The veteran lawmaker whose current district was redrawn to benefit Republicans would face the winner of the 18th Congressional District special election runoff.
Gabby Birenbaum
Gabby Birenbaum is the Washington Correspondent for the Texas Tribune. She covers the Texas congressional delegation and the impact of federal policy on Texas. Gabby previously covered Washington for The Nevada Independent, where she wrote the weekly D.C. Download newsletter and covered the 2024 presidential election and competitive Senate race. Prior to The Nevada Independent, Gabby worked at The Washington Monthly and Vox. Gabby graduated from Northwestern University, where she studied journalism and political science. She is a native of Arlington, Virginia and is based in Washington, DC. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, watching movies and being a long-suffering fan of DC sports teams. Her work is supported by a partnership with Report for America.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Cornyn “open to” changing Senate filibuster, Hunt and Paxton back Trump’s call to scrap it
The president has sharpened his calls for Senate Republicans to kill the longstanding legislative maneuver, saying the GOP’s electoral success could hinge on it.
Posted in
2025 Texas Elections
Christian Menefee, Amanda Edwards advance to runoff in special election for Houston congressional seat
The runoff winner will serve out the term of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner, who died in office earlier this year. The seat will immediately be up for election again in 2026 for a full two-year term.
Posted in
2025 Texas Elections
It’s Election Day in Texas. Here’s what to watch.
Texans will decide the fate of 17 proposed amendments to the state Constitution and vote in special elections for Congress and the state Senate.
Posted in
Transportation
Texas airports see major delays, long security lines as government shutdown continues
Airports across the country have experienced shortages of air traffic controllers and security workers, who have gone weeks without pay amid the shutdown.
Posted in
Graphics and data reporting
Texas ACA insurers hike monthly premiums by 35% on average
The amount Texans will pay toward their ACA premiums will likely rise more steeply, with enhanced subsidies set to expire.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Hunt calls for debate with Cornyn, Paxton in Senate GOP primary
The second-term congressman argued that voters should “hear directly from the candidates,” beyond the millions already being poured into paid advertising.
Posted in
Graphics and data reporting
The federal shutdown will halt November SNAP benefits. Here’s what you need to know.
In Texas, 3.5 million Texans — including 1.7 million children — rely on SNAP, also referred to as food stamps, each month.
Posted in
Redistricting Texas 2025
This newly drawn Houston district could unearth tensions between Democrats of color
A primary challenge to Rep. Sylvia Garcia underscores Latino Democrats’ fears of being unrepresented in Harris County.
Posted in
2025 Texas Elections
In special election for Houston congressional seat, candidates confront a bewildered electorate
Voters in the heavily Democratic district have expressed confusion about who can vote — after the boundaries were upended by a GOP gerrymander — and what November’s special election is for.
