Texas Democrats know they may lose redistricting protest, but hope to spark a national fight
Democrats concede there’s only so much they can do to keep Texas from redrawing its maps. But they want to encourage blue states to retaliate. Full Story
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![Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin speaks during a press conference surrounded by members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus at Painters District Council 30 in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025.]()
Credit: Jamie Kelter Davis for The Texas Tribune -
Texas redistricting standoff complicates preparations for March 2026 primary
New maps would mean months of work for election officials, and key deadlines are approaching. Full Story
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![Voters line up to cast their ballots at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Austin on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
John Cornyn enters critical window to change trajectory of Texas Senate primary against Ken Paxton
The annual summer break is a critical window for Texas’ senior senator, whose allies are blitzing the airwaves with ads courting primary voters — and President Donald Trump. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Paxton, Burrows ask Illinois court to enforce Texas arrest warrants against Democrats who left the state
The attorney general is calling on the “full faith and credit” clause of the U.S. Constitution, which says states should typically honor each other’s judicial proceedings. Full Story
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![Flanked by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, state Rep. and caucus chair Gene Wu speaks at a press conference at the DuPage County Democratic Party headquarters in Carol Stream, Ill., on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025.]()
Credit: Jamie Kelter Davis for The Texas Tribune -
After being wrongfully deported, a South Texas man and his family navigate realities of shifting immigration policies
Jaime Galvan Sanchez has lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years. He was deported in less than 24 hours without due process and allowed to return. But his family is still suffering from the aftermath. Full Story
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![Jaime Galván, 48, lights a candle that would be followed with his prayer at the Saint Jude Grotto in Pharr, Texas on April 23, 2025. The Galván family is very devoted to Saint Jude and now they pray for a miracle to happen so that Mr. Galván can get legal status so that he is not deported.
Gabriel V. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Gabriel V. Cardenas for The Texas Tribune -
Cornyn says FBI will help locate absent Texas Democrats, but scope of feds’ role unclear
The Republican senator, who is facing a tough primary challenge, previously asked FBI Director Kash Patel for the agency’s help in tracking down the House lawmakers. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the basement of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Thursday, July 31, 2025.]()
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Abbott’s bid to expel the House Democratic leader goes to a court filled with his appointees
The Texas Supreme Court said in 2021 the Constitution allows members to thwart legislation by leaving the state. Abbott wants them to reconsider. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott look on as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas Jimmy Blacklock swears in state senators during the opening of the Texas Senate in Austin on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Increased attention on Texas House Democratic leader Gene Wu comes with more anti-Asian insults
“Is Gene Wu back in China?” state Sen. Mayes Middleton, a Galveston Republican, posted on X on Monday — the first day the House did not reach a quorum due to the absent Democrats. Full Story
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![Democratic Texas Rep. Gene Wu listens to speakers during a press conference with members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus at IBEW Local 701 in Warrenville, Ill., on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025.]()
Credit: Jamie Kelter Davis for The Texas Tribune -
Bruce Bugg, chair of the Texas Transportation Commission, dead at 70
The San Antonio banker previously served as a senior adviser to then-Gov. Rick Perry and chaired the Texas Economic Development Corporation. Full Story
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![Prominent San Antonio banker Bruce Bugg has died, a source close to him said Wednesday.]()
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Texas Senate OKs stricter limits on city, county property tax revenue
The proposal would put tighter limits on how much property tax revenue cities and counties of a certain size can collect each year. Full Story
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![Republican legislators talk amongst themselves during the 89th legislative special session in the Senate Chambers on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 in Austin, Texas.]()
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Texas youth camps tell lawmakers they need better coordination, emergency plans during disasters
Two youth camp owners told lawmakers more layered disaster plans would create critical backstops and improve communication with first responders. Full Story
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![Committee Chair Will Metcalf R-Conroe speak with Stephen Baskin, onwer of Camp Champions and Meg Clark, owner of Camp Waldemar during a committee hearing Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 in Austin, Texas.]()
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Paxton launches investigation into Beto O’Rourke’s political group for funding Democrats who left state
The attorney general is also looking into the George Soros-backed Texas Majority PAC, which is playing a coordinating role to solicit donations from Democratic donors. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Republican Party of Texas Convention in San Antonio on May 23, 2024..]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
House Democrats helped Dustin Burrows win the gavel. Their departure from the state marks a pivotal moment for him.
The situation is an opportunity for the speaker to bolster his credibility with the right, but he has limited tools to combat a prolonged Democratic absence. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dustin Burrows address the press with a host of Republican members behind him during the Texas House session on August 4, 2025 where less than 100 members registered failing to reach a quorum with the departure of dozens of Democrats out of state.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House committee discusses flood bills despite standstill
Only one Democrat taking part in the quorum break was absent from the panel as the group discussed five bills and the chair vowed their work would go on. Full Story
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![Texas Repersentives gather for a committee hearing regarding flood relief in the Capitol Extension on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 in Austin, Texas.]()
Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune -
Federal appeals court sides with Texas on ID requirements for voting by mail
The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals found that the state’s voter ID requirements for mail-in ballots do not violate the Civil Rights Act. Full Story
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![An election worker submits a mail-in ballot at the Harris County ballot drop-off site at NRG Stadium in Houston on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: How long can Texas Democrats hold out?
In this week’s episode, Matthew and Eleanor speak with state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, about her and her colleagues’ decision to flee the state, the potential financial and criminal penalties and her opposition to the state’s proposed new congressional map. Full Story
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![State Rep. Jolanda Jones, D-Houston, looks at a packet of maps during a Congressional Redistricting committee meeting on Thursday, July 24, 2025 in Austin, Texas.]()
Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott asks Texas Supreme Court to expel House Democratic leader who left state
Legal experts say it’s “inconsistent with the Texas Constitution” to argue that leaving the state to halt legislative action qualifies as abandoning an office. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott signs Senate Bill 2308, the Ibogaine Treatment Research law, at the Capitol in Austin on June 11, 2025.]()
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Beto O’Rourke’s political group is a top funder for Texas Democrats’ exodus to block GOP congressional map
The former El Paso congressman also contributed to House Democrats’ 2021 quorum break. A PAC backed by Democratic donor George Soros is also involved in this year’s effort. Full Story
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![A private plane headed to Chicago sits on the tarmac after loading luggage at Signature Aviation in Austin with Texas Democratic legislators headed to Illinios on a quorum break on August 3, 2025.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Wesley Hunt tests waters of a Senate bid, setting up possible heavyweight primary with Cornyn and Paxton
The Houston Republican’s case rests on the notion that Sen. John Cornyn cannot win the primary and his challenger, Attorney General Ken Paxton, could jeopardize the seat in November. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Houston, alongside his house Republican colleagues, speaks about the Republican Party’s upcoming legislative agenda and accomplishments in the first one hundred days of holding the majority in the House of Representatives, on Capitol Hill in Washington on April 17, 2023.]()
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The Texas redistricting fight spurring a legislative standoff: What you need to know
Texas Republicans are trying to redraw congressional districts to pick up five additional U.S. House seats. Democrats face financial and political risk in their bid to block the GOP plan. Full Story
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![Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu speaks during a press conference alongside dozens of fellow Texas lawmakers and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker in Carol Stream, Ill., on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025.]()
Credit: Jamie Kelter Davis for The Texas Tribune