Republican state Rep. Doc Anderson resigns, Abbott calls special election
Anderson, 79, was already not running for reelection. He said he’s leaving early to give his successor a chance at more seniority. 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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![Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson, R-Waco, holds a sign that reads, “Here we are still on the job for the people,” on the House floor on July 14, 2021.]()
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Democrats running for Sheila Jackson Lee’s congressional seat debate who is best suited to replace her
Saturday’s debate came days before Democratic precinct chairs are set to decide who will replace the late Houston congresswoman on the November ballot. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D- Houston, gathers with members of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force at an event to mark the he 11th anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on the House Steps of the Capitol in Washington on Dec. 14, 2023.]()
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Ted Cruz touts endorsement from Kim Ogg, a Houston Democrat, in bid for crossover votes
Ogg is no darling of the left. She lost her Democratic primary in a landslide election this year after a number of intraparty feuds. Full Story
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![Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg speaks during a press conference regarding corruption in Lina Hidalgo’s staff at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center on Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Houston.]()
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An “unrelenting” Sheila Jackson Lee remembered by Kamala Harris, former colleagues
More than 50 of Jackson Lee’s former colleagues in Congress, along with a star-studded lineup of national and local elected officials, packed the church sanctuary to celebrate her life. Full Story
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![U.S. Vice President and Democratic candidate for president Kamala Harris speaks during a service for Sheila Jackson Lee at Fallbrook Church in Houston on Aug. 1, 2024.]()
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Kamala Harris’ historic candidacy energizes Texas’ Black and Indian American voters
Black and Asian American voters collectively made up just 15% of the turnout in Texas’ 2020 and 2022 elections, according to exit polls. Full Story
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![Beverly Hatcher wears a “VOTE” necklace she saw Michelle Obama wearing in her garden home on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Beaumont, TX. Hatcher immediately found a similar necklace online and bought for herself and as gifts for others.]()
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Texas’ DNC delegates vote 260-6 to back Kamala Harris
The delegates voted late Monday, a day after President Joe Biden exited the presidential race and endorsed Harris. Full Story
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![Signage is displayed during a walkthrough of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on May 22, 2024.]()
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Several Texas delegates coalesce behind Kamala Harris after Joe Biden abandons reelection
The vice president is not guaranteed the Democratic nomination and some delegates want an open nominating process. Full Story
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![President Joe Biden departs the White House in Washington on May 11, 2022 to attend to attend events in Illinois.]()
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Jeff Yass, billionaire school voucher advocate, gives Greg Abbott another $4 million
The donation follows another $6 million Yass gave Abbott in January, which the governor’s campaign said was the largest single donation in Texas history. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott delivers opening remarks at a speaking event where he announced his endorsement for President Donald Trump in his reelection campaign, in Edinburg, on Nov. 19, 2023. “We need Donald J. Trump back as our president of the United States of America,” the governor proclaimed.]()
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Immigration is taking center stage in Texas’ Senate race. Here’s what Colin Allred’s and Ted Cruz’s records show.
Poll after poll shows Texas voters rank immigration and the border as the most pressing issues. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, speaks to supporters during a stop for his U.S. Senate campaign in McAllen on Feb. 17, 2024. Rep. Allred is running against Texas Senator Roland Gutierrez for the March 5 primary election in hopes to be the Democratic candidate that goes head to head with incumbent Ted Cruz for the general election in November.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott defends trip to East Asia during Hurricane Beryl
Abbott’s critics say he could have postponed the trip until the storm had passed, or at least cut it short once he saw the scale of the disaster. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott signs six bills relating to border security at the state Capitol in Austin on June 8, 2023. “Washington D.C. has failed to do its job to secure the border,” Abbott said “As a result, Texas has had to take unprecedented steps in responding to the crisis caused by the Biden administration on the border, and in response the Texas legislature has stepped up to make sure that we will be able to more robustly respond.”]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune