State Rep. Dade Phelan says he has votes to become speaker of Texas House
Phelan, a Republican from Beaumont, made the announcement the morning after the GOP maintained its control of the lower chamber in the 2020 elections. 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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![State Rep. Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, announces he has the votes to be elected the next speaker of the Texas House at a press …]()
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Republicans appear to keep majority of Texas House
Texas Republicans appeared to have fended off a well-financed Democratic effort to gain a majority in the Texas House. Full Story
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![Republican Party emblems and signage are seen at the Republican Party of Texas office in downtown Austin.]()
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State Rep. Joe Moody joins the Texas House speaker's race
The El Paso Democrat becomes the eighth candidate for the leadership role. Election Day results will determine whether Republicans maintain a majority in the 150-member chamber. Full Story
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![State Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, listens to public testimonies on his earlier parole bill on March 13, 2019.]()
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State Rep. Dade Phelan files to run for Texas House speaker
Phelan joins fellow Republicans Trent Ashby, Chris Paddie and Geanie Morrison in the race for speaker. He’s the seventh candidate for the position. Full Story
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![At right, Chairman Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, listens to testimonies during a State Affairs committee hearing on Feb. 27, 2019.]()
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Texans no longer have a straight-ticket voting option. How that affects Texas House races is unclear.
With control of the Texas House on the line, Republicans and Democrats are closely monitoring the state's massive voter turnout. But with no straight-ticket voting, how many voters are getting to the end of their ballots? Full Story
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![A voter casts their ballot at the Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center in Austin on the first day of early voting on Oct. 13, 2…]()
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The race for Texas House speaker has quickly become a crowded contest as balance of power hinges on Tuesday's election
Republican state Reps. Trent Ashby, John Cyrier, Chris Paddie and Geanie Morrison are the first four from their party to file. And state Rep. Oscar Longoria became the third Democrat to file for the leadership post. Full Story
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![Empty chamber of the Texas House of Representatives at the state captiol.]()
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Texas hits record high for early voting turnout
Forty-six percent of registered voters in Texas had cast their ballots through Monday. In 2016, the percentage was 43.5% for the entire early voting period. Full Story
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![Voters wait in line at a polling site at Austin Oaks Church on Oct. 14, 2020.]()
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As Ken Paxton battles scandal, Land Commissioner George P. Bush considering a 2022 run for attorney general
An aide said Bush has heard from “several donors” who want him to consider running. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, meanwhile, “is absolutely planning on running again,” a spokesman said. Full Story
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![George P. Bush at The Texas Tribune Festival in 2016.]()
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Trey Martinez Fischer becomes second Democrat to announce run for speaker of the Texas House
The announcement from the state representative from San Antonio comes after state Rep. Senfronia Thompson filed to run for the post Friday. Democrats are hoping to gain control of the House this November. Full Story
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![State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, speaks at a press conference in reaction to a property tax reform proposal …]()
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El Paso officials ask residents to stay home for two weeks as COVID-19 hospitalizations surge
"Please continue to exercise your right to vote," said El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, who announced a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. Full Story
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![A sanitizing station is set up at the entrance of the emergency room at the El Paso Children's Hospital in El Paso on Friday…]()
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Democratic state Rep. Senfronia Thompson files to run for speaker of the Texas House
Thompson would be the first woman elected speaker. She filed less than two weeks before an election in which Democrats hope to gain control of the chamber. Full Story
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![State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, spoke on opening Day of the 86th session of the Texas Legislature.]()
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In Texas House fight, Democrats bet big on health care, while Republicans emphasize police support
Candidates from both parties are bringing up everything from school funding to lemonade stands in the final weeks of a heated contest for control of the state’s lower chamber. Full Story
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![The floor of the house on April 11, 2019.]()
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Texas counties temporarily blocked from offering multiple mail-in ballot drop-off locations
An order from a federal appeals court Saturday set up another potential legal showdown over voting in Texas as mail-in ballots are already being collected and just days before early voting begins. Full Story
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![The Travis County Tax Office at 5501 Airport Blvd is now the only drive-thru location open for hand delivery of mail ballots…]()
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The Texas Legislature meets in less than 100 days. Nobody knows how the session will look.
With the coronavirus pandemic continuing to affect everyday life, Texas legislators know that it won't be business as usual at the Capitol during the 2021 legislative session. But how different things will be is still an issue they're working to resolve. Full Story
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![Texas State Capitol, June 12, 2017. State Capitol in the late afternoon on June 12, 2017.]()
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September sales tax revenue in Texas down 6.1% from a year ago
"The COVID-19 pandemic and low price of crude oil continue to weigh on the Texas economy and sales tax revenue," Comptroller Glenn Hegar said. Full Story
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![Closed businesses in the Deep Ellum area of Dallas on March 31, 2020.]()
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State GOP Chair Allen West calls on Donald Trump to visit Texas before Election Day
“I’ve got the message up to him,” said Allen West, who took over as party chair in July. “I’d like to see the president come back to Texas one more time, especially come back to North Texas.” Full Story
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![Allen West at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 24, 2016]()
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Race for Texas House majority has kept the contest for speaker quiet
No House members have declared their candidacy for speaker. Many say they have their sights set on November first as Democrats aim to flip the lower chamber. Full Story
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![State Capitol on June 20, 2017.]()
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Conservative state Rep. Steve Toth withdraws support for Gov. Greg Abbott over coronavirus response
Toth, a member of the hardline Texas House Freedom Caucus, is the latest from that faction of the GOP to express disapproval of how Abbott has handled coronavirus-related shutdowns. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott meets with local El Paso leaders to discuss the coronavirus situation for the city and state on Aug. 13, 20…]()
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How Gov. Greg Abbott made Austin’s police budget cuts a top campaign issue for candidates running in November
The Republican governor isn't on the November ballot. But he has come out hard against efforts to shift city money away from policing, echoing a national debate on policing and crime during a tumultuous election season. Full Story
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![Protesters clash with police in riot gear in downtown Austin on August 1, 2020.]()
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Unemployed Texans will no longer receive an extra $300 in weekly payments
The Federal Emergency Management Agency notified state officials Wednesday that the payments for out-of-work Texans have ended, according to the Texas Workforce Commission, which handles unemployment claims. Full Story
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![Volunteers from the Central Texas Food Bank distribute disaster relief food boxes at the Waco ISD stadium on April 14, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune