We took young Texans’ questions to the candidates. Here’s what they said.
Find out where Texas midterm candidates stand on student debt, DACA, school gun violence and more. Full Story
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Cassandra Pollock
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Cassandra Pollock was a state politics reporter for the Tribune. 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. Pollock left The Texas Tribune in 2021.
Past Contributions
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![Austin, Texas March 6, 2018: UT student Kathleen Douiken urges people to vote on the West Mall of the UT campus during lunchtime as students line up at the Flawn Academic Center to vote on Primary Day, 2018.]()
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Texas House Democrats expect midterms will boost their bargaining power in speaker's race
In the GOP-dominated Texas House, can Democrats influence who will replace House Speaker Joe Straus? Some Republican members say that's unlikely but others insist that, on such an important decision, the minority party can't be ignored. Full Story
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![The House Chamber at the Texas Capitol on August 16, 2017, the morning after the end of the special session.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune -
In Texas' tightest state House races, right-leaning groups are giving Republicans an edge
GOP candidates have a financial advantage thanks to deep-pocketed groups like Empower Texans and Texans for Lawsuit Reform. Full Story
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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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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Caleb Bryant Miller -
Some Texas Republicans are endorsing Democrats. Is it "Texas over party" or sour grapes?
Two statewide officeholders are among the Republican incumbents who have seen former primary opponents take the unusual step of endorsing their Democratic challengers ahead of the midterm elections. Full Story
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![Top row: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Scott Milder and Mike Collier; middle row: Land Commissioner George P. Bush, Jerry Patterson and Miguel Suazo; bottom row: state Rep. Matt Rinaldi, Bennett Ratliff and Julie Johnson.]()
Credit: Photo illustration by John Jordan -
Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush signs plan to overhaul Alamo Plaza
Bush signed the proposal over the objections of several Republican lawmakers. Full Story
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![The Alamo in San Antonio.]()
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Democrats are turning Dallas into a midterm battleground for the Texas House
Democrats are running aggressively in the Dallas area to flip several Republican-held seats in the Texas House. Talk of a "blue wave" is only part of why they're optimistic. Full Story
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![Supporters of Democrat Julie Johnson look at the Texas House District 115 map before going out to canvass the area on August 18, 2018.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
Drew Darby becomes fifth Republican to file for Texas House speaker
The San Angelo representative joined the race to succeed retiring House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio. Full Story
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![State Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo speaking about the special session with colleagues Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston and Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, during a Texas Tribune preview of the special session on July 19, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Beto O’Rourke says he isn’t debating Ted Cruz this Friday
In July, Cruz challenged O'Rourke to five debates, with the first one to be held Friday, Aug. 31, in Dallas. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso (left), is challenging Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera: O'Rourke/Bob Daemmrich: Cruz -
Federal appeals court upholds Texas campus carry law
A three-judge panel of the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a prior dismissal of a lawsuit filed by three professors at the University of Texas at Austin, which aimed to block the law and allow professors to prohibit firearms in their classrooms. Full Story
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![On Nov. 10, 2015, University of Texas at Austin faculty and students protested the new campus carry law that will allow concealed handgun license holders to carry handguns into campus buildings.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles