End is near in bruising, expensive Huffines-Paxton battle
Ahead of Tuesday's primaries, the Republican race for Senate District 8 has turned into easily the most expensive — and arguably the nastiest — primary for state office. Full Story
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![Angela Paxton and Phillip Huffines]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich: Paxton/Laura Buckman: Huffines -
After an ICE raid, few Americans showed up to work at this Texas meatpacking plant
Despite a high demand for workers and attractive wages, few Americans sign up to do the grueling work at the JBS USA meatpacking plant in deep-red Cactus. Full Story
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Credit: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement -
Nearly a year after UT stabbing, mother of slain student wants to fight knife laws
Lori Brown's plans aren't fully formed. But she's determined to push for new laws in Texas that she believes will prevent stabbing sprees like the one that killed her son. Full Story
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![Lori Brown, whose son Harrison Brown died in a May 2017 stabbing at the University of Texas at Austin, poses for a portrait at her home in Graham, Texas, on Feb. 27, 2018.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill for The Texas Tribune -
The 2018 Texas Hotlist: The most competitive races in this year's primaries
The Texas primaries are tomorrow. Between statewide races and those for seats in Congress and the Texas Legislature, there are 215 races on the 2018 Democratic and Republican primary ballots. Which ones are on my final short list? Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Emily Albracht -
A $6 million candidate dominates in 9-way race to replace US Rep. Ted Poe
In a crowded race for an open seat in Congress, Republican donor Kathaleen Wall has dominated the field and the local airwaves, frustrating other challengers who still hope to continue the contest in a runoff. Full Story
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![Kathaleen Wall is running for the Congressional District 2 seat, currently held by outgoing U.S. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Houston. Wall is one of nine Republicans vying to replace Poe in the crowded primary.]()
Credit: Facebook campaign page -
Democratic early voting surged across Texas. See which counties saw the biggest increases.
After two weeks of early voting, 370,219 Democrats voted early in ten of the largest counties, more than double the number four years earlier. Meanwhile, 282,928 Republicans voted early, a jump of less than 15 percent. Full Story
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![Voters at an early voting location in Houston on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
With days to go, Sylvia Garcia aims to avoid runoff in Houston congressional race
A seven-way Democratic primary to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Gene Green in Congress has largely narrowed to two candidates. On Saturday, both were trying to reach undecided voters in their own unique styles. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Gene Green and state Sen. Sylvia Garcia pose for a photo in Humble as they knock on doors for her congressional campaign on Saturday, March 3, 2018.]()
Credit: Abby Livingston/The Texas Tribune -
Regardless of outcome, HD-134 primary to leave mark on Texas politics
The Republican primary for House District 134 has turned into a intra-party battle with implications that could reach far beyond the Houston-based district. Full Story
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![State Rep. Sarah Davis, R-University Place (left), and her Republican primary challenger, Susanna Dokupil.]()
Credit: Facebook campaign pages -
Amid national controversy, Houston Democrats hustle votes in 7th Congressional District
National Democrats set off a national firestorm when they took a shot at one of their own. Full Story
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![Clockwise from top left: Laura Moser, Lizzie Pannill Fletcher, Alex Triantaphyllis and Jason Westin, four of the seven Democrats vying for Congressional District 7, currently held by U.S. Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston.]()
Credit: Facebook campaign pages -
Outgoing state Rep. Helen Giddings reflects on legacy ahead of primary race for her seat
Four candidates — Carl Sherman, a two-term former mayor of DeSoto; Deshaundra Lockhart Jones, a sitting DeSoto City Council member; Victoria Walton, a small business owner and Christopher Graham — are vying for Giddings’ open seat in the March 6 primary race. Full Story
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![State Rep. Helen Giddings, D-De Soto, speaks during a press conference regarding the "lunch shaming" bill on May 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Will Texans see sky-high electric bills this summer? Grid operator sends dire warning
A day after the state's main electric grid operator warned that a variety of factors including record high demand could lead to pricier and dicier electric service, experts added a grain of salt to the predictions. Full Story
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Credit: Andrea Parker / Cory Maluski -
Texas judicial candidate embraces Trump and hot-button issues while raking in out-of-state donations
Judicial races in Texas are typically low-key affairs, but in the GOP race for the 3rd Court of Appeals, Michael Toth is hitting the same themes you'd see in a race for Congress. Experts say it could be a sign of things to come. Full Story
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![Mike Toth, special counsel to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, is a Republican candidate for the 3rd Court of Appeals. His embrace of President Donald Trump and big out-of-state campaign contributions, considered unusual in a Texas judicial race, have raised eyebrows.]()
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That time Oprah beefed with the Texas cattle industry (podcast)
In this special edition of the Tribcast, reporter and producer Neena Satija talks with editor Aman Batheja about his story on Oprah Winfrey's beef with the Texas cattle industry. Full Story
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![Media mogul Oprah Winfrey on the front page of the Amarillo Daily News on Feb. 27, 1998, the day after a jury voted unanimously in her favor in a "veggie libel" lawsuit filed against her by the beef industry.]()
Credit: Amarillo Globe-News -
Without competitive primaries, some Texas politicians choose to donate to their colleagues
Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton are all heavy favorites to win their Republican primary races next week. Texas law allows them to give their campaign funds to other politicians in more precarious positions. Full Story
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![Left to right: Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and state Attorney General Ken Paxton.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Split Decision: Texas Senate candidates Phillip Huffines and Angela Paxton
In the Republican primary race for state Senate District 8, first-time candidates Phillip Huffines and Angela Paxton discuss the issues important to the North Texas district and their strong family ties in politics. Full Story
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Analysis: Pay no attention to the pols behind the curtain
The lieutenant governor might look like he's playing in a race when he's not. And a Washington political organization that's not supposed to mess with Democrats might just be messing with a Democrat. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick meets privately with Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, on the dais during a break in Senate proceedings Jan. 21, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
11 Texas congressional primary races to watch
Across Texas, dozens of candidates are vying for attention in crowded congressional primaries, making for a boisterous primary season unlike anything the state has seen in decades. Here’s The Texas Tribune’s list of the most interesting races. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Redistricting is years away, but a new super PAC is already working to protect Republicans’ hold on Texas
The leader of #ProjectRedTX is a former Gov. Greg Abbott campaign manager who has been involved in GOP politics through three previous redistricting cycles. The PAC has already raised $500,000 — from a single donor. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Anneke Paterson / Todd Wiseman -
Gov. Abbott, other Texas Republicans silent on Trump's embrace of gun control
It's a striking contrast to their responses to then-President Barack Obama's gun control efforts, which were less aggressive in some areas than President Donald Trump's. Full Story
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![Gov. Abbott admires his practice target after signing Senate Bill 16, which reduces the first-time fee for a license to carry handguns, on May 26, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
In Texas Republican judicial primaries, do Hispanic-sounding surnames spell loss?
Hispanics rarely win seats on Texas' two highest courts. Some experts blame the "surname challenge." Full Story
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![Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals justices listen to Chief Justice Nathan Hecht's State of the Judiciary speech to legislators on Feb. 18, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich