In Texas visit, second gentleman Douglas Emhoff raises more than $1 million
The stop by the husband of presidential candidate Kamala Harris included a rally to boost local Democrats looking to flip seats in the Texas House. Full Story
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James Barragán is a politics reporter for The Texas Tribune with a focus on accountability reporting. Prior to joining the Tribune, James worked as a statehouse reporter for The Dallas Morning News and had previous stints at the Austin American-Statesman and the Los Angeles Times. In 2021, he was a finalist for the Toner Prize for Excellence in Local Reporting for his coverage of Texas politics during the COVID-19 pandemic. James was selected as a Nieman Fellow at Harvard in 2023-24. A Southern California native, James received his bachelor’s degree in history from UCLA. He is based in Austin and is a native Spanish speaker.
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![Doug Emhoff, second gentleman of U.S., speaks to supporters for his wife, Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, in The Villages, Florida, on Sept. 13, 2024]()
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Texas civic group wants judge to block Ken Paxton’s investigation into voter registration efforts
Jolt, which advocates for more Latino voting participation, says the attorney general’s probe has spurred threatening comments online. Full Story
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![Voter registration tables were set up at the ‘For the People’ voting rights rally at the Texas Capitol on Sunday, June 20, 2021.]()
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State Rep. James Frank becomes fourth Republican to challenge Dade Phelan for House speaker
Frank said he would work to bring better communication, member empowerment and management of the flow of legislation if he became the chamber’s leader. Full Story
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![State Rep. James Frank, R- Wichita Falls, chairs the House Human Services Committee hearing at the Capitol on March 21, 2022. The committee is investigating reported allegations of sexual exploitation at a facility in Bastrop.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Former Gov. Rick Perry joins House Speaker Dade Phelan’s team as senior adviser
Perry was the longest-serving governor in Texas history. Full Story
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![U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry speaks to reporters outside the West Wing of the White House, in Washington on October 23, 2019.]()
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Eight Texas independent voters share how they're sizing up the candidates heading into November
Among independents, men lean toward Trump and women to Harris, according to polling. We talk to independents about the candidates they favor and the issues that matter to them. Full Story
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![Diane Wright poses for a portrait with her RFK Jr. sign at Rheudasil Park in Flowermound, Texas on Aug. 30, 2024.]()
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Another Republican is challenging Dade Phelan for Texas House speaker
The Texas House speaker race is becoming increasingly crowded. Phelan, who is under fire from his right, says he plans to seek the leadership position again. Full Story
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![State Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, takes the oath of office with his hand on a bible on the first day of the 88th Texas legislative session on Jan 10, 2023.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Dan Patrick starts Texas Senate leadership political action committee
New group plans to support policy goals of the conservative Senate majority. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks at the Texas GOP Convention on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Texas DPS Director Steve McCraw retiring after 15 years as state’s top law enforcement officer
The longtime head of the Department of Public Safety will step down at the end of the year. Full Story
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![Steven C. McCraw, the Director and Colonel of the Texas Department of Public Safety, speaks at a border security bill signing session at the state Capitol in Austin on June 8, 2023.]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune -
Progressive Democrat's ad decrying "chaos" on the border riles up her South Texas supporters
Michelle Vallejo, who is challenging Republican U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, put out a political ad decrying the “chaos” on the border. Full Story
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![Michelle Vallejo speaks at the first general session at the Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso on June 7, 2024.]()
Credit: Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribune -
In competitive South Texas legislative race, a fight emerges over a candidate’s Hispanic surname
The Bexar County GOP accused Democrat Kristian Carranza of using a Hispanic surname to appeal to the district’s largely Hispanic population. Full Story
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![Kristian Carranza speaks at the Lady Bird Breakfast during the Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso on June 8, 2024. Carranza is the Democratic candidate for state House District 118 in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribune