U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, says he raked in over $6.7 million for his U.S. Senate bid in the first quarter of 2018. It’s an eye-popping number that poses a new category of threat to Republican incumbent Ted Cruz.
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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State Government
“A friendly vote on the court”: How Greg Abbott’s former employees could help Texas from the federal bench
As a longtime aide to Greg Abbott, Andrew Oldham has helped Texas fight the federal government. If he’s confirmed to the federal bench, he could rule on the same type of cases.
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Congress
In recovering Sutherland Springs, Cornyn touts gun background check bill
Five months after a gunman opened fire in a Sutherland Springs church, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn came to speak to the community about a new law he says might have averted the tragedy.
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Congress
Report: Susan Combs to be named to National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Susan Combs, a former Texas legislator and statewide official, will be named acting assistant secretary of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service, the Austin American-Statesman reported Thursday.
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Congress
Donald Trump nominates Texan Ronny Jackson to lead Department of Veterans Affairs
The announcement comes after weeks of speculation that another Texan — Energy Secretary Rick Perry — might land the post.
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TribCast
Census citizenship question, March for Our Lives, Tillerson for UT chancellor? (podcast)
Republican congressional candidate Chip Roy joins the TribCast crew to discuss his upcoming runoff. Plus, we tackle the 2020 census, the March for Our Lives protests and whether Rex Tillerson could be the University of Texas System’s next chancellor.
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State Government
Former congressman Pete Gallego forms campaign to replace Texas state Sen. Carlos Uresti
Another prominent Democrat has announced plans to run for Senate District 19, a San Antonio-based seat currently held by a longtime state lawmaker recently convicted of 11 felonies.
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Politics
Texas high school students bring together Ted Cruz, Joaquin Castro for “Day of Unity” event
An event organized by Houston-area high schoolers and aimed at promoting bipartisanship drew some of the state’s most well-known partisans, including Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Democrat, and the chairs of both state parties.
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Demographics
How Donald Trump’s border wall fared in the $1.3 trillion spending bill he just signed
“We funded the initial down payment of $1.6 billion,” Trump said of border wall funding Friday. “We’re going to be starting work – literally – on Monday on not only some new wall … but also fixing existing walls.”
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Congress
Trump signs $1.3 trillion spending bill despite veto threat over DACA, border wall funding
President Donald Trump reversed course hours after threatening to veto a must-pass spending bill because it did nothing to address the fate of young undocumented immigrants and did not fully fund his border wall.