The lineup and setting of Thursday’s debate couldn’t be more symbolic of the case Democrats will make as they argue for how they can flip Texas — which President Donald Trump won by 9 percentage points in 2016 — next year.
Alex Samuels
Alex Samuels was a reporter for The Texas Tribune from 2017 to 2021. She helped with national campaign coverage, wrote stories about the intersection of race and politics in Texas, and covered the hottest political news bubbling out of local communities. She was also one of the primary authors of The Blast, the Tribune’s subscription-only daily newsletter for political insiders. Alex began at the Tribune as a fellow in 2016. She graduated in 2017 from the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Journalism. She originally is from Massachusetts and is the best pingpong player at the Tribune.
Posted in
Politics
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and NRA feud over gun background checks
The frequent allies traded jabs in the wake of two mass shootings in Texas.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Greg Abbott backs “expedited executions” for mass shooters after Odessa shooting
The governor tweeted Monday night that Texas is “working on a legislative package” and that “expedited executions for mass murderers would be a nice addition.”
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Texas 2020 Elections
Julián Castro unveils climate plan centered on Green New Deal principles
The plan carries a $10 trillion price tag and calls on the country to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Death toll in Midland-Odessa mass shooting climbs to eight, including the shooter
Officials say the shooting began with a traffic stop in which the gunman shot a state trooper. Police say the gunman acted alone and was shot to death outside a crowded movie theater.
Posted in
El Paso shooting
Gov. Greg Abbott says “mistakes were made” in his fundraising letter before the El Paso shooting
The governor’s comments come after reports emerged of a two-page fundraising mailer that warned of a liberal plan to “to transform Texas — and our entire country — through illegal immigration.”
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Texas 2020 Elections
Julián Castro shifted the Democratic conversation about immigration reform. Can it help his bid?
A proposal to decriminalize unauthorized border crossings has become a hallmark of Julián Castro’s presidential campaign, and many of the other Democratic candidates have jumped on board. But it hasn’t helped his campaign gain much steam.
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Texas 2020 Elections
Julián Castro qualifies for third Democratic debate in September
To qualify for the September and October debates, candidates must receive donations from at least 130,000 individual donors and get 2% support in four polls.
Posted in
Texas 2020 Elections
Donald Trump is spending more money on Facebook ads in Texas than in any other state
The spending in the traditionally red state is raising questions about whether he’s simply shoring up his support — or treating Texas as potentially up for grabs in 2020.
Posted in
El Paso shooting
Gov. Greg Abbott lays out response to El Paso shooting but won’t commit to special session
Abbott said he plans to release more details next week regarding a series of roundtables he’ll host with other lawmakers and state leaders to discuss possible legislative solutions that could prevent another massacre.
