8 big Texas stories from 2021 — and what's in store for 2022
An ongoing pandemic. A restrictive and unusual abortion law. A vulnerable power grid. These are the biggest stories from 2021 that will continue to unfold in 2022. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol in Austin on Oct. 19, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
2021 Texas politics in photos: An insurrection, legislative battles and emerging campaigns
Texas politics in 2021 were marked by a violent insurrection at the nation’s Capitol and state legislative fights over abortion, voting rights and redistricting. Our photojournalists were there every step of the way. Full Story
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![Democratic members of the Texas House and Texas Senate gather for a joint press event to update Texans on their work in Washington, DC to advocate for federal voting rights protections at Washington Plaza Hotel in Washington, DC on Wednesday, July 14, 2021.]()
Credit: Shuran Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Texas GOP U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw causes uproar after warning of "grifters," liars inside his party
Crenshaw, who mentioned the House Freedom Caucus while making the criticism, sought to clarify later that he largely was not referring to the group. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, speaks at a press conference at the Capitol in Washington on Dec. 2, 2021.]()
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Analysis: Texas’ population has changed much faster than its political maps
Texas’ population has grown 40% this century, and 91% of the new Texans are people of color. Federal judges now have to decide whether those monumental changes are reflected in the state’s political maps. Full Story
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![Census data from 2020 and redistricting maps at The Texas Tribune office in Austin on Oct. 7, 2021. The state population grew by nearly 4 million and was driven mainly by people of color.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Department of Justice sues Texas over new political maps
Texas lawmakers illegally discriminated against voters of color by drawing new political districts that give white voters more political power despite rapid growth of Hispanic and Black populations, the department claims in its lawsuit. Full Story
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![The Capitol building on Oct. 6, 2021.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune -
Freshman state Rep. Jasmine Crockett is running for Dallas congressional seat, with Eddie Bernice Johnson’s backing
Crockett is running for the seat vacated by Johnson, who announced Saturday that she would not seek reelection in the 30th Congressional District after serving nearly three decades in Congress. The seat is solidly Democratic. Full Story
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![State Rep. Jasmine Felicia Crockett, D-Dallas, speaks at a Texas House Progressive Caucus press conference at the Capitol on Sept. 20, 2021.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert joins Texas Republicans running against Attorney General Ken Paxton
Gohmert is at least the fourth GOP primary opponent that Paxton will face. At least three Democrats are also running for the job. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, questions Attorney General Merrick Garland about the January 6 attack on the Capitol during a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Oct. 21, 2021 in Washington, D.C.]()
Credit: Nash Greg/Pool/ABACA via Reuters -
U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson announces retirement after almost 3 decades in Congress
Johnson, one of the longest serving members in Congress, had previously indicated that her current term would be her last. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, introduced Royce West during a kick-off rally for his U.S. senate campaign in Dallas on July 22, 2019.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
Texans in U.S. House vote along party lines to pass $1.75 trillion social spending package
After months of contentious negotiations, the U.S. House passed the Build Back Better plan. It would establish universal pre-K and provide funding to combat climate change, among other things. Full Story
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![U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) speaks during her weekly press conference, at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, November 18, 2021. Today President Biden will host the leaders of Mexico and Canada for a North American Leaders Summit, as Congressional Democrats continue to debate the President's Build Back Better Agenda. (Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA)No Use Germany.]()
Credit: Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via Reuters -
Among El Pasoans, Beto O’Rourke’s gubernatorial run excites loyal fans and revives longtime grudges
El Pasoans who have followed O’Rourke’s political career are excited about his run for governor. But his critics still remember his support of a development plan that could have displaced Mexican American residents from one of the city’s oldest barrios. Full Story
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![Beto O'Rourke's early voting rally in San Jacinto Plaza and walking through downtown to vote at the County Court House.Friday, March 2, 2018, in El Paso, Texas. Photo by Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for the Sun -
Biden’s infrastructure plan will set aside about $35 billion for Texas projects
The funds will help advance existing plans, pay for much-needed repairs and launch other projects for roads, bridges, broadband access, electric vehicle charging stations and more. Full Story
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![An aerial view of Houston on April 1, 2020.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert exploring run against Attorney General Ken Paxton in increasingly crowded GOP primary
Land Commissioner George P. Bush, former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman and state Rep. Matt Krause are also vying for the GOP nomination next year. Full Story
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Analysis: Early signs point to another Republican-dominated election cycle in Texas
Republican incumbents enter their reelection campaigns well ahead of their Republican challengers and with most voters unacquainted with the Democratic challengers in the field, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Congress approves $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, sending measure to Biden for enactment
No vote was taken on the $2 trillion tax-and-spending package that progressive Democrats had hoped to tie to the bipartisan infrastructure bill. President Joe Biden said he's confident the Build Back Better plan would be passed in the House by Nov. 15. Full Story
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![House Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivers remarks with U.S. Reps. Steny Hoyer, D-MD, and James Clyburn, D-SC, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 5, 2021.]()
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Texans John Cornyn and Ted Cruz join GOP senators to block voting rights bill that would have protected voters of color
In a final push to secure federal voting rights legislation this year, congressional Democrats failed to secure the necessary votes to avoid a GOP filibuster on the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Full Story
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![A U.S. Capitol Police officer stands guard at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 21, 2021.]()
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Analysis: Texas legislators aren’t ready to take self-interest out of redistricting
In Texas, the Legislature draws political maps — with results that predictably favor the party in power. Do independent commissions do any better? Full Story
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![Salman Bhojani, a former candidate for Texas Senate District 9, shows where he lives on an updated map that now draws him out of District 9 and now into District 2, at his offices in Irving, on Oct. 17, 2021. Bhojani suspended his campaign after state legislature adopted new district maps which draws Bhojani's home out of District 9.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
With a congressional seat suddenly open, Democrats in the Rio Grande Valley race to recruit for a competitive district
U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez announced last week he’ll seek reelection in a new seat, leaving his 15th Congressional District open for the 2022 election. Candidate filing begins Nov. 13. Full Story
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![Pedestrians walk in downtown McAllen on Oct. 31, 2021.]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez will run for a different House seat in 2022 after redistricting made his more competitive
Texas lawmakers made Gonzalez’s current 15th Congressional District more competitive for Republicans. The representative now plans to run in the 34th District, which is safer for Democrats. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, gives a statement regarding family separation after visiting the McAllen Border Patrol Processing Center on June 17, 2018.]()
Credit: Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times via Reuters -
Texas has new political maps. See which districts your home is in.
This year’s elections will take place using newly redrawn political maps for the state’s congressional, House, Senate and Board of Education districts. Search your address to see how the new districts will affect your community. Full Story
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![Illustration showing Texas congressional districts and a search box.]()
Credit: Emily Albracht/The Texas Tribune -
In fast-growing Central Texas, redistricting sparks political reshuffling in upcoming statehouse and congressional races
The fast-growing region likely will see a considerable number of new state and federal lawmakers after the 2022 election. And in many cases, they will be representing districts whose boundaries have significantly shifted. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol in Austin on Oct. 19, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune
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