New campaign finance reports help crystallize fight for state House majority
The reports, which were due Wednesday, provide the first fundraising checkpoint since the candidate fields were finalized last month. Full Story
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![State Capitol on June 20, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price for The Texas Tribune -
Joe Biden sells himself as the Democrat to beat Trump — and turn Texas blue — during San Antonio campaign stop
“You’ll be seeing a lot of me before now and November, God willing," the former vice president said at a rally in the hometown of fellow Democratic candidate Julián Castro. Full Story
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![Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a community event in San Antonio on Dec. 13, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
The inauguration of Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick cost millions. But much of it went to fundraising and staff.
Spending on each of the last two inaugurations eclipsed that of any other in Texas for at least 40 years, even when adjusted for inflation. A spokesman for the governor has said no state dollars were spent on the festivities. Full Story
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![A view of the main stage at the state capitol. Preparations are underway for the Oath of Office Ceremony celebrations scheduled for tomorrow. Jan. 14, 2019. Miguel Gutierrez / The Texas Tribune.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune. -
Hurd launches group to build more diverse GOP
The Future Leaders Fund, a super PAC, plans to spend millions of dollars in the 2020 primaries. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, speaks with Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith at the opening keynote of the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen's downfall throws House majority fight into uncertainty
The speaker's decision Tuesday to not seek reelection after months of scandal could have deep implications for the fight for the House majority. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dennis Bonnen signs paperwork on the House floor on May 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: What if top Texas politicians ran their businesses like businesses?
If Texas officials can raise $5.3 million for a party and other inaugural activities, and spend it all without showing their receipts to the rest of us, what could possibly be wrong with that? Full Story
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![The Fighting Texas Aggie Band practices before performing at the Oath of Office Ceremony at the state capitol. Jan. 15, 2019.]()
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The 2019 Texas inauguration cost a record $5.3 million. Where are the receipts?
The Texas Tribune is suing to discover what happened to millions raised mostly from top lobbying firms, corporations, wealthy businesspeople and trade groups for the inauguration of Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Full Story
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![Air Force fighter planes fly over the state capitol during the Oath of Office Ceremony. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and Governor Greg Abbott were sworn into their respective offices. Jan. 15, 2019. Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Five takeaways from the $80 million raised by Texas campaigns the first half of this year
Gov. Greg Abbott is a fundraising juggernaut, and Republicans still dominate campaign finance in the state. Full Story
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![State Capitol in the late afternoon on June 12, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price for The Texas Tribune -
New super PAC raises nearly $10 million to register new Republican voters in Texas
A who's who of the state's top Republican donors cut big checks to the group, Engage Texas. Full Story
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![As the convention winds down, delegates get their picture taken in front of the Texas flag-themed GOP elephant during the final afternoon of the Republican Party of Texas convention in San Antonio on Saturday, June 16, 2018.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
New Republican group wants to register more voters to keep Texas red
The push by the group, a super PAC called Engage Texas, comes as national Democrats zero in on the state in 2020. Full Story
![As the convention winds down, delegates get their picture taken in front of the Texas flag-themed GOP elephant during the final afternoon of the Republican Party of Texas convention in San Antonio on Saturday, June 16, 2018.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Beto O'Rourke's proposed election reforms seek to simplify voting registration, get big money out of politics
The Democratic presidential candidate released his fifth policy proposal, which calls for term limits on federal lawmakers and Supreme Court justices. It also aims to encourage small-dollar political donations. Full Story
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![Beto O'Rourke speaks at Texas Southern University in Houston during his Presidential Campaign kick off on March 30, 2019 .]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The Texas Legislature has left Austin. Now what?
Lawmakers are gone, and the legislative season is over. Cue up the 2020 elections! Full Story
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![The State Capitol on May 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Beto O'Rourke signs "No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge" after weeks of pressure
The Democratic presidential candidate also said he was returning campaign contributions that had run afoul of the pledge. Full Story
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![Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke, 46, speaks with supporters during a three day road trip across Iowa, in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, U.S., March 15, 2019. REUTERS/Ben Brewer]()
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MJ Hegar "not at all" backing away from celebrity supporters as John Cornyn targets Patton Oswalt
"We can talk all day about where our support is coming from," said Hegar, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn's latest Democratic opponent, in an interview. Full Story
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Beto O'Rourke says he raised $9.4 million in 18 days — more than $500,000 a day
O'Rourke, a former congressman from El Paso, was a presidential candidate for only the last 18 days of the first quarter. Full Story
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![Beto O'Rourke holds his first official 2020 presidential campaign rally on March 30, 2019 in El Paso.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Former Steve Stockman aide gets 18-month sentence in campaign finance scheme
The former congressional staffer, Jason Posey, was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Houston. Full Story
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![Former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Friendswood, arrives at the United States District Courthouse in Houston on Monday, April 9, 2018 for closing arguments in his federal corruption trial.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Beto O'Rourke signed this pledge on oil money. Did he break it?
O'Rourke was criticized for signing the "No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge," only to take big bucks from individuals who work in the industry. Now critics say he talks a good game on climate change but needs to put his money where his mouth is. Full Story
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![Presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke speaks at a rally in El Paso on March 30, 2019, his first in Texas since announcing his bid on March 13.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Ted Cruz fined $35,000 for not properly disclosing campaign loans from Goldman Sachs, Citibank
The resolution comes three years after the complaint against Cruz was first filed and seven years after his U.S. Senate campaign. Full Story
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![Ted Cruz speaks at the annual School Choice Week rally held on the South Steps of the Texas State Capitol on Jan. 23, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has nearly $6 million ready for his Texas re-election campaign
The state's senior senator is taking little for granted as he seeks a fourth term. Full Story
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![Sen. John Cornyn R-TX during TPPF's annual policy orientation in Austin on January 11, 2019]()
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National Democratic group was behind mysterious anti-Cruz super PAC
The super PAC, Texas Forever, was set up in a way so that it did not have to disclose its donor before Election Day. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso (left), and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz at their respective election night rallies on Nov. 6, 2018. O'Rourke was in El Paso. Cruz was in Houston.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre: O'Rourke/Bob Daemmrich: Cruz
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