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Alexa Ura reported for The Texas Tribune from 2013 to 2023. She covered the complex dynamics of race, ethnicity, wealth, poverty and power and how they are shaping the future of Texas and Texans, in the long and short term. Alexa started at the Tribune as a reporting intern before graduating from the University of Texas at Austin and joining the staff full time. Originally from Laredo on the Texas-Mexico border, she is a native Spanish speaker and is based in Austin.
On this week's TribCast, Alexa talks with Evan, Matthew and Alex about the results and implications of the primary runoff elections and how voting went in the first statewide election during the coronavirus pandemic. Full Story
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Most in-person voting Tuesday ran smoothly, but thousands of voters who sought to vote by mail may not be heard. And returns from the secretary of state's office were balky. Full Story
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Linda Harrison and her husband couldn't go to the polls because they were diagnosed with COVID-19. A state judge rebuffed their request for help obtaining absentee ballots, so Harrison scrambled and managed to get her vote in with four minutes to spare. Full Story
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Disabled and older voters have encountered the most problems navigating mail-in balloting as they try to avoid going to polling places. In-person voting has been generally smooth so far in the low-turnout runoffs. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to not require voters to wear masks is driving away some poll workers, officials say. Full Story
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On this week's TribCast, Alexa talks to Matthew, Cassi and Aliyya about the governor's mask order, the politics of canceling political conventions and challenges ahead for reopening schools. Full Story
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Delayed primary runoffs mark the state's first test of voting during the pandemic and a high-stakes dry run for November. “We're saying our prayers,” one elections administrator says. Full Story
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The high court declined to immediately reinstate a federal judge's order that would have allowed all Texans to request absentee ballots if they fear catching COVID-19 at crowded polling places. Full Story
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We want you to help us report on the challenges Texans face when trying to vote and how the pandemic is affecting elections. Share your experiences with us. Full Story
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New U.S. census estimates show the gap between Hispanic and white populations in the state continues to narrow, and Hispanics are projected to become the largest population group a year earlier than previously expected. Full Story
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