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.
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
Texas Republicans appeared to have fended off a well-financed Democratic effort to gain a majority in the Texas House. Full Story
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
"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
“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
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
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
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
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