In GOP strongholds, Texas Democrats running liberal campaigns have raised eye-popping sums
Enthusiasm for Texas Democratic candidates extends beyond Beto O'Rourke as progressive Democrats raise unprecedented amounts of money. Full Story
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![Democratic candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives (clockwise from top left): Sri Kulkarni, TX-22; Julie Oliver, TX-25; Mike Siegel, TX-10; and Dayna Steele, TX-36.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang: Kulkarni/Bob Daemmrich: Oliver/Siegel and Steele: campaign Facebook pages -
No matter the outcome of the midterms, Texas delegation in Congress poised to lose clout
Thanks to retirements, term limits and political turmoil, the Texas delegation in Congress is bracing for a significant loss in seniority next year. If Democrats take back the House, the loss in clout will be even more dramatic. Full Story
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![Top row, left to right: U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, U.S. Reps. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, and Michael McCaul, R-Tomball. Bottom row: U.S. Reps. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio and Eddie Bernice Johnson, D- Dallas.]()
Credit: Official House portraits/Marjorie Kamys Cotera: Castro/Alyssa Banta: Johnson/DenKuvaiev: iStock -
Report: Texas Republicans among top spenders in Congress at Trump properties
Three Texas Republicans are at or near the top of a list of politicians who have spent the most in campaign-related funds at President Donald Trump’s privately-owned properties over the last year, according to a new Washington Post report. Full Story
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![Jodey Arrington]()
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U.S. House committee approves Texan's bill to put $10 billion toward border wall
A congressional committee voted Wednesday to send to the full U.S. House a bill appropriating $10 billion toward building a border wall, but not before some Texas Democrats found ways to mock the proposal. Full Story
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![Ordered under the George W. Bush administration, a controversial and incomplete border wall along the Rio Grande River in South Texas has had environmental and cultural impacts.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul again a top contender to be Trump's homeland security chief
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, is a leading contender to serve as the next homeland security chief and is interested in the position, a source close to the congressman tells the Tribune. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul at a Texas Tribune event in Austin on Oct. 25, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
U.S. Rep. McCaul urges Trump to call out Putin on election meddling
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, made his position clear on Friday: Russia is responsible for cyberattacks on Democrats in 2016 and President Trump should hold Putin accountable. Full Story
![U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul at a Texas Tribune event in Austin on Oct. 25, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
McCaul, Castro and O'Rourke give Cornyn's Senate seat a look
Several members of the U.S. House delegation are considering running in a possible U.S. Senate special election. Full Story
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![(L-R) U.S. Reps. Beto O'Rourke, R-El Paso, Michael McCaul, R-Austin, and Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio.]()
Credit: Ivan Aguirre, Bob Daemmrich, Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
As Trump talks unity, Texas delegation offers a divided response
Among members of Congress, Texans' reactions to President Donald Trump's first joint address to Congress fell along partisan lines. Full Story
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![President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 28, 2017.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque -
Trump team's alleged Russia ties get muted response from Texas Republicans
Texas Democrats on Capitol Hill are calling for more Congressional oversight, amid news reports of Trump allies communicating with Russian officials. Full Story
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![Donald Trump rallies a crowd of veterans at Drake University on Jan. 28, 2016, while other Republican presidential candidates hold a final Des Moines debate prior to the Iowa caucuses.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
At homeland security hearing, McCaul calls Trump's travel ban rollout "problematic"
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, the top House Republican on homeland security issues, strongly criticized the Trump administration Monday for the chaotic rollout last month of a travel ban of mostly Muslim countries. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul at TTEvents discusses presidential candidate Donald Trump on Oct. 25, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas congressional delegation largely silent on Trump travel ban
Most members of the Texas congressional delegation remained silent about President Trump's travel ban over the weekend, but one Republican challenged the ban and another — Michael McCaul of Austin — said his input on the order did not include a ban on Muslims. Full Story
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![A protester holds a sign at D/FW airport Saturday.]()
Credit: Stella M. Chávez, KERA News -
Julián and Joaquin Castro confront the Trump era
Donald Trump's upset victory left many in both parties shocked, upending their best-laid plans for after the election. Among them are rising Texas Democratic stars Julián and Joaquin Castro. Full Story
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![Julián and Joaquin Castro speak to media during the Texas Democratic Convention on June 17, 2016.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The 10 days that defined 2016 for the Texas congressional delegation
From U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's Republican National Convention speech to U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela's letter to Trump, 10 days in 2016 stand out for how they disrupted, empowered or otherwise messed with members of the Texas delegation. Full Story
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Reports: Trump passing on U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul to lead Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul was widely viewed as a top contender for the position in Trump's Cabinet. Full Story
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![U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul waits to go onstage with editor Evan Smith at TTEvents on Oct. 25, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul draws critics in bid to run Homeland Security under Trump
Some hardline illegal immigration opponents are increasingly arguing U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul does not have a strong enough record on the issue to run the Department of Homeland Security for President-elect Donald Trump. Full Story
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![Congressman Michael McCaul visits the Texas Capitol for meetings with Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on border security on Feb. 18, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Cruz praises McCaul's experience as Trump weighs Cabinet choices
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz on Friday praised the law enforcement experience of Michael McCaul, his fellow Texas Republican whom President-elect Donald Trump is considering for Homeland Security secretary. Full Story
![U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul at a Texas Tribune event in Austin on Oct. 25, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The key Texans in Congress to watch in the Trump Era
Donald Trump's presidency alongside a Republican-controlled Congress could soon translate to staggering power for seven Texas Republicans. Full Story
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![L.-R., top row: U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, U.S. Reps. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, Kevin Brady R-The Woodlands. L.-R., bottom row: U.S. Reps. Jeb Hensarling, R-Dallas, Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio and Michael McCaul, R-Austin.]()
Credit: Official House Portraits -
Analysis: In politics, one day you’re in and the next day you’re out
The president-elect might be importing Texas political figures into his administration, but Donald Trump has shown no sign that he's bringing their view of federal power in with them. Full Story
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![Former Gov. Rick Perry, Donald Trump and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman/Lucas Jackson (Reuters)/Bob Daemmrich -
If Trump appoints U.S. Reps. Hensarling and McCaul, who would replace them?
The new Trump administration could bring special elections to the state of Texas. Full Story
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![The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.]()
Credit: Abby Livingston/The Texas Tribune -
Trump's shocking upset emboldens Texas GOP
Donald Trump's presidential victory was the stuff of Texas GOP dreams, and the state's party leaders are moving quickly to capitalize on this once-in-a-century opportunity. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks to small crowd at the Harris County Republican Party headquarters election watch party in Houston, Texas on November 8, 2016]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune