Beto O’Rourke returned $1 million check from FTX’s Sam Bankman-Fried
O’Rourke’s campaign said they gave the money back before the company’s scandals became widely public, because they were taken aback by such a large unsolicited donation. 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, he 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 COVID-19. A Southern California native, he received his bachelor's degree in history from UCLA.
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![Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried attends a press conference at the FTX Arena in downtown Miami on Friday, June 4, 2021.]()
Credit: Matias J. Ocner/TNS/ABACA via REUTERS -
Texas Republicans show mix of enthusiasm and reticence toward Trump’s run for president
Gov. Greg Abbott, who Trump endorsed for his reelection, has not commented about the former president’s announcement to run for the White House a third time. Full Story
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![Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Conroe on January 29, 2022.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott expands Texas’ migrant busing plan to Philadelphia
Abbott said Philadelphia’s mayor has “long-celebrated and fought for sanctuary city status, making the city an ideal addition to Texas’ list of drop-off locations.” Full Story
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![Migrants transported from the U.S. border arrive on a bus from Texas and are taken by city officials to wait for relocation, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 16, 2022.]()
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Texas Democrats admit to faltering on messaging and voter turnout, contributing to resounding midterm losses
Beto O’Rourke lost by double-digits on Tuesday night and so did every other statewide Democrat. That has left Democrats in a familiar position: wounded after a disappointing election night while contemplating their strategy and their future. Full Story
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![A woman watches the election results and waves a United States flag at the Beto O'Rourke election night headquarters event, on Nov. 8, 2022, in El Paso.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
For the first time, Texas voters send Muslims and openly gay Black men to Legislature
Voters elected Christian Manuel Hayes to House District 22 in Beaumont, Venton Jones to HD-100 in Dallas, Salman Bhojani to HD-92 in Tarrant County and Suleman Lalani to HD-76 in Fort Bend County. Full Story
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![An empty House chamber, prior the start of the special session on Thursday, July 8, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for the Texas Tribune -
Republicans narrowly increase their majorities in Texas Legislature
Republican incumbents are successfully defending their seats while the party appears to be making inroads in South Texas. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol in Austin on Aug. 13, 2022.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton wins third term as attorney general, beating Democrat Rochelle Garza
In a difficult cycle for Democrats, the race was widely seen as the most competitive statewide election because of Paxton’s laundry list of legal troubles. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to supporters Paxton Watch Party Barn in Plano after being re-elected on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
Beto O’Rourke has lost three races in four years. Is his political career over?
He has been the Texas Democratic Party’s great hope. But after failed runs for senator, president and governor, observers wonder if he has a political future. Full Story
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![Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke is interviewed by the press after a town hall over the shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde and gun reform in Dallas on June 1, 2022.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
South Texas, Abbott vs. O’Rourke, and Harris County: Here are the biggest things to watch for on election night
While the GOP focuses on the border and economy under President Joe Biden, Democrats are hoping to prove polls and political forecasters wrong by tapping into anger over the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the Uvalde school shooting. Full Story
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![Democratic gubernatorial nominee Beto O'Rourke, left, and Gov. Greg Abbott during a debate in Edinburg on Sept. 30, 2022.]()
Credit: Courtesy of News Nation -
Caught between feuding politicians, nonprofits shoulder burden of Texas’ migrant busing program
Texas has transported about 13,000 migrants to New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C. But in the absence of communication between the state and those cities, nonprofits are having to pick up the pieces for this mass movement of migrants. Full Story
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![Migrants transported from Texas arrive at the Port Authority bus terminal in New York City, New York on Aug. 25, 2022.]()
Credit: REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado