Ted Cruz, Colin Allred agree to debate in U.S. Senate race
The Oct. 15 debate will mark the first time the nominees will face each other onstage before the November election. Full Story
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Jasper Scherer is the politics editor for The Texas Tribune. He oversees a team of reporters in Austin and Washington who lead the newsroom’s coverage of campaigns and elections, watchdog Texas' top officials, and translate what the state’s political and legislative developments mean for Texans. Jasper previously reported on politics for the Tribune, which he joined after stints covering politics and government at the state and local levels for the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News. A native of San Francisco, Jasper graduated from Northwestern University with degrees in journalism and political science in 2017, the same year he began covering Texas politics. He is based in Austin.
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, left, and U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton withdrew an opinion on gun bans weeks after suing Texas state fair for a similar restriction
Paxton sued Dallas and state fair officials last month, arguing the fair’s private organizer had violated state law by banning firearms on the fairgrounds. Full Story
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![The State Fair of Texas in 2016.]()
Credit: Allison V. Smith for The Texas Tribune -
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.]()
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Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales predicts GOP will lose control of the House
Gonzales, who represents a Texas border district, tells a Tribune Festival audience that his own party will be to blame for defeats in the November election. Full Story
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![Tony Gonzales is interviewed by moderator Jake Sherman during a one-on-one conversation at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Sept. 5, 2024.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton sues Bexar County over voter registration outreach effort
The move escalates Texas Republicans’ brewing fight with urban counties over initiatives to proactively send applications to unregistered voters. Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the 2024 Texas GOP Convention in San Antonio on May 23, 2024.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. Shawn Thierry switches to GOP, says Democratic Party has “lost its way”
The Houston Democrat lost her seat amid backlash from primary voters over her support for a GOP bill barring transition-related care for minors. Full Story
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![Shawn Thierry speaks to a group of her constituents on February 15, 2024, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Houston.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
Colin Allred’s understated campaign strategy draws mixed reviews from fellow Democrats
Allred’s sharp divergence from Beto O’Rourke’s more active campaign style has stirred dissent among some Democrats. His allies say it’s working. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, speaks during the kick-off event for the “Women for Allred” coalition in Dallas on Aug. 24, 2024.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for 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 -
Harris shrinks Trump’s lead in Texas, Allred within striking distance of Cruz, poll finds
The poll is among the first to measure where things stand in Texas since President Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid last month. Full Story
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![Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz nearby, as she is filmed for a live broadcast into Chicago's Democratic National Convention (DNC), after delegates of each state delegation ended the roll call to once again nominate her as presidential nominee, during her rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 20, 2024.]()
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It’s not just South Texas. Republicans are making gains with Latino voters in big cities, too.
Republican gains among Latino voters in urban areas could spell big trouble for Democrats’ hopes of turning Texas blue. Full Story
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![Voting signs at the Travis County Granger Building election site on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune