After backlash, Abbott expresses some regret after labeling all Cleveland shooting victims “illegal immigrants”
The governor’s focus on immigration status, not the loss of life, draws rebukes from across the country. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott addresses the House floor on the opening day of the 88th Legislative Session at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 10, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
As Donald Trump mounts his 2024 presidential bid, his support among Texas officials is waning
About two months into his comeback bid, few prominent Texas Republicans have endorsed Trump — and some are showing more willingness to cross him publicly. Full Story
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![Former President Donald Trump delivers a speech at the 2022 Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas on Aug. 6, 2022.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
After disappointing midterms, Texas GOP votes unanimously for a new national leader
Ronna McDaniel has kept the RNC aligned with former President Donald Trump, who some Republicans have blamed for the party’s underwhelming performance in the midterm elections. Full Story
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![RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel speaks at an event for U.S. Senator Ron Johnson in Franklin, Wisconsin on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.]()
Credit: Angela Peterson/USA TODAY NETWORK via REUTERS -
“We failed”: Gay Republicans who fought for acceptance in Texas GOP see little progress
Gay Republicans who have fought for acceptance within the Texas GOP over the past three decades told The Texas Tribune progress has been excruciatingly slow. Many of them have left the party, even as the number of Log Cabin Republicans in Texas continues to grow. Full Story
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![Dale Carpenter poses for a portrait outside of his home in Dallas, TX on July 8, 2022. In the 1990s Carpenter was the state president of the Log Cabin Republicans, an organization that represents LGBT conservatives, but has since distanced himself from party politics.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Critics of Texas’ push for a “Don’t Say Gay” bill say acknowledging LGBTQ people isn’t the same as teaching kids about sex
Republicans say they don’t want young kids learning about sex. Educators say that’s already the standard. Full Story
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![AISD employees Melissa and Caitlin Kender cheer on models as they walk past during a fashion show at the AISD "Pride Out!" Party in the Park event at Eastside Early College High School in Austin on Saturday, Mar. 26, 2022. The Kenders have been married for a week. "When we want to establish a family, this is somewhere we want our kids to be a part of," Melissa said. They moved from Dallas to be a part of AISD specifically.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Republicans trumpet their support for another Trump presidential bid at Conroe rally
The rally in the Houston suburbs put on full display how much of a grip former President Donald Trump still has on Texas Republican leaders. Full Story
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![People attend a rally where former U.S. President Donald Trump is to speak, in Conroe on Jan. 29, 2022.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Go Nakamura -
As critical race theory and mask mandate debates heat up, Texas GOP takes aim at local school board and municipal races
The Republican Party of Texas announced Monday it had launched a new Local Government Committee to work with county parties on backing candidates for nonpartisan local offices. Full Story
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![The Carroll ISD Administration Building is photographed in Southlake, TX on November 18, 2021. The U.S. Department of Education has opened three investigations into allegations of racial and gender discrimination at Carroll Independent School District.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
New Texas GOP chair Matt Rinaldi winning over critics of Allen West’s tumultuous era
Some party activists had worried Rinaldi would be more of the same after West left the chairmanship to challenge Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this summer. Full Story
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![Then-State Rep. Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving, on the House floor on May 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Former state Rep. Matt Rinaldi wins Texas GOP chair election
The State Republican Executive Committee met Sunday to pick a successor for Allen West, the chairman who resigned last month after a drama-filled tenure and is now running for governor. Full Story
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![Former state representative Matt Rinaldi spoke to demonstrators at the Governor’s Mansion in protest of Gov. Abbott’s executive orders to close businesses and mandate masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A few Texas Republicans are singing the blues
It's not unusual for former opponents to turn around and endorse their party's candidates, or to go quiet in general elections — to say nothing at all. But it's unusual to endorse the other party's general election candidates. And yet, that's happening in several Texas races this year. Full Story
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Some Texas Republicans are endorsing Democrats. Is it "Texas over party" or sour grapes?
Two statewide officeholders are among the Republican incumbents who have seen former primary opponents take the unusual step of endorsing their Democratic challengers ahead of the midterm elections. Full Story
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![Top row: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Scott Milder and Mike Collier; middle row: Land Commissioner George P. Bush, Jerry Patterson and Miguel Suazo; bottom row: state Rep. Matt Rinaldi, Bennett Ratliff and Julie Johnson.]()
Credit: Photo illustration by John Jordan -
Democrats are turning Dallas into a midterm battleground for the Texas House
Democrats are running aggressively in the Dallas area to flip several Republican-held seats in the Texas House. Talk of a "blue wave" is only part of why they're optimistic. Full Story
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![Supporters of Democrat Julie Johnson look at the Texas House District 115 map before going out to canvass the area on August 18, 2018.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
Looking at Greg Abbott's response to Santa Fe
In this edition of the TribCast, Texas Tribune political reporter Patrick Svitek sits down with CEO Evan Smith, executive editor Ross Ramsey and education reporter Aliyya Swaby. Full Story
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Freedom Caucus sees opportunities to grow in 2018 GOP primaries
A year after the Texas Freedom Caucus first launched, the bloc of hardline conservatives in the Texas House is optimistic it will broaden its membership before state lawmakers head back to Austin in 2019. Full Story
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![The Texas Freedom Caucus on May 23, 2017 (back row, l-r): state Reps. Jonathan Stickland, Briscoe Cain, Matt Krause, Valoree Swanson, Mike Lang, Kyle Biedermann, Matt Rinaldi. (Front row, l-r): state Reps. Matt Shaheen, Matt Schaefer, Bill Zedler, Jeff Leach, Tony Tinderholt.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
New Texas law allows for armed volunteer security at churches
A state law put into effect in September made it legal for houses of worship to have armed volunteer security — but the law's author says many churches in Texas don't know it's an option. Full Story
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![U.S. Marshals speak with a DPS officer in Sutherland Springs after a mass shooting at the First Baptist Church there, on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Even before House scuffle, Rinaldi's seat was a high 2018 target for Democrats
State Rep. Matt Rinaldi, who drew national attention as part of an incident on the Texas House floor in which he said he reported protesters to ICE, represents one of 10 Republican-held House districts that Hillary Clinton won last year. Full Story
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![State Rep. Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving, on the floor of the House after a scuffle with some members of the Hispanic Caucus on the last day of the 85th Legislature, on May 29, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Republican lawmaker: I called immigration authorities on Capitol protesters
On the last day of the regular session of the Texas Legislature, hundreds protested at the Capitol — and Republican state Rep. Matt Rinaldi called ICE on them. He also nearly came to blows with Democratic colleagues. Full Story
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![On the last day of the 85th legislative session, protesters opposed to Senate Bill 4 — the "sanctuary cities" law — fill up the rotunda of the state Capitol in Austin on May 29, 2017.]()
Credit: Julian Aguilar/The Texas Tribune -
Video: How Conservative Was the 84th Session?
Here's video of our "Really, How Conservative Was the 84th Session?" panel from Oct. 17 at The 2015 Texas Tribune Festival. Panelists included State Sens. Paul Bettencourt and Konni Burton and state Reps. Stephanie Klick, Matt Rinaldi and Jonathan Stickland. Full Story
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Video: New House Members on Immigration
At our 1/14 conversation, new state Reps. Celia Israel, D-Austin, Linda Koop, R-Dallas, and Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving, talked about border security, in-state tuition and other immigration-related topics. Full Story
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Video: New House Members on the Health Care
At our 1/14 conversation, new state Reps. Celia Israel, D-Austin, Linda Koop, R-Dallas, and Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving, talked about what the Lege is likely to do on health care. Full Story
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