Republicans flip U.S. House seat in South Texas, historically a Democratic stronghold
Mayra Flores, a Republican, won a special election to fill the unexpired term of U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela. Another election will be held in November. Full Story
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Lawmakers urge DPS to give more Uvalde shooting information in Spanish
Nearly three weeks after the deadliest school shooting in Texas history, the state has been fiercely criticized for not providing Spanish-language information in an overwhelmingly Hispanic community. Full Story
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![From left: U.S. Reps. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. and Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, speak to reporters in Clint on July 1, 2019, after touring two Border patrol stations following reports of migrants kept in inadequate conditions.]()
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U.S. House approves massive $31 billion “Ike Dike” project to protect Texas coast from hurricanes
The U.S. House voted to authorize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin planning for the massive coastal barrier project in Galveston Bay, but funding is not yet secured. The largest civil engineering project in U.S. history would permanently alter the Texas coast. Full Story
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![Floodwaters in Seabrook days after Hurricane Ike made landfall in Texas on Sept. 13, 2008.]()
Credit: Dave Levinthal for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. House’s Jan. 6 committee will begin laying out evidence Thursday, but it’s not yet known if any Texans will testify
The committee previously subpoenaed several Trump allies with Texas ties. The hearing begins at 7 p.m. Central time Thursday, but a witness list has not been released. Full Story
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![Pro-Trump protesters storm the U.S. Capitol to contest the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress on Jan. 6, 2021.]()
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Fourth grade Uvalde survivor testifies that she covered herself in another student’s blood to survive shooter
Miah Cerrillo, 11, was among the small group of Uvalde survivors and community members who testified at a House hearing Wednesday, offering details about the incident and the devastation to those left behind. Full Story
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![Miah Cerillo, an 11-year-old survivor of the May 24 mass shooting at the Robb Elementary school in Uvalde, appeared on video at a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on gun violence on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 8, 2022.]()
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John Cornyn says bipartisan gun legislation won’t include weapons bans or expanding background checks
Cornyn on Monday made clear in a Senate floor speech that there are limits to what he and the Senate GOP conference are willing to support in their efforts to pass bipartisan gun legislation. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. John Cornyn arrives at a blood donation event at the Herby Ham Activity Center on Wednesday, May 25, 2022 in Uvalde, TX. Community members gathered to donate blood after a school shooting took place Tuesday. Twenty one people were killed after a gunman after a high school student opened fire inside Robb Elementary School on Tuesday where two teachers and 19 students were killed. (Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune)]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Jessica Cisneros, Ruben Ramirez demand recounts in two close-call South Texas runoff races
The state Democratic Party confirmed Monday that Ramirez’s opponent, Michelle Vallejo, won by a slim margin. Full Story
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![Democratic candidate for Congress Jessica Cisneros speaks at a "Meet the Candidates" event thrown by the Webb County Democratic Party in Laredo on Feb. 16, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
Republicans flood South Texas special election as national Democrats keep distance
The GOP is spending big to capture an open congressional seat in South Texas — if only for a few months — as they try to create momentum toward a November election where they are newly targeting the region. Full Story
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![Mayra Flores stands outside of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in McAllen on Oct. 16, 2021. Flores used to vote Democratically until 2010 and has been involved in politics since 2016.]()
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Some Texas GOP donors urge Congress to act on gun control measures like “red flag” laws, expanded background checks
More than 250 self-declared gun enthusiasts, including donors who have contributed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaigns, have signed on to an open letter supporting Sen. John Cornyn’s efforts at bipartisan gun reform legislation. Full Story
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![Handguns for sale at a gun store in Central Austin on April 20, 2021.]()
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President Biden calls on Congress to pass assault weapons ban, other restrictions
He offered other measures more likely to pass in Congress, like raising the age to 21 to purchase such weapons. Full Story
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![President Joe Biden leaves noon mass at the Sacred Heart Church in Uvalde on May 29, 2022.]()
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Partisan tensions flare among Texans in congressional gun hearing
House Democrats are combining several gun policy bills into one large package known as the Protecting our Kids Act. Among the measures in the bill: raising the age to purchase semi-automatic weapons to 21; outlawing the sale, manufacture, transfer or possession of a large-capacity magazine; and creating tax breaks for purchasing proper gun storage equipment. Full Story
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![Hundreds of handguns and rifles for sale at McBride’s Gun’s in Central Austin on April 20, 2021.]()
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Analysis: History suggests attention on gun policy will fade well before the November elections
In addressing mass shootings, Texas’ top officials have tailored their responses to the wishes of some of their most outspoken voters. The results haven’t changed because we haven’t changed. Full Story
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![Thousands of roses and handwritten notes, hundreds of candles and dozens of stuffed animals surround a fountain in the center of the City of Uvalde Town Square in Ulvade on May 29, 2022.]()
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Tale of two senators: Cruz doubles down against gun regulation while Cornyn leads GOP in negotiations
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has a history of working across the aisle to advance small gun policy bills after mass shootings. Full Story
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![U.S. Sens Ted Cruz and John Cornyn of Texas at a Texas Senate GOP Caucus press conference on April 17, 2019.]()
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Moderate Democrats win two key South Texas runoffs, while another is too close to call
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar’s too-close-to-call runoff got most of the attention, but three other primary runoffs Tuesday carried big stakes for Democrats as they try to defend South Texas from a new GOP offensive. Full Story
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![Morgan LaMantia, Texas Senate District 27 Democratic Candidate, poses for a photo after a Futuro RGV candidate forum in Brownsville, Texas on Jan. 19, 2022.
Verónica G. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Verónica G. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune -
Jasmine Crockett secures Democratic nomination to succeed U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson
The state representative beat Jane Hope Hamilton in the primary runoff for the congressional seat based in southern Dallas. Full Story
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![Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson talks to District 30 Democratic candidate Jasmine Crockett at Crockett’s election night watch party in Dallas on May 24, 2022.]()
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Henry Cuellar declares victory, but Jessica Cisneros won’t concede in nail-biter runoff for South Texas seat
The race is a rematch from 2020, when Cuellar narrowly defeated Cisneros in the March primary of that year. This time, Cuellar is weakened because of an FBI raid on his home and renewed attention on his anti-abortion stance. Full Story
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![Jessica Cisneros and Henry Cuellar.]()
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Texas’ Fort Hood likely to be renamed for first Hispanic four-star general instead of Confederate general
The Army’s largest active-duty armored post is named after Gen. John Bell Hood. A commission has recommended naming it for Gen. Richard Cavazos, a native Texan. Full Story
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![The Bernie Beck Gate to the Fort Hood U.S. Army post in Killeen.]()
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U.S. Sen. John Cornyn calls Ken Paxton scandals an “embarrassment” when asked about attorney general runoff
Cornyn is the most prominent Texas Republican to criticize the attorney general’s rocky record ahead of the runoff election against George P. Bush. Full Story
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Texas Republicans Chip Roy and Louie Gohmert among few to vote against U.S. House bill to help poor mothers access formula
The bill, which passed in the House, would expand the formula brand choices available to mothers on a federal assistance program in an attempt to mitigate a disruptive baby formula shortage around the country. Full Story
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![From left: U.S. Reps. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, and Chip Roy, R-Austin.]()
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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is the target of a bar association complaint over his role in undermining the 2020 election results
A group of lawyers says Cruz played an outsized role in the efforts to void the 2020 election results and accuses him of repeatedly making false claims about voter fraud. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz leaves after a press conference with organizers of the People’s Convoy near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on March 10, 2022.]()
Credit: Eric Lee for The Texas Tribune
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