Hawkins spent two years as Texas’ top appellate attorney, but resigned soon after not signing onto Attorney General Ken Paxton’s 2020 election challenge.
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
Redistricting Texas 2025
How two Texas redistricting cases, 37 years apart, set the stage for the latest congressional redraw
The 5th Circuit last year overturned its previous ruling that allowed racial groups to band together to challenge voting maps, laying the groundwork for Texas’ mid-decade redistricting.
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TribCast
TribCast: The Hunt is on in the GOP Senate primary
Matthew and Eleanor are joined by Tribune D.C. reporter Gabby Birenbaum and radio host Chad Hasty to unpack the three candidates vying to be the Republican nominee for Senate in 2026.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
How the Texas GOP’s bid to block lawmakers from the ballot defies a century of court precedent
The Texas GOP will vote Saturday to possibly bar some state legislators from running in the 2026 primary, despite repeated Texas Supreme Court rulings saying they cannot.
Posted in
Politics
Paxton sides with Texas GOP, against secretary of state in lawsuit seeking to close primaries
Secretary of State Jane Nelson said in a filing that Paxton’s office gave her less than an hour’s warning that they’d be siding against her agency in court.
Posted in
TribCast
TribCast: Texas’ congressional map goes to court
While a three-judge panel hears a legal challenge to Texas’ new congressional map, TribCast breaks down the arguments.
Posted in
Redistricting Texas 2025
At hearing, Democrats say the redistricting process was flawed from the start
On the first day of a two-week trial, the plaintiffs’ lawyers honed in on who drew the new map and whether race was a factor.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Can Texas use its new congressional map for 2026? A trio of judges will decide.
The same plaintiffs who are challenging the state’s 2021 maps have asked the court to block the new GOP-approved districts from being used in the fast-approaching midterms.
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TribCast
TribCast: Texas’ changing congressional delegation
In this week’s episode, Texas Tribune Washington, D.C. correspondent Gabby Birenbaum explains how redistricting and retirements will reshape Texas’ representation on the Hill.
Posted in
Higher Education
While praising Charlie Kirk’s commitment to free speech, Texas leaders move to punish students celebrating his death
Gov. Greg Abbott called for a student to be expelled for celebrating Kirk’s death. Legal experts say the student’s speech is likely constitutionally protected.
