What Texans can learn from the past and future of Austin’s multi-billion dollar public transit overhaul.
Eleanor Klibanoff
Eleanor Klibanoff is the law and politics reporter, based in Austin, where she covers the the Texas Legislature, the Office of the Attorney General, state and federal courts and politics writ large. She also co-hosts the weekly politics podcast, TribCast. Eleanor previously spent three years as the Tribune’s women’s health reporter, covering abortion, maternal health and LGBTQ issues. Before coming to Texas, Eleanor worked for the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting, where she reported, hosted and produced the Peabody-nominated podcast, “Dig.” Eleanor was born in Philadelphia and raised in Atlanta, and attended The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
From Cornyn to Paxton: How Trump helped accelerate the Texas GOP’s transformation
The power struggle between old-school Bush Republicans and hardline conservatives predates President Donald Trump. But he has used his clout to help tip the scales.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Mayes Middleton defeats Chip Roy for Texas attorney general GOP nomination
Middleton, a conservative state senator and oil and gas executive, put more than $16 million of his own money into the race.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Texas’ raucous primary runoffs end today. Here’s what to watch.
John Cornyn is trying to fend off Ken Paxton. Both parties are picking attorney general nominees. And an oil and gas regulatory race has become uncharacteristically costly.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
GOP megadonor turned attorney general front-runner: How Mayes Middleton’s largesse fueled his rise
Middleton helped fund the Legislature’s swing to the right, and an internecine challenge to Ken Paxton. But that’s nothing next to the money he’s spent on himself.
Posted in
TribCast
TribCast: Where have all the school kids gone?
Our podcast looks into declining public school enrollment and other impacts of the federal immigration crackdown.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
In GOP attorney general runoff, two hard-right conservatives spar over experience, Trump loyalty
State Sen. Mayes Middleton says Rep. Chip Roy betrayed the MAGA movement, while Roy says Middleton isn’t qualified to work at the attorney general’s office, let alone lead it.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Chip Roy gets $2.75 million infusion from GOP megadonor Alex Fairly in attorney general runoff
Roy is the only candidate who’s “able and prepared to do the job,” Fairly said. Roy’s opponent, Mayes Middleton, has been criticized for his lack of legal experience.
Posted in
Redistricting Texas 2025
Texas Supreme Court rejects Abbott’s request to remove Democratic Rep. Gene Wu from office over redistricting protest
More than 50 Democrats, including Wu — the House Democratic leader — left the state last August to shut down the Legislature and stall passage of the GOP’s map.
Posted in
Politics
Texas Republicans spent years courting Indian voters. Then came talk of the “Indian takeover.”
A North Texas city has become the epicenter of a collision between the GOP’s efforts to win over Indian American voters and some conservatives’ nativist agenda.
