Eva Guzman airs early ads in bid to stand out in crowded primary for attorney general
The former state Supreme Court justice is one of three Texas Republicans vying to unseat incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton. Full Story
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![Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 20, 2014.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ new political maps create safer districts for incumbents — and put an end to some challengers’ runs
The redistricting process in the GOP-dominated Legislature made many political districts less competitive, which some experts believe might hurt civic engagement. Full Story
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![Salman Bhojani, a former candidate for Texas Senate District 9, at his offices in Irving, on Oct. 17, 2021. Bhojani suspende…]()
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Analysis: A quick turn on property taxes with the long game in mind
High Texas property taxes were an issue in the state's 2018 elections, and you can see from their work on a new homestead exemption earlier this week that state lawmakers didn't forget that lesson from voters. Full Story
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![Private and public housing across North Austin on Oct. 9, 2020.]()
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Texas has new political maps. See which districts your home is in.
Texas lawmakers have redrawn political maps for the state’s congressional, House, Senate and Board of Education districts. Search your address to see how the new districts will affect your community. Full Story
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Appeals court allows whistleblower lawsuit from former employees who accused Ken Paxton of bribery to proceed
The state 3rd Court of Appeals rejected the attorney general’s argument that the Texas Whistleblower Act doesn’t apply to him. Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 27, 2021.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott’s pick for top Texas election post worked with Trump to fight 2020 results
As secretary of state, Fort Worth attorney John Scott would oversee election administration in Texas. Full Story
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![A Texas Historical Commission plaque on the Capitol grounds on Jan. 15, 2020.]()
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In fast-growing Central Texas, redistricting sparks political reshuffling in upcoming statehouse and congressional races
The fast-growing region likely will see a considerable number of new state and federal lawmakers after the 2022 election. And in many cases, they will be representing districts whose boundaries have significantly shifted. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol in Austin on Oct. 19, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Is the Texas Legislature finished for 2021?
On this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Alexa, James and Patrick about the end of the Texas Legislature’s third special session and whether there will be a fourth. Full Story
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![Hose Speaker Dade Phelan talks with several House members after gaveling in on a late night session at the Capitol on Oct. 1…]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
Texas state Sen. Kel Seliger, a Republican willing to buck his party leadership, will not seek reelection
Seliger has served in the Senate since 2005 and led the higher education committee. He was seen as a champion of public education and local control but was derided as too soft on social conservative issues near the end of his tenure. Full Story
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![State Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, speaks to his colleague on the Senate Floor on April 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says Gov. Greg Abbott should call lawmakers back for a fourth special session
In a tweet, Patrick said he supported Abbott calling lawmakers back to Austin to increase the penalty for illegal voting and approve a “forensic audit bill.” Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks from the podium in the Senate on the first day of the special session on July 8, 2021.]()
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Republicans say Texas’ new political maps are “race blind.” To some voters of color, that translates as political invisibility.
With partisan fervor, Republicans drew new maps for Congress and the Legislature that dilute the power of voters of color. Now the lawsuits begin, as groups that feel marginalized battle for representation in the halls of power. Full Story
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![House members converge to discuss a point of order during a late-night session at the Capitol on Oct. 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas legislators set the table for the 2022 elections
The controversial issues you’ve heard Texas lawmakers debate for most of the year aren’t going away; many of them will be argued all over again during the 2022 elections. Full Story
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![State Representatives on the House floor debate over amendments to HB 1 on Oct. 12, 2021.]()
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Five takeaways from Texas’ third special legislative session
Gov. Greg Abbott’s office says there’s no plan for a fourth special session at this time. If this was the final special session of the year, what did we learn from it? Full Story
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![The north side of the Capitol building on Oct. 6, 2021.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott didn’t get everything he wanted in the special session. Will he call lawmakers back for more?
The latest special session ended without lawmakers passing two of Abbott’s priorities — legislation to increase an illegal-voting penalty and to ban vaccine mandates by any entity in Texas. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to the Senate at the Capitol on Jan. 12, 2021.]()
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After Texas and other states passed new voting restrictions, federal bills could expand ballot access. Here’s what you need to know.
The U.S. Senate is expected to vote this week on the Freedom to Vote Act, which would supersede some of Texas’ new elections law. Full Story
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![A polling location in the Performing Arts Center at Texas State University in San Marcos during early voting on Oct. 19, 202…]()
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Houston state Rep. Dan Huberty, who spearheaded Texas’ 2019 public education overhaul in Legislature, to retire
Earlier this year, Huberty was arrested in Montgomery County after he crashed his car into another vehicle and failed a sobriety test. The lawmaker was driving home from the Capitol in late April. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, speaks from the dais at the Capitol on May 4, 2021.]()
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Texas legislators pass most — but not all — of Gov. Greg Abbott’s priority measures in final flurry of lawmaking
Lawmakers approved new political maps and decided how to spend COVID-19 relief money. But they didn’t pass bills about vaccine mandates or the criminal penalty for illegal voting. Full Story
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![Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan listens to a colleague while presiding over the chamber on Oct. 18, 2021, shortly before the…]()
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Texas Republicans send Gov. Greg Abbott a new congressional map that protects GOP power, reduces influence of voters of color
After a few last-minute alterations, the state's new congressional districts are drawn and await the scrutiny of federal courts. Already, one lawsuit has been filed claiming the new maps intentionally discriminate against Latino voters. Full Story
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![A map of Tarrant County shows Hispanics' voting age population on the House floor on Oct. 12, 2021.]()
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Texas voters will decide whether to lower their property tax payments after Legislature completes last-minute Hail Mary
If voters approve the measure next year, it will raise the state’s homestead exemption from $25,000 to $40,000 for school district property taxes, netting the average homeowner about $176 in savings. Full Story
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![An Aerial image of a suburban neighborhood in San Marcos on October 18, 2021.]()
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First lawsuit filed challenging new Texas political maps as intentionally discriminatory
Before they’re even signed into law, the state’s new maps for congressional and statehouse districts have been challenged in federal court by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Full Story
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![Texas House of Representatives.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune