The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
State lawmakers will descend on Austin today for the 85th Legislative Session, facing a tight fiscal picture, varying priorities from their leaders and all the politics that naturally accompany the last regular session before statewide elections. Full Story
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Texas elector Bill Greene added one final twist to a wild presidential race when he voted for former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Lake Jackson, on Dec. 19. Full Story
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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick formally announced Monday he's running for re-election, looking to finally quell speculation he's interested in higher office. Full Story
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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Monday he was uncertain whether support exists in the Legislature for so-called "constitutional carry," which would give all Texans the right to openly carry a firearm — with or without a permit. Full Story
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Here’s a look at the demographics of the 85th Legislature by lawmakers’ race, gender, age, education and religion. Full Story
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Top Texas Republicans met Sunday with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen amid new tensions with China over the U.S. relationship with Taiwan, a country the United States hasn't officially recognized since 1979. Full Story
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The 2017 legislative session will open without former state Sen. Rodney Ellis, a 26-year lawmaker who became a criminal justice reform titan in the upper chamber. Full Story
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As a news report came out Saturday that state Rep. Dawnna Dukes no longer plans to leave office, the hopefuls looking to succeed her in House District 46 were left wondering whether there was still a campaign left to be run. Full Story
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While Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has called a so-called bathroom bill a legislative priority, the issue has largely cooled off on the national stage and opposition to similar legislation in Texas had begun to gain momentum. Full Story
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State Rep. Dawnna Dukes announced her retirement in September, but doesn't plan to make it official until Tuesday. That would make her annual pension payout $3,220 bigger. Full Story
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U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson announced Friday morning that he will not seek re-election to represent his Plano-based North Texas seat in Congress. Full Story
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U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke said Thursday he is all but certain to make a run for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's seat in 2018. Full Story
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In the Roundup: Texas sues the FDA over an execution drug, state Rep. Armando Martinez is shot by "celebratory gunfire" and the 85th Legislative Session is about to kick off. Full Story
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Lubbock Republican Jodey Arrington, who was sworn in this week as one of the new members of the U.S. House, is moving his family to Washington. It is an unusual choice, both in the Texas delegation and in the rest of Congress. Full Story
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Following his appointment by President-elect Donald Trump to be the country's next energy secretary, former Gov. Rick Perry has resigned from the board of Dallas pipeline company Energy Transfer Partners. Full Story
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Matthew Dowd, a longtime Texas operative in both Republican and Democratic politics, is considering running against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. Full Story
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Texas Republicans on Thursday unveiled Senate Bill 6, which would require transgender people to use bathrooms in public schools, government buildings and public universities based on “biological sex.” Full Story
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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, dismissed concerns Thursday about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, calling them an effort to undermine Donald Trump's victory. Full Story
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Key U.S. senators appeared more comfortable Wednesday with former Texas Gov. Rick Perry being the next U.S. energy secretary than they were with former Exxon Mobil chief Rex Tillerson being the next U.S. secretary of state. Full Story
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The judges overseeing litigation on Texas redistricting haven't done anything public for two years. The lawyers who sued the state over its political maps are trying to get the judges to chirp or get off the perch. Full Story
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