The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady left the GOP baseball practice early Wednesday morning, declining an offer to catch some grounders from second base. U.S. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise was in that spot instead, when a gunman appeared and shot him. Full Story
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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is increasingly at the center of efforts in the U.S. Senate to overhaul the Affordable Care Act. Some conservative activists are hoping Cruz can help move the bill to the right. Full Story
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Voters in San Antonio ousted incumbent Mayor Ivy Taylor on Saturday and elected Ron Nirenberg. In El Paso, former Republican state Rep. Dee Margo will take the helm of the state's largest border city. Full Story
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A review of Gov. Greg Abbott's schedule during May provides a glimpse into the final stretch of the legislative session, where the governor tried in vain to bring together lawmakers to avoid a special session. Full Story
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Late last year, after two Texas electors went rogue, top Republicans rallied around bills to "bind" Texas Electoral College members to the result of the statewide popular vote. Those bills never made it to the governor. Full Story
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Texas' softer voter ID law doesn't fix the discrimination in the old measure, the state's legal opponents told a judge Wednesday. Full Story
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Advocates and families of transgender Texans are preparing for a special session of the Texas Legislature that's sure to continue the heated debate over which bathrooms transgender individuals are allowed to use. Full Story
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Some urban officials say the governor's list of priorities for a summer session will harm the state's economy and undercut local Texans' abilities to influence their communities. Full Story
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that he's calling lawmakers back for a special legislative session starting July 18. Here's what he's committed to adding to the call. Full Story
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is hosting a press conference at 2:30 p.m. The topic? He hasn't said yet — but we're betting it's an announcement on a special legislative session. Full Story
President Trump nominated Dallas real estate investor Ray Washburne to oversee an agency that the president had previously suggested he would like to eliminate. Full Story
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Republicans in Congress have four issues on their agenda ahead of the August recess, but investigations into Russian cyberattacks could derail them all. Texans are well-positioned to potentially play key roles on all of those issues. Full Story
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Dickey narrowly defeated Houston-area businessman Rick Figueroa on Saturday, winning the support of 32 members of the State Republican Executive Committee. Figueroa got 31 votes. Full Story
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A bill that cleared the Legislature aims to prevent voter fraud at nursing homes and widen ballot access for elderly Texans. Somehow, politics didn't get in the way. Full Story
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After years of Texas voters having the option to vote for an entire party's slate in one fell swoop, the straight-ticket option will be no longer available beginning in 2020 under a bill Gov. Greg Abbott signed Thursday. Full Story
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It’s hard to imagine a female Legislature devolving into a parking lot rumble like the one that embarrassed Texas nationally this week. The ruckus in the House punctuated what many lawmakers have called a notably ugly session. Full Story
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State Rep. Matt Rinaldi, who drew national attention as part of an incident on the Texas House floor in which he said he reported protesters to ICE, represents one of 10 Republican-held House districts that Hillary Clinton won last year. Full Story
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The state's top leaders couldn't close a session-ending deal over the final weekend, giving advocates of bathroom and property tax legislation — if the governor allows it — another chance. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday promised to make an announcement "later this week" on whether he will call a special session. Full Story
As of Sunday night, lawmakers still had little to show for two assignments Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had given them in the home stretch: property tax reform and a "bathroom bill" that would regulate which restrooms transgender Texans can use. Full Story