Gov. Greg Abbott sets Nov. 4 special election to fill U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner’s seat
The decision to wait until November means a narrowly divided Congress will be down a Democratic representative for most of 2025. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott addresses the Federalist Society during an event at The University of Texas Law School in Austin on April 3, 2025.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune -
Cruz says a trade war would cost jobs, spur prices and be terrible for Texas
The Texas senator also highlights a potential “upside,” saying the Trump tariffs could entice other countries to negotiate lower trade barriers. Full Story
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![Chairman U.S. Sen Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks at a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing with CEO of Boeing Kelly Ortberg in the Dirksen Senate office building in Washington, D.C., on April 2, 2025.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott showing no rush to replace late U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner
Republicans hold a tiny majority in the House, creating an incentive for Abbott to hold off on calling an election for Turner’s seat, which would likely be filled by a Democrat. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at "Parent Empowerment Night" at San Antonio Christian School, in San Antonio on February, 17, 2025.]()
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Ratcliffe, the CIA director, defends group chat that inadvertently included a journalist
The former Texas congressman says his communication in the chat was lawful and did not include classified information. Full Story
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![CIA Director John Ratcliffe testifies during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on global threats to the United States and U.S. interests in Washington on March 25, 2025.]()
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Federal investigators were preparing two Texas housing discrimination cases — until Trump took over
The government spent years probing allegations that a Dallas HOA created rules to kick poor Black people out and that Texas discriminated against minority residents in Houston after Hurricane Harvey, only to suddenly reverse course under Trump. Full Story
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![Housing advocates say a FEMA decision to end hotel stays for Texas renters displaced for Harvey doesn't account for difficulties in finding affordable units in the neighborhoods they left.]()
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Amanda Edwards to run to succeed the late-U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner
Edwards unsuccessfully ran for the seat twice last year. She faced off against U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in the 2024 Democratic primary. Jackson Lee won the primary but died before the general election, opening the party’s nomination anew Full Story
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![Houston City Councilwoman and U.S. Senate candidate Amanda Edwards outside of 919 Congress Avenue in Austin on Feb. 7, 2020.]()
Credit: Angela Piazza for The Texas Tribune -
National Republicans target South Texas Democrats for 2026 election
Reps. Cuellar and Gonzalez are moderate Democrats who represent border districts that increasingly vote Republican. Full Story
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![U.S. Reps. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen and Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo.]()
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Sylvester Turner eulogized as a man of faith, family and public service to Houston
The former Houston mayor’s funeral drew more than 1,000 mourners on Saturday, including 20 of his congressional colleagues from both political parties. Full Story
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![Mrs. Ashley Paige Turner Captain, Sylvester Turner’s daughter arrives at her father, the late Congressman Sylvester Turner’s funeral service at The Church without Walls in West Houston, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Houston. (Lexi Parra / Houston Landing)]()
Credit: Lexi Parra/Houston Landing -
U.S. Rep. Keith Self cuts short committee hearing after colleague objects to him misgendering trans member
On social media, Self later wrote “it is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female.” Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Keith Self, R-McKinney, leaves a meeting of the House Republican Conference in the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 5, 2025.]()
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Two Texans in Congress defend CHIPS Act in the face of Trump’s criticism
Although the president has said he wants to “get rid of” the act, Rep. Michael McCaul and Sen. John Cornyn say it supports jobs and national security. Full Story
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![From left: U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Gov. Greg Abbott look on as then-Samsung co-CEO and Vice Chairman Ki Nam Kim speaks at an economic announcement at the Texas Governor's Mansion on Nov. 23, 2021, in Austin. Greg Abbott was joined by John Cornyn and Samsung's Ki Nam Kim to announce a new $17 billion chip plant in Taylor, the third such plant in the area.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
House votes to censure Rep. Al Green for disrupting Trump speech
Green, a Democrat from Houston, was protesting any planned cuts in Medicaid. He said it was worth a punishment to stand up for those who depend on government benefits. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, is removed from the House chamber for disrupting Pres. Donald Trump as he addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.]()
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Congressman and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner dies
Turner’s death comes two months into his first term representing Texas’ 18th Congressional District, the seat long occupied by former U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who also died in office last year amid a battle with pancreatic cancer. Full Story
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![Houston mayor Sylvester Turner describes his bout with cancer in an interview at City Hall in Houston, TX, on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Rep. Greg Casar and Elon Musk in D.C. brawl
From Austin city council to the halls of Congress, this lawmaker has been increasingly critical of Musk, saying the billionaire receives special treatment and has conflicts of interest. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, chair of the of Congressional Progressive Caucus, speaks at a news conference in the Capitol Visitor Center to oppose Elon Musk gaining access to the Treasury Department's federal payment system, on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025.]()
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U.S. Rep. August Pfluger benefits from fund drive promoting third Trump term
A Trump official says the president did not approve the fundraising message connected to the Republican Study Committee. Full Story
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![Representative August Pfluger, R-San Angelo, arrives for a meeting with Texas Republicans at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023.]()
Credit: Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect -
FEC clears Ted Cruz of wrongdoing over podcast syndicator’s donations to super PAC
The agency dismissed a campaign finance watchdog complaint after finding no evidence Cruz “solicited, directed, received, transferred, or spent the funds.” Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks during a bus tour campaign stop at Tia Juanita's Fish Camp in Longview on Saturday Oct. 5, 2024.]()
Credit: Michael Cavazos for The Texas Tribune -
Texas could sell 100 miles of border to feds, Abbott says
Abbott is in Washington this week to lobby Congress for $11 billion to compensate Texas for money spent on his Operation Lone Star, to secure the border during the Biden Administration. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott answers questions regarding Operation Lone Star, congressional leadership and his plans for Texas to work with the Trump administration among other things on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, at The Royal Sonesta Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.]()
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Former TPPF leader Brooke Rollins confirmed by Senate for agriculture secretary
The Senate voted 72-28 to confirm her nomination. She easily sailed through the Senate Agriculture Committee earlier this month on a unanimous vote. Full Story
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![AFPI President & CEO and Former Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council Brooke Rollins, speaks during the America First Agenda Summit organized by America First Policy Institute AFPI, on July 25, 2022 in Washington, D.C.]()
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Rep. Roger Williams introduces bill to reimburse Texas for Operation Lone Star
The new bill reinforces Gov. Greg Abbott’s push for the federal government to repay the $11 billion Texas has paid for the border security operation. Full Story
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![Shelby Park, occupied by the Texas National Guard and other state agencies, is seen along the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Eagle Pass.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune -
As Texas gets redder, John Cornyn could face toughest primary season of his career
Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has hinted at a possible run, has more support than the four-term senator among Republicans, polling shows. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. John Cornyn speaks with members of the press during a visit to the Republican Party of Texas convention on May 24, 2024 in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Former Texas lawmaker Scott Turner confirmed to lead HUD
Turner served in the Texas House from 2013-2017. Full Story
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![Trump Nominee for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Eric Scott Turner testifies at a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hearing in the Dirksen Senate office building in Washington, DC on Thursday, January 16, 2025. (Photo by Annabelle Gordon/Sipa USA)]()
Credit: Annabelle Gordon/Sipa USA via Re