Analysis: Texas Democrats sensing a theme in Republican misfortunes
With the speaker of the house and state attorney general under fire, the long-suffering party sees a potentially helpful thread heading into 2020. Full Story
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Ross Ramsey co-founded The Texas Tribune in 2009 and served as its executive editor until his retirement in 2022. He wrote regular columns on politics, government and public policy. Before joining the Tribune, he was editor and co-owner of Texas Weekly. He did a 28-month stint in government with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Before that, he reported for the Houston Chronicle, the Dallas Times Herald, as a Dallas-based freelancer for regional and national magazines and newspapers, and for radio stations in Denton and Dallas.
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![House Speaker Dennis Bonnen presiding over his first votes as speaker of the house. Jan. 9, 2019. Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / Texas Tribune.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Bonnen repairing hurt feelings, but the political damage is real
If the members of the Texas House are still on Speaker Dennis Bonnen's side after they know just what he said to a political activist in a secretly recorded meeting, he'll keep his job. It comes down to trust. Full Story
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![Speaker Dennis Bonnen on the House floor during the House School Finance plan deliberation on April 3, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: State Rep. John Zerwas, a rare mix of politics and calm, moves on
The Texas House is a rambunctious place, known for big personalities and tough politics. It's about to lose one of its real experts — and a calm voice, too. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, speaks to pages on the House floor on April 4, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A small, but ill-timed exodus of Texas Republicans from Congress
Three Texas Republicans have announced they won't seek reelection in 2020, and that will probably turn out to be an incomplete roster of retirees. It couldn't come at a better time for Democrats hoping to have a hand in redistricting the state's congressional delegation in 2021. Full Story
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![From left: Gov. Greg Abbott and Republican candidate for Texas House District 25, Fred Rangel. Jan. 31, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The El Paso shooting horrifies lawmakers. So do the solutions.
Another shooting, this time in a Walmart in El Paso, raises a familiar set of questions for politicians and lawmakers. Full Story
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![A lone policeman outside the WalMart in El Paso where a mass shooting took place on Saturday, August 3, 2019.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Empower Texans allegations spark a crisis for House Speaker Dennis Bonnen
The crisis around Bonnen is heating up as newly revealed recordings add some credence to allegations that he and a trusted lieutenant plotted with a political activist against some GOP House members. Will his members believe him — or his accuser? Full Story
![House Speaker Dennis Bonnen presiding over his first votes as speaker of the house. Jan. 9, 2019. Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / Texas Tribune.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas House speaker accused of scheming against fellow Republicans. Where's the evidence?
A political activist who accused Texas House leaders of offering government favors for political help still hasn't offered any evidence. At least two reputations hang in the balance. Full Story
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Despite its record, Texas can remake its political maps without a federal permission slip
After multiple court findings that Texas intentionally discriminated in drawing political maps and writing election laws, a panel of federal judges says the state won't be subjected to federal oversight under the Voting Rights Act. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Analysis: House Speaker Bonnen accused of conspiring against fellow Republicans in 2020
A political activist accused Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen of trying to undermine the campaigns of 10 members of his own party, an allegation that — true or not — could ruin the goodwill Bonnen built up in a successful legislative session earlier this year. Full Story
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![Speaker Dennis Bonnen during the Texas Fallen Heroes ceremony on May 25, 2019]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: After an encouraging 2018, Texas Democrats taking some risks
The 2018 elections put some cracks in the Republican Party's dominance in Texas elections — enough to attract Democratic candidates into races they used to be too risk averse to consider. Full Story
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![State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, announces he's running for the U.S. Senate against John Cornyn, in Dallas on July 22, 2019.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune
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