Donald Trump endorses Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for reelection
Patrick, who twice chaired Trump's campaign in Texas, is up for a third term in 2022. Full Story
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![Former President Donald Trump and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Republican former state Sen. Don Huffines launches primary challenge to Gov. Greg Abbott
Huffines, who has criticized Abbott as being too slow to fully reopen the state, served in the Senate from 2015-19. Full Story
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![Former State Senator Don Huffines, R-Dallas, during a Texas Public Policy Foundation event on Feb. 8, 2018.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Republican Texas legislators, like the governor, take a right turn
The Legislature still has plenty of big issues to address in its last month: electric outages, the budget and policing. At the same time, the Republican majority has its eye on issues that are dear to the conservative base: abortion, guns and elections. Full Story
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![State Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, flanked by Republican colleagues, answers questions regarding SB 7, a voting rights bill, on May 6, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas voters signal a turn to normal, in more ways than one
Texas voters are returning to normal pre-pandemic activities, and to their customary civic and political concerns, too. The changes are evident in the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Major corporations come out against proposed voting restrictions in Texas
Dozens of big companies, local businesses and chambers of commerce issued a statement reflecting the biggest pushback yet by the business community against Texas Republican efforts to further tighten the state's restrictive voting rules. Full Story
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![A voter casts their ballot at a polling site at the Austin Oaks Church on Oct. 14, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton tells The New York Times he doesn't support Greg Abbott for reelection — then tweets that he does
"I don't think he supports me; I don't support him," Paxton told The New York Times in a story published Tuesday. He later criticized the story as "fake news" and insisted he backed Abbott. Full Story
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![From left, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Gov. Greg Abbott.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Joe Biden as popular as top Republican officeholders in Texas, UT/TT Poll finds
Texas voters have a strong preference for politicians from their own parties, but overall, the president is as popular here as the governor or either of the state's U.S. senators. Full Story
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![President-elect Joe Biden during a briefing where he delivered remarks on the United States' response to the COVID-19 outbreak, at his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, on Dec. 29, 2020.]()
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Overhaul of ERCOT board could replace experts with political appointees
State lawmakers are now trying to change the way ERCOT is governed by requiring members to live in Texas and giving more board seats to political appointees — changes that experts say may do little to improve the power grid. Full Story
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![An aerial view of Austin after a severe snowstorm dumped heavy snow and plummeted temperatures. Feb. 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Bail in Texas could see key changes under House bill, but some lawmakers still see an unequal system
The Texas House on Tuesday approved House Bill 20, one of Gov. Greg Abbott's emergency items this year, and sent it to the Senate. Full Story
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![Around the Clock Bail Bonds on 10th St. and Nueces in Austin on May 8, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Mike Pence, potential 2024 presidential candidates coming to Texas for GOP fundraising blitz, donor appreciation event
The event next week is attracting a who's who of big-name Republicans who could run for the White House in a few years. Full Story
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![Vice President Mike Pence spoke during President Donald Trump’s rally at the Bank of Oklahoma Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 20, 2020.]()
Credit: Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman via USA TODAY NETWORK -
Bill allowing permitless carrying of handguns advances to Texas Senate floor, where its fate remains uncertain
The bill would nix the requirement for most Texas residents to obtain a license to carry handguns. Texans would also no longer be required to receive training before carrying a handgun in public. Full Story
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![A M&P Shield handgun, small enough to be ideal for conceal carry, in Austin on April 23, 2021.]()
Credit: Photo Illustration by Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick "optimistic" about allowing permitless carry of handguns as bill appears poised to reach Senate floor
The lieutenant governor said Thursday he still does not have the votes to bring the proposal to the floor of the upper chamber, but he believes that will change by next week. Full Story
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![Hundreds of handguns and rifles for sale at McBride’s Gun’s in Central Austin on April 20, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers send Greg Abbott a bill that would allow Texans to purchase alcohol to go from restaurants
House Bill 1024 would allow beer, wine and mixed drinks to be included in pickup and delivery food orders, securing a revenue stream made available to restaurants in the last year during the pandemic. Full Story
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![Beer sits in a cooler behind the bar at Hops and Grain Brewery in Austin on June 26, 2019.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers hope to exclude places of worship from emergency closures after COVID-19 pandemic shuttered doors
Even some religious groups are opposed to Texas legislation that would bar government officials from closing places of worship in any situation — even during a pandemic. Full Story
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![The interior of St. Mary Cathedral in downtown Austin on Jan. 30, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott says he’ll sign bill allowing permitless carrying of handguns, believes Senate is “making progress”
The governor broke his silence Tuesday on the legislation that has been building momentum at the Texas Capitol. Full Story
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![Handguns for sale at a gun store in Central Austin on April 20, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Gender-affirming medical treatment for transgender kids would be considered child abuse under Texas Senate bill
The upper chamber Wednesday passed Senate Bill 1646, which is among several other bills that advocacy groups say erode the rights of transgender Texans. But it’s unclear what the legislation’s chances are in the House. Full Story
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![People hold up a transgender flag at an event held by Equality Texas at the Capitol on April 14, 2021 in Austin.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers, lobby firm react to allegations that a lobbyist gave date rape drug to Capitol aide
State lawmakers, staffers and other Capitol observers have denounced the alleged incident, with several House members declaring on social media that they were banning from their offices any lobbyist or lobby firm associated with the accusation. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol on April 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Texas’ small-business owners balance service and safety after end of mask mandate
Three Austin business owners describe how the end of the state's mask mandate affected them and how they have navigated the crossroads of service and safety. Full Story
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Congressional Democrats condemn Abbott for not releasing billions in federal stimulus dollars intended for Texas public schools
As Gov. Greg Abbott and other state leaders continue to delay the arrival of billions in education stimulus funding for Texas schools, Texas Democrats in Congress asked the Department of Education to pressure the state to send federal funds to schools as quickly as possible. Full Story
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![Students draw their self-portraits, including their masks, in Mrs. Hogan's kindergarten class on the first day of in-person classes at Highland Village Elementary on Sept. 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Despite natural gas failures during winter storm, Texas lawmakers target renewable energy in the aftermath
As lawmakers advance bills targeting renewable energy sources, experts call the efforts “discriminatory” and “politically motivated.” Full Story
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![Wind turbines operated at sunrise in the Permian Basin, an area of oil and natural gas production, in Big Spring in 2019.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Nick Oxford
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