women’s experiences in the workplace, at the doctor's office and at the polls. Here’s what they said. Full Story
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The National Rifle Association contributed thousands of dollars to Texas politicians in recent years. But that's not nearly enough to make it one of the most prolific political donors in the state. Full Story
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