Past Contributions

• Early voting can start Oct. 13 as scheduled, Texas Supreme Court rules

  By Emma Platoff and Jolie McCullough Oct. 7, 2020

  The Texas Supreme Court ruled against several GOP officials who pushed to keep early voting to a two-week period during the pandemic. Full Story 

• As Ken Paxton faces criminal allegations, an agency at war with itself must carry on the state’s business

  By Emma Platoff Oct. 5, 2020

  Top officials in the Texas attorney general’s office accused their boss of bribery and abuse of power. He called them “rogue employees.” But the work has to go on. Full Story 

• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says he won't resign after accusations of criminal activity by top aides

  By Emma Platoff and Abby Livingston Updated: Oct. 5, 2020

  Paxton issued a statement refusing to step down after U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, a former top aide, publicly called for his resignation. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott says accusations against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton "raise serious concerns"

  By Emma Platoff Updated: Oct. 4, 2020

  Seven senior officials said in a letter obtained by the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE that they have reason to believe Paxton should be investigated for "abuse of office, bribery and other potential criminal offenses." Full Story 

• Voters, voting rights groups sue Gov. Greg Abbott over order to close ballot drop-off locations

  By Emma Platoff Updated: Oct. 3, 2020

  In two separate federal lawsuits filed on behalf of older voters, groups including the Texas and National Leagues of United Latin American Citizens, the League of Women Voters of Texas and the Texas Alliance for Retired Americans asked that the federal courts overturn the governor’s order, which forced Travis and Harris counties — two of the state’s most important Democratic strongholds — to shutter a number of drop-off sites they had already opened this week. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott limits counties to one absentee ballot drop-off location, bolstering GOP efforts to restrict voting

  By Emma Platoff Oct. 1, 2020

  The Republican governor's order Thursday was a rebuke to large, Democratic counties that have set up numerous locations where voters may drop off their completed absentee ballots in person. Civil rights groups say it will suppress voting. Full Story 

• No straight-ticket voting for Texas' 2020 election, federal appeals court says

  By Emma Platoff Sept. 30, 2020

  A three-judge panel on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a 2017 state law ending the popular one-punch option — and admonished a lower court judge for trying to bring the practice back so soon before early voting starts Oct. 13. Full Story 

• Federal appeals court temporarily blocks ruling that reinstated straight-ticket voting in Texas

  By Emma Platoff Sept. 28, 2020

  A federal judge's ruling temporarily reinstating the practice of one-punch voting has been put on a temporary hold as judges on the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals weigh the issue. Full Story 

• Houston Republicans sue to limit in-person and absentee voting options in Harris County

  By Emma Platoff Sept. 28, 2020

  Conservative activist Steve Hotze and a number of Republican candidates and officials are asking the Texas Supreme Court to shorten the early voting period and limit drop-off locations for absentee ballots in the state’s largest Democratic county. Full Story 

• After Ginsburg’s death, high stakes for Texas’ legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act

  By Emma Platoff and Edgar Walters Sept. 25, 2020

  Experts say the Supreme Court is unlikely to strike down the law in its entirety. Texas’ GOP leaders have yet to produce a promised plan to replace it. Full Story