All but one of the 38 Texans in Congress are up for re-election next year. Two have already said they are giving up their seats. But many in Washington are bracing for a wave of Congressional retirements in the coming weeks.
Abby Livingston
Abby Livingston joined The Texas Tribune in 2014 as the publication's first Washington bureau chief, and departed August 2022. In this role, she covered members in the Texas congressional delegation and campaigns back in the home state. A seventh-generation Texan, Abby grew up in Fort Worth and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to the Tribune, Abby worked for NBC, CNN, National Journal and Roll Call. At the Tribune, she won the 2017 National Press Club Award for Washington regional reporting and the Society of Professional Journalists' 2018 Sigma Delta Chi Award for Washington correspondence. Abby is a contributing writer to the Almanac of American Politics and frequently appears on MSNBC, CNN and Sirius XM radio. She also had a role on an episode of "The Bold and The Beautiful." In keeping with the Trib’s great history of hiring softball stars, Abby is a three-time MVP (the most in game history) for The Bad News Babes, the women’s press softball team that takes on female members of Congress in the annual Congressional Women’s Softball breast cancer charity game.
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In Harvey's Wake
Will Hurricane Irma pull federal resources away from Harvey aid?
With both Texas and Florida recovering from massive hurricanes, members of Congress from the two states are actively avoiding turning hurricane aid into a competition.
Posted in
Demographics
Deal or no deal? Texans watch closely as future of DACA hangs in balance
Confusion reigned Thursday morning after President Donald Trump offered conflicting statements on the state of a possible deal with Democratic leadership to extend an Obama-era immigration program and beef up border security.
Posted in
Economy
Texans Ted Cruz and Kevin Brady push tax code overhaul on Capitol Hill
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz outlined his vision for overhauling the tax code in a speech Wednesday, while U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, pitched his own proposal.
Posted inState Government
Texans in Congress remember close calls and lives changed on 9/11
On that fateful day in 2001, Texans now in Congress were scattered across Washington, D.C. in buildings feared as potential targets for a terrorist attack.
Posted in
In Harvey's Wake
U.S. House sends Harvey aid bill to Trump – despite 4 Texans voting against it
The U.S. House approved $15 billion in aid to support those affected by Hurricane Harvey’s destruction in southeast Texas on Friday, sending the legislation to President Donald Trump. Four Texas Republicans voted against the measure.
Posted inState Government
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul again a top contender to be Trump’s homeland security chief
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, is a leading contender to serve as the next homeland security chief and is interested in the position, a source close to the congressman tells the Tribune.
Posted in
In Harvey's Wake
Texans in Congress aim for united front ahead of long fight for Harvey aid
The 38 Texans in Congress aim to take advantage of their delegation’s size and seniority to usher large amounts of federal aid and resources to the state following Hurricane Harvey. The Senate approved $15.25 billion in short-term relief Thursday.
Posted in
Congress
See where Texas’ congressional delegation stands on Trump’s DACA decision
Texas Republicans in Congress applauded the Trump administration’s DACA decision — but none of them advocated for the deportation of those currently in the program.
Posted in
In Harvey's Wake
Trump sides with Democrats in deal that ties Harvey relief to debt ceiling hike
The deal, announced by House and Senate Democratic leaders, ties Hurricane Harvey relief to a host of pressing fiscal issues the federal government must address in the coming weeks.
