Matthew Choi, Author at The Texas Tribune

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Our reporting on all platforms will be truthful, transparent and respectful; our facts will be accurate, complete and fairly presented. When we make a mistake — and from time to time, we will — we will work quickly to fully address the error, correcting it within the story, detailing the error on the story page and adding it to this running list of Tribune corrections. If you find an error, email corrections@texastribune.org.

Matthew Choi

Matthew Choi is a Washington correspondent for The Texas Tribune. He previously covered energy and climate policy at Politico, where he wrote the Morning Energy newsletter and covered campaign events as a breaking news reporter during the 2020 presidential election and the Mueller investigation. Before joining Politico, Matthew was a two-time reporting fellow at The Texas Tribune based in Austin, reporting on education, health care, immigration, guns, agriculture and land management. He graduated from Northwestern University where he studied journalism and political science and was managing editor of The Daily Northwestern. Matthew is a native of Northern Virginia and speaks both French and English. In his free time, Matthew enjoys cooking French country food while listening to Simon and Garfunkel.

U.S. Reps. Jodey Arrington, R-Lubbock, and Roger Williams, R-Willow Park, both announced Sunday that they will not enter the crowded field to become the next U.S. House speaker.

Energy

U.S. Reps. Jodey Arrington, Roger Williams decline House speaker bid

By Matthew ChoiOct. 22, 2023

Only one Texan, Rep. Pete Sessions, remains in the race for House Speaker. Republicans will hear from the candidates Monday night as they try to fill the job following U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan’s failure to win a majority.

From left: U.S. Reps. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, and J.K. "Jake" Ellzey, R-Waxahachie.

Politics

Jim Jordan is out. Here are the three Texas Republicans who helped keep him from the speaker’s gavel.

By Matthew ChoiOct. 20, 2023

Reps. Kay Granger, Tony Gonzales and Jake Ellzey were firm in their opposition to Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan.

The U.S. Capitol building on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

Politics

Texas Reps. Jodey Arrington, Pete Sessions and Roger Williams are making moves to become U.S. House speaker

By Matthew ChoiOct. 20, 2023

Arrington and Williams expressed their interest after the House Republican Conference voted in a closed door meeting to drop Jim Jordan as their nominee for speaker. Sessions announced his run shortly after.

A plan to give House speaker pro tempore Patrick McHenry, R-NC, the power of the speaker drew opposition from several Texas Republicans in the U.S. House.

Politics

Texas Republicans oppose a temporary speaker as U.S. House struggles to find leadership

By Matthew ChoiOct. 19, 2023

The move would let the House act on legislation amid the Israel-Hamas war and other priorities, but several Texans recoiled at the idea, saying it would hand power to Democrats and break trust with supporters.

U.S. Reps. J.K. "Jake" Ellzey, R-Waxahachie, Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, and Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth joined other Republicans to again block Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan from the speaker's gavel.

Congress

Three Texas Republicans stand firm against Jim Jordan in second House speaker vote

By Matthew ChoiOct. 18, 2023Oct. 18, 2023

Jordan remained 18 votes away from becoming House speaker during a vote Wednesday. Meanwhile, activists in Texas are pressuring Republicans to fall in line behind Jordan’s effort.

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, arrives for a House Republican caucus meeting in the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Oct. 12, 2023.

Politics

Jim Jordan snags more Texas support in troubled bid for House Speaker

By Matthew Choi and Grace YarrowOct. 13, 2023

A handful of Texas Republicans back the Ohio Republican’s speaker bid after initially backing the former frontrunner, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) is pursued by reporters after he won a majority of votes in the House Republican caucus to become their nominee for next Speaker of the House during a Republican meeting held behind closed doors in the Longworth House office building on Capitol Hill in Washington on Oct. 11, 2023.

Politics

Chip Roy, Michael Cloud say they’re still against Scalise after he wins party nomination for U.S. House speaker

By Matthew Choi and Grace YarrowOct. 11, 2023Oct. 11, 2023

The two Texas holdouts, combined with a handful of other members who have vowed to vote against Rep. Steve Scalise, could delay the selection of the next House speaker.

U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul at the Texas Advanced Computing Center on April 18, 2022.

Politics

U.S. House speaker fight is jeopardizing Israeli aid, Texas Rep. Michael McCaul says

By Matthew ChoiOct. 10, 2023

Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul said the attack on Israel by Hamas has increased the urgency to select a House speaker.

U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, questions witnesses during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Politics

Group of Texas Republicans in U.S. House want to change the rules for removing a speaker

By Matthew ChoiOct. 6, 2023

The members are sick of the leverage the rule has had over the conference, saying it pushed leadership into the hands of the most extreme right-wing members.