The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
GOP campaign ads paint cities as lawless places and Democrats as enablers of crime. But people pushing for criminal justice reform say those portrayals sidestep the systemic racism that prompted this year’s protests against police brutality. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/da1eed7d77a1f754fbf22ebc245d26e5/ATX%20George%20Floyd%20Protest%20June%2006%20MG%20TT%2013.jpg)
Most of the new voters registered in the state's fast-growing urban counties or suburbs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5065bfe6921c1f64619fee06bee7e290/Early%20Voting%20Day%201%20Austin%20JV%20TT%2036.jpg)
Harris spoke in Fort Worth during the first stop of a daylong tour of Texas. Her message: The Democratic presidential ticket isn’t ceding Texas to the GOP this year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/998ea95feaba49efecdfff3d94105fc9/Kamala%20Harris%20at%20Edingburg%20TT%20REUTERS.jpg)
With attention on Texas races up and down the ballot, a virtually unknown Republican candidate and big-time donations to the Democratic nominee, Democrats think they have a shot of winning a seat on the Railroad Commission. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/334b9062fd35e1c748de50ce5fb4d428/Railroad%20Commissioner%20Seal%20TT.jpg)
It's been an election season like no other. Brace yourself for a results process that lasts longer than in recent elections. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ed6a34438d56976e0098e0221c33e493/Early%20Voting%20Day%201%20EP%20IPA%20TT%2023.jpg)
A nine-seat change in the Texas House could affect the balance of power in the Texas Capitol, but also in Congress. Texas lawmakers will draw political maps next year that could remain in place until the 2030 census. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c6579f78095bcad9aa4f03fc16b84209/09_HB2_House_Floor_MG.jpg)
Prosecutors had argued they couldn't get a fair trial in Collin County, where Paxton is deeply connected politically. The decision is likely to herald more delays in the five-year-old case. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6fd635de5e84d2018b870e123af8dce3/AG%20Ken%20Paxton%20BD%20TT%2003.jpg)
If you're concerned that you haven't received your mail-in ballot, there are ways to be counted by showing up in person. Officials say ballots are still being sent out with less than a week before Election Day. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9d7cb7a9962f251f82822770ed73f331/HTX%20Mail-in%20Ballot%20NRG%20PYH%20TT%2001.jpg)
The last of the seven whistleblowers, Ryan Bangert, said he resigned Wednesday. Two others had already resigned, two more were fired last week, and two were put on leave earlier this month. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6bc3f417bb061f62dc9e894d03bf53a0/Ken_Paxton.jpg)
Experts and officials say people are exhausted with coronavirus restrictions and have begged them to don face coverings, socially distance and take “personal responsibility” for keeping themselves and their neighbors safe. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f45f897bd894b214e089ffe6fedd3bce/Lubbock%20Bars%20Reopen%20JR%20TT%2077.jpg)
The move comes as some polls show the Biden-Harris ticket within striking distance — and, in some surveys, ahead — in the traditionally Republican state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ef137ae220281f4043d57b10acdcc430/Bloomberg%20ATX%20Rally%20SM%20TT%2003.jpg)
The next speaker of the Texas House will come from the majority party, whether that’s the Republicans or the Democrats after the election. But there’s an outside chance the parties will have the same number of members. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/16797b8a41477023fd0a24653e9e774d/Empty%20chamber%20facing%20dais%20MKC%20TT.jpg)
Democrats argue the high court's pandemic-related decisions show GOP incumbents should be unseated in November. Republicans say the virus is another argument for sticking with the status quo. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/00c8f6f1b4e7863f9b0389d6e06cdee3/Texas%20Justice%20Tour%20MKC%20TT%2001.jpg)
The Harris County judge’s order reverses a decision that the state’s top lawyer should not face a jury in the North Texas region where he and his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, are deeply connected in political circles. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1fdbd2e7eb9fa238ec4dfdc838c7c042/02%20Ken%20Paxton%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
Experts are predicting that as many as 12 million people could vote in Texas this year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/583b2b5f2d5ca8e9e8ac6b102f30d94b/Early%20Voting%20Day%201%20EP%20IPA%20TT%2003.jpg)
Two were fired and two placed on leave — moves employment attorneys say will likely spark a whistleblower lawsuit. A spokesperson for Paxton said the personnel changes were not related to the whistleblower allegations. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d3722d8d48076c5dfd9bc5640b1b1bc5/AG%20Ken%20Paxton%20SCOTUS%20REUTERS.jpg)
MJ Hegar's challenge of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has attracted millions of dollars in financial support, most of it late in the race. She's now in better financial shape than the incumbent, but time is running short. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/83f1a8a01334ca3e63ae441168105cdb/Hegar%20Cornyn%20Debate%20BD%20TT%2013.jpg)
Blake Brickman and Lacey Mase, two whistleblowers who accused their boss of crimes including bribery and abuse of office, were both fired Tuesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d6dbbeb8031e279f4ec603a67cc16bc3/Blake%20Brickman%20TT.jpg)
Polling locations are one of Abbott’s 11 exemptions to his statewide mask mandate that went into effect July 3. Abbott said at the time that the exemption is meant to prevent people from being turned away at the polls just because they don’t have a mask, though he has also recommended that people wear them. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ece989a57d6c6b12d9518e3a10a7e87d/Harris%20County%20Early%20Voting%20AM%20TT%2001.jpg)
Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial or ethnic voting group in the country, according to the Pew Research Center. And in Texas, there are sizable Asian American communities in key districts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ccc33fdf3520e5707b84fad364b0d0b2/Kulkarni%20TX22%20PYH%20TT.jpg)