Joe Straus

Analysis: The middle is intriguing but uncrowded in Texas politics

by Ross Ramsey

In a state that has been closely tied to conservative politics for decades, some Texas politicians are edging into a political desert: the middle. Full Story 

Former Texas House Speaker Joe Straus calls on Supreme Court to protect workplace rights for LGBTQ Americans

by Stacy Fernández

Straus' op-ed comes a month after the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments for three employment discrimination cases in which a person was fired for being gay or transgender. Full Story 

Analysis: A race for speaker of the Texas House? Not so fast.

by Ross Ramsey

With Dennis Bonnen not seeking another term, state representatives are once again at the start of a race for Speaker of the Texas House. This could take a while. Full Story 

Analysis: A haunted House story about Texas speakers and redistricting

by Ross Ramsey

Texas House speakers come and go. So do redistricting sessions in the Texas Legislature. And maybe — just maybe — there's a relationship between those two cycles. Full Story 

Analysis: Jonathan Stickland and Joe Straus, still sailing in opposite directions

by Ross Ramsey

As one of the most rambunctious officeholders in Texas leaves the political scene, one of the quietest is swooping back in. Full Story 

TribCast: Is Joe Straus keeping the door open for a 2022 statewide run?

by Emily Ramshaw and Michael Rey de Leon

On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Aman, Brandon and Cassi about the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, state Rep. Jonathan Stickland’s departure from the Texas Lege and former House Speaker Joe Straus' new PAC. Full Story 

Using $2.5 million in old campaign funds, former Texas House Speaker Joe Straus launches a PAC

by Cassandra Pollock

A statement from the political action committee, called Texas Forever Forward, said, "Texas should embrace diversity and promote inclusive, non-discriminatory policies and laws." Full Story 

Analysis: Texas conservatives, in search of a new nemesis

by Ross Ramsey

The conservative groups who made a feast of former House Speaker Joe Straus for 10 years have a new target: Straus successor Dennis Bonnen. Full Story 

Texas House votes to strengthen sexual harassment investigations

by Alexa Ura and Jolie McCullough

The chamber voted on a resolution that moves misconduct complaints to a committee with subpoena power. Full Story 

Analysis: It’s still a Republican Texas government, but it’s a new one

by Ross Ramsey

Between the general election results and the changing management of the Texas House — where Joe Straus is retiring and Dennis Bonnen is poised to be the next speaker — the state government is getting a reboot. Full Story 

Analysis: You can debunk this Confederate plaque in minutes. What’s taking Texas so long?

by Ross Ramsey

Everybody in the Texas Capitol has known about a factually impaired Confederate memorial plaque for more than a year. So why is it still on the wall? Full Story 

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus: Texas and the Republican Party are “moving in opposite directions”

by Alex Samuels

In a wide-ranging conversation with Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith, Straus launched jabs at two fellow Republicans: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and President Donald Trump. He declined to weigh in on who should succeed him as the leader of the lower chamber. Full Story 

Point of Order: Joe Straus on the midterms, Donald Trump’s tweets and the next speaker of the Texas House

by Evan Smith and Todd Wiseman

In the pilot episode of his new podcast, Point of Order, Evan Smith sits down with Speaker Straus the morning after the midterms to talk everything from the balance of power in the Texas House to President Trump's tweets. Full Story 

Analysis: When the Texas House and Senate fight, legislative agencies squirm

by Ross Ramsey

The head of the little-known Texas Legislative Budget Board retired this week, adding a coda to years of differences between the agency's two masters — the Texas House and the Texas Senate. Full Story 

Analysis: Candidates to replace Joe Straus aren’t the only power-seekers in the House

by Ross Ramsey

The race to replace Speaker Joe Straus is the talk of the Texas House, but it's just the most visible part of a power shift that affects every state representative's standing. Full Story 

Analysis: So far, there’s not much to handicap in the race for Texas House speaker

by Ross Ramsey

State Rep. Travis Clardy has this in common with every other candidate for speaker of the Texas House at this point: His is the only sure vote he's got for that contest. Full Story 

TribCast: More fundraising headlines, Texas GOP reaction to Trump and Russia, SD-19 special election

by Patrick Svitek and Michael Rey de Leon

On this week's TribCast, Patrick talks to Ross, Aman and Evan about the latest campaign finance reports, how Texas Republicans reacted to President Donald Trump's summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and the July 31 special election for Senate District 19. Full Story 

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus asks Trump to end policy of separating immigrant children

by Patrick Svitek

House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, wants President Donald Trump to end his administration's "zero tolerance" policy that has led to thousands of immigrant children being separated from their parents at the border. Full Story 

Texas House and Senate leaders take early steps to consider Gov. Greg Abbott's school safety plan

by Aliyya Swaby

Both chambers hope to have certain fixes in place before students return to school in August. Full Story 

Hard-line conservatives lose big in Texas House runoffs

by Emma Platoff

Most of the seven Texas House Republican primary runoffs fell along familiar ideological fault lines in the Republican Party. The more moderate candidates won in most cases. Full Story