The upcoming primary face-off between incumbent Gene Green and Adrian Garcia in Houston’s 29th congressional district will test case the influence of identity politics in Texas Democratic races.
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.
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: Greg Abbott’s Constitutional Changes Require a Salesman
Gov. Greg Abbott has to get his proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution through his own statehouse, and then through 33 others, a task that will require persuasive abilities he hasn’t exhibited in his first year as governor.
Posted in
Politics
U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan to Make Texas Fundraising Swing
During an upcoming U.S. House recess this month, House Speaker Paul Ryan will make several stops in some of the richest pockets of the state: Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Midland and San Antonio.
Posted in
Energy
Congress Poised to Lift 40-Year Oil Export Ban
The U.S. Congress is on the verge of lifting a 40-year ban on crude oil exports onto the international market, an issue that pitted Texans who work in oil production — and their House representatives — against those who work in refineries.
Posted in
Demographics
Roundup: Refugees, Visa Waivers, Supreme Court
In this special edition of the Political Roundup: Texas lawmakers introduce and advance legislation in Washington to create new curbs on Syrian refugees entering the country. And the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in two Texas cases.
Posted in
Demographics
Halt All Refugee Resettlement, Two Texas Congressmen Say
As Republicans push to temporarily freeze admissions of Syrian refugees into the U.S., U.S. Reps. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, and Brian Babin, R-Woodville, on Wednesday called for a temporary suspension of all refugee resettlement efforts.
Posted in
Politics
Was Roger Williams’ Auto Dealer Amendment a Conflict of Interest?
Buried within a massive federal transportation bill is a little-noticed provision that is of great interest to automobile dealers. The man who offered the amendment is U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, a second-generation car dealer.
Posted in
Politics
Texas Delegation Raises, Shares Big Money
Recently filed campaign finance reports show whether Texas congressional incumbents are building viable re-election operations, and they also reveal how Texans spread their campaign wealth to colleagues.
Posted in
Demographics
After Paris Attacks, Cruz Vows to Call Out Terrorism
Campaigning in South Carolina on Saturday, Ted Cruz said that as president, he would not be afraid to call “radical Islamic terrorism by its name.” But he stopped well short of calling for the U.S. to engage in a land war targeting ISIS in the Middle East.
Posted in
Politics
Hinojosa Announces Retirement From Congress
Saying he was most proud of his work in making college affordable for a diverse group of students, U.S. Rep. Rubén Hinojosa announced Friday that he would not seek another term in Congress.