The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
The October poll found that the percentage of Democrats who said voting rules should be less strict increased significantly, with 64% of voters taking that position compared to the 51% in August. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/97c249c373edb56ffe5afadcf345d84a/UT-TT%20Voting%20TT.jpg)
The poll also found that potential candidate Matthew McConaughey is not universally beloved by Texans. About a quarter of respondents had an unfavorable opinion of the movie star who has flirted with running for governor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/85f5820097a265146d53f575f94ba5f5/UT-TT%202022%20Elections%20TT.jpg)
The elderly, voters with disabilities and voters with limited English proficiency risk disenfranchisement under sweeping legislation Texas Republicans pushed through earlier this year, the justice department argues in its legal challenge to Senate Bill 1. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/777c8461b72deee488eb9129b0a7b034/Mail-in%20Ballot%20Travis%20County%20CP%20TT.jpg)
The Brownsville Democrat, who made the announcement Thursday, has served in the upper chamber since 1991. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d24d450fb253282d3d266e78f181cba3/Eddie%20Lucio%20Jr%20JF%20TT%2003.jpg)
The migrants were arrested for trespassing, but court documents failed to specify what property they allegedly trespassed upon. It’s the latest misstep in implementation of Greg Abbott’s border initiative, which has seen frequent violations of state law and disregard for due process rights. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e695240aa3602d55c35a6612fa94bd0a/Kinney%20County%20Migrants%20DPS%20MG%20TT%2004.jpg)
Republican John Lujan attributed his victory in the House District 118 race to a “perfect environment.” It came the same night Republicans captured the Virginia governorship in a contest widely seen as a referendum on Joe Biden’s presidency. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2fa6c0a8c1bff6bda0bc7dfd72b71c3a/Lujan%20Election%20Night%20MGO%20TT%2004.jpg)
These rankings across the ideological spectrum are based on roll-call votes in the Texas House and Senate during this year’s regular and special sessions. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e331cc0d93c8a29930aa5580145961c8/House%20Floor%20823%20EG%20TT%2053.jpg)
The Mexican American Legislative Caucus is arguing that the new state House map violates the Texas Constitution. The lawsuit follows two legal challenges to the state’s new maps previously filed in federal court. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/698d6ab9656b623e4cbc5cccc6edf206/House%20Floor%20Oct%2012%20MGO%20TT%2007.jpg)
In Texas, the Legislature draws political maps — with results that predictably favor the party in power. Do independent commissions do any better? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7eea0fb1e5b023423ecab7981895ffc2/Salman%20Bhojani%20BT%20TT%2011.jpg)
Twelve years ago today, we flipped the switch on The Texas Tribune. We’re thrilled and gratified to see what we’ve been able to accomplish — with your help. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d8ba01b9a44c3b66dd827d60fcb815be/Election%20Night%2005%20JJ%20TT.jpg)
Supporters of Proposition A argued that boosting the ranks of the police force was necessary to combat the city’s growing homicide rate, a trend seen in cities nationwide. Opponents and city leaders warned it would lead to fewer firefighters, medics and librarians. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b2c3dae2dc49b1f0d7e66770e6cfd486/APD%20File%20March%2022%20EL%20TT%2003.jpg)
Unofficial results show that Texas voters approved eight amendments to the state Constitution. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1362a1cb6a0f568ac67c179113b7c930/Runoff%20Early%20Voting%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg)
A gun rights group filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in opposition to Texas’ abortion law, fearful that similar statutes could be crafted in other states to target gun ownership. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3b473a9484ffdb6c72bfebe9a50e4160/SCOTUS%20Nov%201%20EL%20TT%2029.jpg)
Appointment wait times at out-of-state clinics since the law’s implementation were longer than those in July 2020, according to the study. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/267898f05833ae29f41ec18b6fe24b5c/Abortion%20Womens%20Health%20Clinic%20EG%20TT%2005.jpg)
Republicans saw flipping the seat as a way to make headway into South Texas, where Democrat Joe Biden underperformed last year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1eb6fc2cbded7fd5e6304cfb437a1837/Lujan%20Election%20Night%20MGO%20TT%2003.jpg)
The redevelopment of the Alamo, which Bush oversees as land commissioner, has prompted pushback across the political spectrum. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cc42b6150e0e9c1eec28dc3ee66edb9e/The%20Alamo%20EG%20TT%2007.jpg)
Texas voters will decide on eight proposed changes to the state’s Constitution. Voters in the San Antonio area will pick a new Texas House member. And Austin voters will decide whether to require more police officers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a4c2f35e32f8cdcebdff6c5d606b17d6/San%20Antonio%20Election%202020%20CD%20TT%2012.jpg)
Ordaz Perez announced she will challenge Fierro after new political maps forced her to run against another incumbent if she wanted to seek a new term. Democrats have criticized the GOP-drawn House map for diluting the El Paso area's representation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/435fb1bf07bbfe13b19019a3edc50e75/House%20Floor%20Voting%20Ordaz%20Perez%20MG%20TT%2021.jpg)
Anti-abortion groups and reproductive rights activists faced off outside the U.S. Supreme Court as it heard Texas' abortion case. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7190be5cd7528769e03867e0760a00fa/SCOTUS%20Nov%201%20EL%20TT%2038.jpg)
Abbott’s letter comes on the heels of an inquiry launched by state Rep. Matt Krause, a Fort Worth Republican running for Texas attorney general. Krause sent a letter to certain school districts with an 850-book list that included novels about racism and sexuality. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5bbd05ceba36ccdc0d1c7b93d51dfdab/Abbott%20Dallas%20Presser%20CM%20TT%2010.jpg)