How West Houston’s Democratic voters decide in the 7th Congressional District runoff on Tuesday will have outsized implications for national Democrats’ optimism and tactics in the fall.
Congress
Read the latest Texas Tribune coverage of Congress, from the state’s lawmakers in Washington to key legislation and political debates shaping Texas and the nation.
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Texas Elections 2018
Will Democrats pick a Sam Johnson to vie to replace U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson?
The Democratic runoff between Lorie Burch and her runoff opponent, Sam Johnson, has turned heads, but not because Democrats have high hopes that they can represent Texas’ 3rd Congressional District.
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Politics
Amid questions of whether ex-Congressman Blake Farenthold was hired inappropriately as lobbyist, he says, “I wasn’t involved”
Asked about a report questioning whether Farenthold’s recent hiring as a lobbyist for the Port of Port Lavaca may have violated the Texas Open Meetings Act, he said, “I don’t know anything about it.”
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Texas Elections 2018
In Central Texas congressional runoffs, candidates with traditional advantages face scrappy underdogs
Two spirited runoffs are underway for the major-party nominations to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio. Joseph Kopser and Mary Wilson are vying for the Democratic nod, while the two Republicans squaring off are Matt McCall and Chip Roy.
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Texas Elections 2018
Democrats have their eye on Pete Sessions’ seat. Who will they pick to challenge him?
Seven Democrats filed to run against U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, a Dallas Republican. The race is now down to Colin Allred and Lillian Salerno – two former Obama administration officials who argue Sessions is vulnerable.
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Politics
Ex-congressman Blake Farenthold takes lobbying job for Port of Port Lavaca
Weeks after resigning from Congress amid sexual harassment allegations, former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold will be the port’s full-time legislative liaison, the Corpus Christi Caller-Times reported Monday.
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Texas Elections 2018
In Texas’ Republican runoffs, you’re either with Trump or you’re not
As early voting begins in Texas’ Republican congressional runoffs, just about every race has devolved into a battle over which candidate supports President Donald Trump more.
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Congress
Mac Thornberry, House Armed Services chairman, questions Trump’s decision to pull out of Iran deal
U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, the highest-ranking House Republican – and Texan – on national defense issues, said President Donald Trump should have given “our European allies a few more months to strengthen the deal.”
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Guides
Republicans dominate the Texas House. So why is a Democrat running for speaker?
Running for speaker in a chamber that’s nearly two-thirds Republican seems like a long shot for Rep. Eric Johnson, D-Dallas. But there might be things he could gain other than the gavel.
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Demographics
A Texas lawsuit killed one Obama immigration policy. Can the same strategy defeat DACA?
Two years ago, Texas won a case blocking an immigration policy just one letter different from DACA. As it challenges the narrower, more popular program, Texas has come armed with the same legal arguments that succeeded last time around.