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.
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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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.
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Politics
Blake Farenthold tells Gov. Abbott he won’t pay for special election to replace him
Farenthold resigned in April, months after it came to light that he settled a sexual harassment claim from a former staff member with $84,000 in taxpayer money.
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TribCast
Debate drama, Austin scooters, the Texas speaker’s race (podcast)
On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Evan, Ross and Emma about who’s debating whom in the Senate and gubernatorial matchups, what’s next for Austin’s scooters and the latest names to emerge in the Texas House speaker’s race.
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Health care
Immigration shelters nationwide ordered to show minors disputed Texas booklet that links abortion to cancer
Four congressional Democrats objected to the pamphlet this week, saying it includes “blatant lies about the safety of abortion.”
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Texas Elections 2018
Nine candidates file for June 30 special election to fill Farenthold’s seat
Nine candidates have filed for the June 30 special election to finish former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold’s term, according to the secretary of state’s office. The deadline was 5 p.m. Friday.
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Texas Elections 2018
Texas is holding a special election to fill Blake Farenthold’s seat. Here’s how that works.
A special election doesn’t play out like normal elections. For starters, there are no primaries. Every candidate who files for the seat – regardless of party affiliation – will appear on one ballot.
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Guides
Is the top vote-getter in a Texas primary election most likely to win their runoff? Usually, but not always.
If history is any guide, candidates that earned first place in their primary race are likely to win their runoff — especially if they finished with a lead of more than 10 percentage points. But there are instances when second-place primary finishers come out on top.
