Houston-area lawmakers urge DA to investigate possible "non-existent" March primary candidate
“We are concerned that more than 2500 Harris County voters may have been duped," the Democratic lawmakers wrote. Full Story
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Cassandra Pollock is The Texas Tribune’s state politics reporter. She joined the Tribune full-time in June 2017 after a fellowship during the 85th Texas Legislature. Pollock spent her first two years at the Trib as an engagement reporter, which meant her name likely landed in your inbox every weekday morning with “The Brief,” a newsletter on all things Texas politics and public policy. Pollock is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin’s School of Journalism.
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![The floor of the house on April 11, 2019.]()
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Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt pushes back resignation to focus on coronavirus response
Eckhardt had been planning to resign to run for state Senate. Now she says she'll stay on until mid-May. Full Story
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![Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt speaks at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 29, 2018. Photo credit:]()
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Texas' budget could take massive hit as coronavirus crisis continues unfolding, lawmakers learn
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar told House members that it's too soon to make detailed forecasts, but both the state budget and Economic Stabilization Fund could be drastically revised down. Full Story
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![Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announces his office has picked a private vendor to run the Texas Bullion Depository, which ...]()
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Dallas County orders residents to shelter in place as coronavirus cases there spread
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins' new order came after Gov. Greg Abbott held off from issuing a similar directive to the entire state. Full Story
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![Aerial View of Downtown Dallas.]()
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Texas regulators contemplating a reduction in oil production amid coronavirus crisis
A Texas Railroad Commission official said no decision has been made yet and the agency is looking into options. Full Story
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![A worker waits to load a piece of pipe, or casing, that will be lowered into the well at a Chesapeake Energy drill site in...]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott on Texas bars and restaurants: Expect an announcement Thursday
"We're dealing with something ... that is not just statewide in scope, not just nationwide in scope, but is worldwide in scope," Abbott said. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott declares a statewide emergency amid new cases of COVID-19 in the state on March 13, 2020 at the state cap...]()
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While other states fighting coronavirus enforce widespread closures, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott goes with a patchwork system
While most states have mandated the closure of schools, bars and restaurants; deployed their militaries; or diverted state resources to COVID-19 response, Texas is largely leaving it up to schools and local governments to decide how to proceed. Some say the approach can undermine response efforts. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott briefs reporters during a press conference on a Domestic Terrorism Task Force roundtable held at the capi...]()
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Texas officials link man's death to coronavirus, first such case in state
The man, in his late 90s, had symptoms consistent with the new coronavirus, and a test later came back positive for COVID-19, officials said. Full Story
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![A test tube with 2019-nCoV on the label on January 29, 2020.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott postpones special Texas Senate election due to coronavirus pandemic
The special election is now set for July 14. Full Story
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![Super Tuesday voting lines at the Metropolitan Multi Service Center near downtown Houston on Tuesday, March 3, 2020.]()
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Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt resigns to run for Texas Senate
Eckhardt was elected Travis County's first female county judge in 2015. Full Story
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"I did a horrible job," House Speaker Dennis Bonnen says of meeting that led to his political downfall
Bonnen's comments came during his first interview since announcing his retirement. The speaker also again defended his reasoning for taking the meeting. Full Story
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![Speaker Dennis Bonnen in the House Chamber on March 27, 2019, the day the House will take up HB1, the 2020-21 budget plan.8]()
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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz says he "briefly interacted" with person who tested positive for coronavirus
Cruz, a Texas Republican, said he isn't experiencing any symptoms and plans to stay at his Houston home until 14 days have passed since his brief interaction with the infected person. Full Story
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![Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, questions judicial nominees during a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol H...]()
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More than 100 cruise ship passengers heading to San Antonio for coronavirus quarantine
Roughly 90 Texans are among the passengers heading to Lackland Air Force Base from a ship that had 21 confirmed cases of COVID-19. In Fort Bend County, officials have reported three new travel-related cases. Full Story
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![The entrance to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.]()
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State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez becomes first to enter race for Senate District 14
Rodriguez, a longtime House Democrat from Austin, announced his candidacy Saturday for the seat being vacated by state Sen. Kirk Watson. Full Story
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![State Representative Eddie Rodriguez during the Mexican American Legislative Caucus and House Elections Commitee press con...]()
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Harold Dutton: "It sounds like something criminal went on" in Texas House primary race
Facing a runoff, the Houston Democrat said he may ask the Harris County district attorney’s office to investigate the candidacy of an opponent who was seemingly absent on the campaign trail but received 20% of the vote. Full Story
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![State Rep. Harold Dutton Jr., D-Houston, testifies during a House Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee hearing on ...]()
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Three Texas House members are heading for runoffs
GOP state Reps. Dan Flynn and J.D. Sheffield will go into overtime rounds, as will state Rep. Harold Dutton, a Houston Democrat. Full Story
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![House floor on April 11, 2019.]()
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Two Texas House Republicans battle right flank in otherwise calm primary season
GOP state Reps. J.D. Sheffield of Gatesville and Dan Flynn of Canton are standing out as perhaps the most vulnerable House Republicans days out from the primary election. Full Story
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![From left: State Reps. J.D. Sheffield, R-Gatesville, and Dan Flynn, R-Canton.]()
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State Sen. Kirk Watson to retire from Texas Senate
Watson has represented Austin in the Texas Senate since 2007. Full Story
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![State Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, on the Senate floor on April 11, 2019.]()
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The billionaire Wilks family bankrolls one of its own in run for Texas House
The family has pumped millions from its fracking fortune into Texas politics, backing hardline conservative candidates and causes. Now one member of the clan is vying for the House District 60 seat being vacated by Rep. Mike Lang. Full Story
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![From left: Jon Francis and Glenn Rogers are among the four Republicans running for the open seat in Texas House District 60.]()
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Chris Bell has been running for office for decades. Is he the Democrat to take on John Cornyn?
Bell is the only candidate running in the U.S. Senate Democratic primary who has experience in Washington, D.C. But he has more experience running campaigns than winning them. Full Story
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![Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Chris Bell in Downtown Austin on Feb. 7, 2020.]()
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