VanDeaver, who represents northeast Texas, was one of two House Republicans to oppose a school voucher program this year after he narrowly beat a pro-voucher primary challenger in 2024.
Kayla Guo
Kayla Guo covers state politics and government. Before joining the Tribune, she covered Congress for The New York Times as a reporting fellow based in Washington, D.C. Kayla has also covered transportation policy for Politico and local news for The Raleigh News & Observer, and she was a part-time digital producer for The Boston Globe. She graduated from Brown University, where she studied public policy and served as editor-in-chief and president of the independent student newspaper. She was born and raised on Long Island, New York. She is based in Austin.
Posted in
State Government
Head of Texas’ largest business organization accused of sexual assault in lawsuit
An unidentified woman on Monday sued Glenn Hamer, Texas Association of Business president and CEO, alleging he sexually harassed and assaulted her, then retaliated when she rejected his advances.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Abbott sets Jan. 31 special election runoff for North Texas Senate seat
Democrat Taylor Rehmet and Republican Leigh Wambsganss will face off to succeed Kelly Hancock after winning the most votes in the Nov. 4 election.
Posted in
The 2025 Texas Tribune Festival
U.S. Senate hopeful Colin Allred criticizes rival James Talarico for accepting billionaire Adelson’s donations
Allred’s comments at The Texas Tribune Festival marked the first time either leading Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate publicly criticized the other.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Gov. Greg Abbott launches reelection campaign for fourth term
Abbott framed his campaign as a means to keep Texas as a conservative bastion, touting efforts to lower property taxes, bolster education and strengthen public safety.
Posted in
State Government
Longtime GOP state Rep. John Smithee of Amarillo will not seek reelection
Smithee has represented the Panhandle in the Texas House for 40 years. He ran for speaker last year and most recently served as chair of the criminal jurisprudence committee.
Posted in
Politics
Former astronaut Terry Virts drops Senate bid, announces run for Congress in redrawn Houston-area district
The retired Air Force colonel launched his campaign for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination in June, but he struggled to gain traction over other candidates.
Posted in
2025 Texas Elections
A near upset in North Texas Senate race jolts frayed Democratic hopes ahead of 2026
Democrat Taylor Rehmet came within three percentage points of winning Senate District 9 — which voted for Donald Trump by over 17 points in 2024 — over his two Republican opponents.
Posted in
2025 Texas Elections
Democrat Rehmet, Republican Wambsganss head to runoff in special election for North Texas Senate seat
With the GOP vote fractured between Wambsganss and another Republican, Rehmet led the three-person contest for the red-leaning district.
Posted in
2025 Texas Elections
Texas voters poised to approve stricter bail rules in state Constitution
Under Proposition 3, judges will be required to deny bail for certain violent offenses if the state demonstrates that doing so is necessary to ensure public safety or the defendant’s appearance in court.
