Mandi Cai

Designer/Developer

Mandi Cai tells stories with code and graphics as part of the data visuals team. Previously, she created dashboards for scientists at BioBright, a Boston-based biotechnology company, and visualized defense data for Defense Footprint, a project contextualizing the United States' international military presence. She graduated from Brown University in 2017 with a concentration in neuroscience, focusing on the intersection of cognitive science and design. Mandi enjoys murals, freestyle embroidery and animated films.

Latest Contributions

In Texas, COVID-19 case totals and hospitalizations are rising. The state says prisons and meatpacking plants are key factors.

by Carla Astudillo, Jolie McCullough and Mandi Cai June 8, 2020

The 14-day trend line shows new infections in Texas have risen about 71% in the past two weeks. Full Story

Credit: Reggie Mathalone for The Texas Tribune
Search the Government Salaries Explorer

by Darla Cameron, Chris Essig and Mandi Cai May 20, 2020

The Texas Tribune's database of compensation for Texas state employees has been revamped. It includes detailed data for all of the 113 agencies in state government and every position at each of those agencies. Full Story

Credit: Photo Illustration by Ben Hasson / Texas Tribune
T-Squared: Introducing our new salaries explorer

by Darla Cameron, Chris Essig and Mandi Cai May 20, 2020

The Texas Tribune is excited to launch a new and revamped version of our Government Salaries Explorer. Full Story

Credit: Photo Illustration by Ben Hasson / Texas Tribune
Texas’ unemployment rate has fallen by nearly half since the record high in April 2020

by Anna Novak, Mitchell Ferman and Mandi Cai Updated: June 21, 2021

The coronavirus pandemic swiftly swept Texas into an economic recession, prompting millions to seek unemployment aid and complicating the state budget. Here’s a look at how the recovery is going. Full Story

Credit: Emily Albracht
Coronavirus in Texas cities: See how social distancing could reduce stress on hospitals

by Mandi Cai, Chris Essig and Darla Cameron April 7, 2020

New estimates from University of Texas at Austin researchers show what it would take to spread out hospitalizations in 22 Texas metro areas. Full Story

Credit: Emily Albracht
Texas counties with coronavirus: Case updates and what we know

by Carla Astudillo, Mandi Cai, Darla Cameron, Chris Essig and Anna Novak Updated: March 14, 2020

There are cases in each of the state’s five largest urban areas, though the virus has now also appeared in counties spanning from East Texas to the Gulf Coast. Officials expect statewide testing capacity to increase soon. Full Story

Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune
Just a quarter of registered voters in Texas participated in the 2020 presidential primary

by Alexa Ura and Mandi Cai March 6, 2020

More than 4 million Texans voted in the 2020 presidential primary election, with turnout among Democratic voters just barely surpassing Republican turnout. Full Story

Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune
Early voting is over. Here's what turnout looked like in Texas' 10 biggest counties.

by Mandi Cai Updated: Feb. 29, 2020

Turnout was higher than in 2016 among Democrats, and lower among Republicans. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Emily Albracht/The Texas Tribune
Texas voter registration deadline is today

by Carla Astudillo, Mandi Cai and Megan Menchaca Feb. 3, 2020

The last day to register to vote in Texas is Feb. 3. Full Story
Voting in Texas on Super Tuesday: Everything you need to know

by Carla Astudillo, Mandi Cai and Megan Menchaca Jan. 24, 2020

Primary election day is March 3. Here’s an overview of everything you need to know about casting a ballot in Texas. Full Story