Republican blitz on LGBTQ issues exposes fractures among Texas Democrats
The defections have sparked feelings of betrayal and promises of retribution, particularly as Republicans in the Legislature have presented a unified front. Full Story
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![People cheer and wave rainbow flags while gathered on the stairs across from the House floor to protest against SB 14, which seeks to ban puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender youth, before it is heard for debate in the House at the state Capitol in Austin on May 12, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate passes $308 billion budget plan, kicking off high-stakes negotiations with the House
There are $5 billion and several political wedges standing between the House and Senate plans, which now move into conference committee with less than five weeks before session ends. Full Story
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![Lt. Governor Dan Patrick presides over the Senate at the Capitol in Austin on April 06, 2023.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas senators seem open to major change in state’s public education funding formula
Senators in the finance committee asked questions Monday about the pros and cons of basing the amount of money that schools get per student on enrollment instead of attendance. Districts say the change could mean millions in additional funding. Full Story
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![The sun sets over Lufkin High School in Lufkin on Jan. 29, 2023. Public school officials in rural areas like Lufkin face budget challenges because of proposed school choice legislation, which provides taxpayer-funded alternatives to sending a child to a local public school.]()
Credit: Callaghan O'Hare for The Texas Tribune -
After governor’s veto, parents now must opt-in for students to learn about dating violence, child abuse
Advocates are worried that a last-minute law change means that students who need information about dating violence and child abuse will be the least likely to receive it. Full Story
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![Students arrived at Morehead Middle School in El Paso on Aug. 19, 2021.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
A year after George Floyd’s murder, only a few of Texas lawmakers’ police reform measures appear likely to become law
Narrowly targeted pieces of Texas’ George Floyd Act — like restricting chokeholds and requiring officers to provide first aid — are expected to pass. But the Act itself and many other related reforms have failed to progress during the legislative session that ends Monday. Full Story
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![Candles are held up in the air during a vigil for George Floyd at Yates High School in Houston on June 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
State Sen. Royce West won't vote for fellow Democrat MJ Hegar, accuses her of having "a problem all along with Black folks"
West made the comments Friday to the Austin American-Statesman after his lack of support for Hegar came up at her first debate with Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. Full Story
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![Sen. Royce West, D-Texas, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate MJ Hegar.]()
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MJ Hegar defeats Royce West in Democratic runoff for U.S. Senate
Hegar declared victory late Tuesday, but West did not concede until Wednesday morning. Full Story
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![State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, and MJ Hegar will face each other in the May runoff that will decide who will be the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson and Eddie Gaspar for The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Royce West, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, on coronavirus, systemic racism and winning the Republican vote
West will face off against MJ Hegar, a retired Air Force officer, in the July 14 runoff election. “I have been in a Republican-dominated Legislature most of my public service career, but I've been able to get things done,” West said. Full Story
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EMILY’s List adds to massive spending on behalf of MJ Hegar in Democratic runoff against Royce West
The two are competing to take on Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in November. The primary runoff is Tuesday. Full Story
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![Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate MJ Hegar at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Austin on Feb. 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas Legislative Black Caucus starts planning legislative responses to police brutality, racial inequality
Lawmakers took input from constituents during the first in a seres of virtual town halls scheduled this week. Full Story
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![Members of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus at a press conference supporting the CROWN Act in Houston on Feb. 6, 2020.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Cascade of endorsements animates Texas' Democratic U.S. Senate runoff, which coronavirus has upended
A steady stream of endorsements has been illuminating some of the battle lines between MJ Hegar and Royce West as they vie to take on U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. Full Story
![Sen. Royce West, D-Texas, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate MJ Hegar.]()
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MJ Hegar far outpaces Royce West in U.S. Senate fundraising, but both are far behind John Cornyn
The Texans' campaigns are announcing their latest fundraising numbers ahead of an end-of-day deadline to disclose them to the Federal Election Commission. Full Story
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![From left, U.S. Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate MJ Hegar and State Senator Royce West.]()
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Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez endorses Royce West over MJ Hegar in Democratic primary runoff for U.S. Senate
Tzintzún Ramirez finished closely behind West last week in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Full Story
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![State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas and Christina Tzintzún Ramirez. Tzintzún Ramirez, who narrowly missed the runoff in the Democratic race for U.S. Senate, endorsed West in Austin on Monday, March 9, 2020.]()
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Democratic runoff to challenge Cornyn sets up crisp contrast between Hegar, West
After a 12-way primary, Texas Democrats get a chance to size up two candidates with very different pitches. Full Story
![State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, and MJ Hegar will face each other in the May runoff that will decide who will be the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson and Eddie Gaspar for The Texas Tribune -
MJ Hegar keeps fundraising lead as Democratic primary to challenge Cornyn reaches end
In the crowded field of U.S. Senate candidates, Hegar raised $638,000 during the first six weeks of 2020, according to campaign finance reports that were due Thursday. Full Story
![Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate MJ Hegar at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Austin on Feb. 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democratic candidates differ on best way to oust Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
Eleven of the 12 people seeking the Democratic nomination for the 2020 U.S. Senate race in Texas faced off in a debate Tuesday. It's been decades since someone from the party represented the state in the upper chamber. Full Story
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![Eleven Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate in Austin for a debate as early voting begins in Texas on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020.]()
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Royce West helped flip Dallas County for Democrats in 2006. Could he flip Texas in 2020?
In a crowded Democratic field to challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, the longtime state senator is betting on his decades of experience as a consensus builder. Full Story
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![State Sen. and Democratic candidate. for U.S. Senate Royce West in the lobby at 919 Congress Ave. on Feb. 4, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Chris Bell has been running for office for decades. Is he the Democrat to take on John Cornyn?
Bell is the only candidate running in the U.S. Senate Democratic primary who has experience in Washington, D.C. But he has more experience running campaigns than winning them. Full Story
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![Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Chris Bell in Downtown Austin on Feb. 7, 2020.]()
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Watch interviews with five Democratic candidates running for the U.S. Senate in 2020
The Texas Tribune interviewed MJ Hegar, Chris Bell, Royce West, Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez and Amanda Edwards about the race to challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. Full Story
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![A line of people wait to vote after polling places' official 7:00 closing time, at Tompkins High School in Katy in Fort Bend Co. on Nov. 6, 2018. People still voting after the official 7:00 closing time at Tompkins High School in Katy, in Fort Bend Co. on Nov. 6, 2018.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Houston police chief calls out Texas Republicans for opposing "boyfriend loophole" law after officer dies in domestic violence call
Acevedo accused U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn of being too afraid of the NRA to pass a provision to the Violence Against Women Act that would close the so-called boyfriend loophole. Full Story
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![Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo speaks out against bathroom bills at a press conference on the steps of the state capitol on July 25, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price/The Texas Tribune