Here are some of the Texas Democrats eyeing statewide runs in 2026
Democrats will need to sort through a pileup of potential candidates who see an opportunity to harness backlash to the Trump administration in next year’s midterms. Full Story
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![Beto O’Rourke speaks at the Texas Democratic Convention Reception Kick-Off in El Paso, Texas on June 6, 2024.]()
Credit: Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democrats underperformed yet again. Now what?
Tuesday was another electoral blowout in which Democrats underperformed expectations, weakening their case that Texas is a battleground state worthy of investment and attention from the national party. Full Story
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![The Ector County Democratic Headquarters on election night, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Odessa.]()
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Bernie Sanders tells Texas progressives to back Harris, says Allred win would “make all the difference”
Joining Sanders as he campaigns up and down the I-35 corridor are Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Greg Casar, and former El Paso congressman Beto O’Rourke. Full Story
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![(From left to right) Politicians Beto O’Rourke, Lloyd Doggett, Greg Casar, Bernie Sanders, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at a rally organized by the University Democrats on the University of Texas campus on Oct. 1, 2024.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Colin Allred’s understated campaign strategy draws mixed reviews from fellow Democrats
Allred’s sharp divergence from Beto O’Rourke’s more active campaign style has stirred dissent among some Democrats. His allies say it’s working. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, speaks during the kick-off event for the “Women for Allred” coalition in Dallas on Aug. 24, 2024.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democrats try to unify against GOP “extremism” as their own challenges and strife persist
The party faces internal tension over the Israel-Hamas war and Biden’s new immigration policy heading into November. Full Story
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![The first day of the Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso on June 6, 2024.]()
Credit: Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribune -
After overlooking O’Rourke, national Democrats show early confidence in Allred
Six years after Beto O’Rourke nearly toppled Ted Cruz, Democrats outside Texas are expressing confidence in Colin Allred’s 2024 challenge. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, speaks at a U.S. Senate debate in Austin on Jan. 28, 2024. The Texas AFL-CIO COPE Convention hosted the debate ahead of the March 5 primary elections.]()
Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune -
Colin Allred’s fundraising for U.S. Senate race surpasses O’Rourke’s early 2018 pace
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred raised over $9.5 million for his U.S. Senate campaign this quarter, surpassing Beto O’Rourke’s 2018 first quarter sum of $6.7 million. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, smiles as the crowd claps and cheers for him during a stop for his U.S. Senate campaign in McAllen on Feb. 17, 2024.Rep. Allred is running against Texas Senator Roland Gutierrez for the March 5 primary election in hopes to be the Democratic candidate that goes head to head with incumbent Ted Cruz for the general election in November.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
New George Soros-backed, Democratic PAC aims to turn Texas blue
The group is “helping to build party infrastructure at the regional level, because the various regions of our state are distinct and therefore require different strategies,” a PAC official said. Full Story
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![Democratic Party signage and logos at the Texas Democratic Party office in Austin.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Supreme Court declines to revive billionaire’s defamation lawsuit against Beto O’Rourke
Kelcy Warren, a Dallas pipeline billionaire, sued O’Rourke in early 2022, saying the Democrat defamed him with critical comments about his company’s windfall profits after the Texas energy-grid collapse in February 2021. Full Story
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Dan Patrick says he won’t accept donations during trial, after taking heat for pro-Paxton money
The Senate Republican and Democratic caucuses also said they will not fundraise as organizations during the trial, which starts Tuesday. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gavels in the Senate on Aug. 10, 2021.]()
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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz raises $4.4 million in second quarter as he seeks reelection
The Republican’s haul fell short of the money raised by Rep. Colin Allred, a Democratic opponent who collected $6.2 million in a shorter period — but Cruz prevailed in the 2018 election despite getting outraised then. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz signs books and greets supporters during the Republican Party of Texas 2022 Convention in George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston on Friday, June 17, 2022.]()
Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred raises $6.2 million in first 2 months of Senate race
Allred also transferred $2.4 million from his House campaign account, giving him $8.6 million in total receipts through the end of June. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas speaks to media with members of the Congressional Black Caucus during a press conference on voting rights legislation and reforming the filibuster at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022.]()
Credit: Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via REUTERS -
Appeals court dismisses GOP megadonor’s lawsuit against Beto O’Rourke
Billionaire Kelcy Warren claimed that he was defamed by the Democratic candidate’s criticism of the power-grid failure in 2021. Full Story
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![Gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke greets attendees during a Get Out the Vote Rally hosted by the Asian American Democrats of Texas in Asiatown on October 15, 2022.]()
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U.S. Rep. Colin Allred preparing to challenge Ted Cruz in 2024, sources say
The former NFL player and civil rights lawyer has been a rising Democratic star in Congress. Full Story
![U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas speaks to media with members of the Congressional Black Caucus during a press conference on voting rights legislation and reforming the filibuster at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022.]()
Credit: Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via REUTERS -
Bills to create new Texas courts would likely reverse Democratic gains, restore GOP dominance
Supporters say the proposals would increase efficiency and expertise, but opponents argue the attempts are political and probably unconstitutional. Full Story
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![The Texas Supreme Court on Jan. 15, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Why Ted Cruz’s next reelection path looks smoother with Beto O’Rourke behind him
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz will be up for reelection next year, now a seasoned senator and established conservative leader. But Democrats are still holding out hope they can repeat the sensation of Beto-mania. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, gives closing arguments to a crowd at the Redneck Country Club in Stafford on Nov. 5, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
In defamation lawsuit against Beto O’Rourke, lawyers debate whether Kelcy Warren is a public figure
Warren, a Dallas pipeline tycoon, sued O’Rourke in February over accusations he made on the campaign trail that Warren effectively bribed Gov. Greg Abbott with a $1 million campaign contribution following the 2021 power grid collapse. Full Story
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Beto O’Rourke returned $1 million check from FTX’s Sam Bankman-Fried
O’Rourke’s campaign said they gave the money back before the company’s scandals became widely public, because they were taken aback by such a large unsolicited donation. Full Story
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![Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried attends a press conference at the FTX Arena in downtown Miami on Friday, June 4, 2021.]()
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What Greg Abbott’s decisive win over Beto O’Rourke portends for his future
After defeating O’Rourke — Texas’ most promising Democrat in recent history — Abbott begins his third term in a strong position, with a rising national profile and a governing mandate in the eyes of fellow Republicans. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a Site Selection’s Governor’s Cup award announcement at the Texas Governor's Mansion in Austin on March 1, 2022.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Beto O’Rourke’s campaign reflects on failed governor race
In a press call Monday, O’Rourke’s team reflected on its failures during the election, but said Gov. Greg Abbott had the advantage with his ability to attract media attention and rely on” established narratives” that historically favor Republicans. Full Story
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![Beto O'Rourke gives his concession speech after being defeated by incumbent Greg Abbott in the race for Texas governor on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, in El Paso.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune
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