The latest Congress news from The Texas Tribune.
Are you an election worker facing intimidation? Are you a voter encountering significant hurdles to casting a ballot? Are there any people, groups or organizations exerting undue influence over elections in your community? The Texas Tribune and ProPublica want to hear from you. Full Story
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House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn visited Texas to stump for Cuellar this week ahead of his runoff race. The trip fell two days after Politico published a leaked draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court that favors overturning Roe v. Wade. Full Story
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Cisneros raised about $700,000 between Jan. 1 and Feb. 9. Cuellar, whose office was raided Jan. 19, raised $146,000 — about $100,000 less than what he raised during the same reporting period before the 2020 primary. Full Story
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Reed traveled to Russia in the summer of 2019 with his Russian girlfriend to learn the language. That August, Russian police arrested him for intoxication and took him to a jail to sober up. Full Story
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Michelle Vallejo faces Ruben Ramirez in a runoff for the Democratic nomination in the 15th Congressional District. A nonprofit that supports Vallejo is accused of breaking campaign finance rules. Full Story
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Debate over the waiver was key to the federal government’s push for Texas to expand Medicaid for more working poor. Full Story
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Texans who don’t vote in primaries and primary runoffs are missing a chance to choose who goes to Congress and the Texas Legislature. Thanks to the political maps drawn by lawmakers last year, only a handful of those contests will be competitive in November. Full Story
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A spokesperson for Jackson said the congressman did not know the people texting about him. Full Story
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Several Republicans abstained from requesting earmarks in the budgeting process, citing concerns about ethics and wasteful spending. Full Story
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The seats in question are held by U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar of Laredo and Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen. A third vacant seat recently belonged to Filemon Vela of Brownsville, who stepped down to take a private sector lobbying job. Full Story
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The winner of the special election will replace former U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, who resigned last month to work for Akin Gump. Full Story
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Josh Malone funded a super PAC that spent over $400,000 working to defeat the Plano congressman, who got forced into a primary runoff and then admitted to an affair and ended his campaign. Full Story
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See the full list of candidates in the Democratic and Republican primary runoffs, and find out who’s on your ballot based on where you live. Full Story
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Texas’ U.S. senators have acknowledged the historical nature of Jackson’s nomination but said ahead of their votes that they believe her ideology could be harmful for the court and the country. Full Story
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Two of the 11 members who opposed the measure say language calling for a Center for Democratic Resilience was vague and troubling. Full Story
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The bill faces stiff headwinds in the Senate, where it would require 60 votes to pass. A similar measure the House passed in 2020 failed in the upper chamber. Full Story
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Vela’s resignation is effective at 11:59 p.m. Thursday in a move he said was coming. Gov. Greg Abbott can now call a special election to fill his unfinished term. Full Story
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The family of Botham Jean, who was fatally shot by a Dallas police officer in his apartment, sent state Rep. Jasmine Crockett a cease-and-desist letter. Full Story
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Casar won the Democratic primary for Texas’ 35th Congressional District in a landslide victory last month and is expected to win the general election in November. Full Story
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The Biden administration will drop the policy that critics have called an inhumane rule. Full Story
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