The Houston congressman is giving up his safe seat after just two terms, scrambling the contest between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
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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2026 Texas Elections
Republican Carlos De La Cruz announces run for redrawn 35th Congressional District
U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz’s brother is the latest to enter a GOP primary field vying for the San Antonio-area district newly gerrymandered to favor Republicans.
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Health care
Texas could bear the brunt of expiring ACA tax credits. Is the GOP delegation willing to make a deal?
Democrats in Congress want to renew the Obamacare subsidies as part of any deal to reopen the government. Texas Republicans say the policy needs major reforms.
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Congress
The federal government has shut down. Here’s what it means for Texas
Many federal employees are required to continue working without pay, though furloughs — or the usual uptick in workers calling in sick — could disrupt some services.
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Economy
About $675 million earmarked for Texas projects is in limbo as Congress careens toward shutdown
Texas’ congressional delegation obtained tentative funding for infrastructure improvements, university research and other initiatives, but the nearly 350 earmarks are all in jeopardy.
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2026 Texas Elections
Can Texas use its new congressional map for 2026? A trio of judges will decide.
The same plaintiffs who are challenging the state’s 2021 maps have asked the court to block the new GOP-approved districts from being used in the fast-approaching midterms.
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2026 Texas Elections
Cornyn nabs endorsements from 15 former GOP members of Congress in primary vs. Paxton
It’s a further sign of how the Washington establishment has consolidated behind the senior Texas senator, who is being backed by the Senate GOP’s campaign arm in his primary.
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Guides
How new regulations impact abortion and birth control access in Texas
Despite clarifying legislation, abortion remains banned in Texas, except to save the life of the pregnant patient.
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TribCast
TribCast: Texas’ changing congressional delegation
In this week’s episode, Texas Tribune Washington, D.C. correspondent Gabby Birenbaum explains how redistricting and retirements will reshape Texas’ representation on the Hill.
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Politics
Rep. Michael McCaul, foreign policy hawk in an increasingly isolationist GOP, recounts 20 years in Congress
The longtime Austin Republican, who is retiring at the end of his term, said he is concerned about the direction of his party and Congress as a whole.