The Associated Press reports that the oil and gas exploration contract was awarded after Perry recommended one of his backers as an energy adviser to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Politics
Stay informed with The Texas Tribune’s in-depth political coverage, including Texas elections, state government, policy debates, and the leaders shaping the future of the state.
Posted in
Texas 2020 Elections
Kay Granger is the most senior Republican woman in the U.S. House. But her reelection could turn into an intra-GOP battle.
Granger, who is seeking a 13th term representing her Fort Worth district, already has at least one well-funded Republican primary challenger in Chris Putnam. Some Republicans are bracing for the March primary to turn into a nationalized battle.
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Criminal Justice
Two Texas Democrats have been campaigning in a statewide race that probably won’t be on the ballot
Amid confusion over the state’s mandatory retirement law, a state official confirmed to the Democratic Party months ago that the race for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 6 would appear on the 2020 ballot. It probably won’t.
Posted in
T-Squared
T-Squared: New faces, new roles on the Trib’s editorial team
We’re thrilled to welcome some new faces to our newsroom — and to announce big new roles for two editors already on our team.
Posted in
Higher Education
Top Texas GOP donor resigns from company after admitting to prohibited contributions
James Dannenbaum, president and CEO of the high-powered Dannenbaum Engineering, was charged with a scheme to get employees to donate to three congressional candidates in 2017.
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Politics
Sylvester Turner to face Tony Buzbee in runoff for Houston mayor
Vote counting continued through the night. When results were released early Wednesday morning, the incumbent was short of the total he needed to avoid a runoff.
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2019 Texas Constitutional Amendment Election
Half of registered Texas voters turned out in 2018. Just 12% turned out this year.
Turnout in odd-numbered years has always been historically low. While this year’s turnout is higher than in 2017, it’s still overwhelmingly low.
Posted in
2019 Texas Constitutional Amendment Election
Texas 2019 constitutional amendment election results
Texas voters approved nine amendments to the state constitution, including a proposal making it harder to enact a personal income tax. One amendment was rejected.
Posted in
2019 Texas Constitutional Amendment Election
Texas voters approve state income tax ban, most other constitutional amendments
While voters supported most changes to the Texas Constitution, they opposed a measure that would allow elected municipal judges to work in more than one jurisdiction.
Posted in
Politics
Both sides brace for a more action-packed runoff in special election for Zerwas seat
The Tuesday special election for the suburban Houston seat is expected to advance to a runoff between the sole Democratic candidate and one of three viable Republican candidates out of six overall.