It’s primary runoff election day in Texas. Here’s what we’re watching.
Texans are heading to the polls Tuesday to make their final selections for which Democrats and Republicans will run for various seats in the November election. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/65b1ff5fd9ae5fcfb731eb3eac078bb9/May%2011%20House%20Deadline%20BD%20TT%2001.jpg)
Zach Despart
Enterprise and Investigative Reporter
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/Zach_Despart_HC_TT_02.jpg)
Zach Despart is an enterprise and investigative reporter focusing on state government. His work on a team investigating the flawed police response to the Uvalde school shooting was awarded the 2024 Collier Prize and was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in explanatory reporting. He led the Tribune’s effort to become the first news organization to determine where Texas has built 50 miles of border wall, a project that also found the state struggles with holdout landowners along the route. He previously covered Harris County for the Houston Chronicle, where he reported on corruption, elections, disaster preparedness and the region’s recovery from Hurricane Harvey. An upstate New York native, he received his bachelor’s degree in political science and film from the University of Vermont.
Latest Contributions
-
![House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, surveys the chamber during a break in the action on deadline day May 11, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ Republican old guard mobilizes to protect Dade Phelan from the far right
Phelan’s primary has emerged as a last stand for the Republican Party’s business-minded establishment against an insurgency primarily motivated by social and cultural issues. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/666ec370733595a5f7d2f3e46faed021/0110%20Lege%20Opening%20JV%20TT%2034.jpg)
![Dade Phelan addresses the floor after being elected for his second term as Speaker of the House on the opening day of the 88th legislature on Jan 10, 2023.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
UT-Austin’s Jay Hartzell praised by GOP leaders as university presidents nationwide take heat over protest response
Hartzell’s protest response has also resulted in condemnations from students and faculty. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3bd6d25e6f477a9cf7b0042f5d458f0b/UT%20TIE%20Presser%20LW%20TT%2006.jpg)
![The University of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell on April 18, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott endorses U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales amid primary runoff attacks that he’s a RINO
Gonzales, 43, faces Brandon Herrera in the May primary runoff election for South Texas District 23. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f6ab54629bd66d39eb708d6ec4fe5e9f/0428%20Tony%20Gonzales%20EL%20TT%2001.jpg)
![U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, gives an interview in his office at Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. on April 28, 2023. Gonzales is a member of the House Appropriations Committees.]()
Credit: Eric Lee for The Texas Tribune -
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick lists housing affordability, fighting antisemitism on campus among 2025 priorities
Examining charitable bail organizations and banning Delta 9 were also among Patrick’s priorities in the next legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/60f60aae587caf68c915b55b9ed342c4/0628%20Second%20Special%20Session%20EL%20TT%2020.jpg)
![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick presides over on the Senate floor during the first day of the second special session at the state Capitol in Austin on June 28, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Influential conservative PAC targets Phelan, other House Republicans
Club for Growth announced it will spend $4 million on a TV ad targeting five anti-school voucher Texas House Republicans. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1609a753a81cd026a4a8a0ed78b3a5b0/0126%20House%20District%2021%20MF%20TT%2008.jpg)
![House Speaker Dade Phelan in his office in Beaumont on Jan 26, 2024.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
Tom Oliverson announces he is challenging Dade Phelan for Texas House speakership
Oliverson, one of Phelan’s committee chairmen, said the speaker has lost the confidence of the Republican caucus. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/eb00c2a836c71adb1c9cf6f4f426637d/0321%20Tom%20Oliverson%20MC%2002.jpg)
![State Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, announces his candidacy for Texas House speakership during a press conference Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Austin.]()
Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott appears with embattled House Speaker Dade Phelan for first time in heated primary season
Abbott has so far been silent as Phelan battles for political survival in a tough primary runoff. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3bbc019d89ae5fbacf78c5627cf288f7/House%20Opening%20Day%20BD%20TT%2024.jpg)
![Newly-elected House Speaker Dade Phelan greets Gov. Greg Abbott before speaking to the Texas House during opening ceremonies as the 2021 Texas Legislature gets down to work in Austin on Jan. 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/CapitolPressPhoto/Pool -
House Speaker Dade Phelan took a risk on Paxton’s impeachment. It may end his career.
The May 28 runoff promises to be an expensive, high-profile contest that will help reshape the political dynamics of the Texas House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d4c08c13e90c5925463b45ceeb613b21/0529%20Sine%20Die%20BD%20TT%2004.jpg)
![House Speaker Dade Phelan gavels out the 88th session Sine Die on May 29, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Rep. Shawn Thierry, who split with Democrats on LGBTQ+ votes, forced into primary runoff
Thierry angered fellow Democrats because of a speech she gave on the House floor in support of banning gender-transitioning care for minors. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1d85428fd5ce774829b1eab6dbd0c592/Theirry-Simmons%20Split.jpg)
![Shawn Thierry and Lauren Ashley Simmons.]()
Credit: Thomas Meredith for The Texas Tribune and Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune