The latest Congress news from The Texas Tribune.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz; Texas GOP Chairman Allen West; U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston; and former presidential candidate Julián Castro have all traveled to the state — or plan to soon — to campaign in the Jan. 5 runoffs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d4493f630a9638a9283f4c09991a2fb0/Georgia%20Senate%20Debate%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
The legislation is named in honor of retiring U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Clarendon, who is the top Republican of the House Armed Services Committee. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d0d467e031024fd855d52e78c0279b15/Capitol%20Hill%20SK%20TT.jpg)
The shake-ups come in response to an independent review of the base’s command climate and are an effort to correct a yearslong culture of sexual assault and a pattern of violence at the base. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a3b09b0609f041e9d093fc4322a0b476/Fort%20Hood%20JV%20TT%2002.jpg)
Outgoing President Donald Trump's administration wants to exclude undocumented immigrants from the count that determines how many congressional seats each state gets. Texas could lose at least one congressional district under the plan, according to a study. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/238769a90fe94ab2d9f1406c4cefbecf/Census%20question%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
The U.S. State Department has sent letters to Americans rescued abroad during the pandemic asking for repayment for the repatriation flights and threatening to withhold tax refunds or social security payments if the debt goes unpaid for months. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/15939de1f73da66e0163804788ec0688/Lima%20Peru%20Lockdown%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
Because Republicans in the state House and Senate held onto their 20-year majority, they are positioned to further entrench their power until the next redistricting rolls around in 2031. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b5a85b04c8beb1b875084ded7986b461/Republican%20Party%20Paraphernalia%20EG%20TT%2007.jpg)
On Tuesday morning, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a Texas-led challenge to the landmark health law. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/28ed5d238f3ea4173d73fc8866ec8c56/ACA%20Obamacare%20Support%20DC%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
Candidates have not yet conceded in at least three contests for state House, saying they want to see more ballots come in. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/45bd92f40641585b8a994db6b9e20c8d/Election%20Day%20NRG%20PYH%20TT%2019.jpg)
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan earlier Wednesday ordered the agency to conduct two sweeps of processing facilities in the state for returned mail-in ballots that were postmarked by Tuesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/abe81dcd33ba15d039edbe5df22a83fc/Election%20Day%202020%20HTX%20AM%20TT%2014.jpg)
Texas’ top Republican congressional leaders are mostly staying silent after President Donald Trump prematurely and falsely declared victory early Wednesday morning as votes continue to be counted in multiple battleground states, including Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9ffe11c414f13ce4a8fba58ba9ea8e33/Trump%20Election%202020%20REUTERS%20TT%2002.jpg)
Several Republican wins in U.S. House races came near the end of an election cycle in which Texas was the centerpiece of a Democratic offensive. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3304468972b2ad2dde42d097cbd130ac/US%20House%20Floor%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
Hegar called Cornyn and conceded within minutes of the race being called, according to both campaigns. Cornyn gave a victory speech shortly after 9 p.m. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/22ee470c7094d06d0bf15483174c7df7/Cornyn%20Bus%20Tour%20AI%20TT%2030.jpg)
Texans were poised to set a record for voter turnout with Tuesday's election. Voters cast ballots in a litany of races, from president and U.S. Senate to seats in the Texas House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/71c21b2e901ceb2bdc20ba208bfb0b40/Election%20Day%20Kingwood%20BV%20TT%2010.jpg)
Many members of both parties say they want to preserve protections for people with preexisting conditions, though Democrats say Republicans are being disingenuous about the issue. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2765f60cac59c8868a89a2954acfefa7/01_Eastland_Memorial_GR_TT.jpg)
Roy, the Republican incumbent, and Davis, the Democratic challenger, share very little in common politically, but they each have a passionate following and an ardent group of opponents. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fdb07d64c1cee0ec33d1a21144eee4eb/Chip%20Davis%20TT.jpg)
A nine-seat change in the Texas House could affect the balance of power in the Texas Capitol, but also in Congress. Texas lawmakers will draw political maps next year that could remain in place until the 2030 census. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c6579f78095bcad9aa4f03fc16b84209/09_HB2_House_Floor_MG.jpg)
Even as Democrats expand their congressional offensive elsewhere in the state, the West Texas district remains a perennial battleground. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/42204a250f0db6233eeb6e8afadb6d53/Tony%20Gonzales%20and%20Gina%20Ortiz%20Jones%20TT)
In a move of confidence that Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Lizzie Pannill Fletcher will be reelected, a national PAC is redirecting ad spending from that district to a nearby open seat currently held by a Republican. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b4ab2785c9228154c6265edb9325dbf6/Fletcher%20Hunt%20Split%20TT.jpg)
Gonzales is running against Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones in the race to replace U.S. Rep. Will Hurd. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5c6ba45aef224d308f4ace71d58fab58/TTE-TGonzales_leadart.png)
Plaintiffs in the case contend that a shortened timeline would result in an undercount of harder-to-count populations, including immigrants, people of color and lower-income groups, depriving them of funding and representation. Full Story