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.
Texas Elections 2018
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz defeated Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke in the race for U.S. Senate. View full 2018 Texas election results or subscribe to The Brief for the latest election news.
Look up Texas midterm turnout in your county against historic numbers
Tuesday’s elections fired up more Texas voters than any midterm in a generation. Turnout even eclipsed the 2000 presidential race in which Texans helped put George W. Bush — one of their own — in the White House.
After losing election, Houston juvenile court judge releases defendants en masse
The Houston Chronicle reports that Judge Glenn Devlin asked juvenile defendants whether they planned to kill anyone, then let nearly all of them go the day after his defeat at the polls.
Trailing GOP U.S. Rep. Will Hurd by 689 votes, Gina Ortiz Jones campaign says Texas race “is not over”
Ortiz Jones has not called for a recount, but says she wants to see all provisional, absentee and military votes counted.
Where Ted Cruz’s close victory over Beto O’Rourke stands among Texas’ historical election results
It was the closest a Democrat came to toppling a Republican incumbent U.S. senator since 1978. And while O’Rourke beat Cruz in some traditional GOP strongholds, it wasn’t enough to overcome rural Texas counties and some suburbs that remain fiercely loyal to Cruz.
Analysis: In Donald Trump’s midterm, Texas voters tap the brakes
Texas Republicans had a tough election this year, losing more seats than expected and winning statewide races by much thinner margins than normal. Blame the president.
Gov. Greg Abbott clinches second term as GOP wins closest statewide races in 20 years
Abbott easily bested his Democratic opponent, Lupe Valdez. Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller faced rare single-digit contests before eventually besting Democratic challengers.
Four top takeaways from the 2018 Texas midterm elections
Historic turnout, unusually tight races and a “blue wave” that didn’t quite break.
Texas Democrats were aiming for historic wins in 2018. What they got instead was hope for 2020.
Republicans won every statewide office in Texas, as they have in every election for the past 20 years. But Democrats are taking heart in their narrow losing margins.
Democrats flip at least two GOP-held congressional districts in Texas
Republicans still hold the majority of congressional seats in the state, but Democratic gains in Texas are helping the national party as it appears poised to gain control of the U.S. House.

