Another Republican is challenging Dade Phelan for Texas House speaker
The Texas House speaker race is becoming increasingly crowded. Phelan, who is under fire from his right, says he plans to seek the leadership position again. Full Story
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James Barragán is a politics reporter for The Texas Tribune with a focus on accountability reporting. Prior to joining the Tribune, James worked as a statehouse reporter for The Dallas Morning News and had previous stints at the Austin American-Statesman and the Los Angeles Times. In 2021, he was a finalist for the Toner Prize for Excellence in Local Reporting for his coverage of Texas politics during the COVID-19 pandemic. James was selected as a Nieman Fellow at Harvard in 2023-24. A Southern California native, James received his bachelor’s degree in history from UCLA. He is based in Austin and is a native Spanish speaker.
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![State Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, takes the oath of office with his hand on a bible on the first day of the 88th Texas legislative session on Jan 10, 2023.]()
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Dan Patrick starts Texas Senate leadership political action committee
New group plans to support policy goals of the conservative Senate majority. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks at the Texas GOP Convention on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in San Antonio.]()
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Texas DPS Director Steve McCraw retiring after 15 years as state’s top law enforcement officer
The longtime head of the Department of Public Safety will step down at the end of the year. Full Story
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![Steven C. McCraw, the Director and Colonel of the Texas Department of Public Safety, speaks at a border security bill signing session at the state Capitol in Austin on June 8, 2023.]()
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Progressive Democrat's ad decrying "chaos" on the border riles up her South Texas supporters
Michelle Vallejo, who is challenging Republican U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, put out a political ad decrying the “chaos” on the border. Full Story
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![Michelle Vallejo speaks at the first general session at the Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso on June 7, 2024.]()
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In competitive South Texas legislative race, a fight emerges over a candidate’s Hispanic surname
The Bexar County GOP accused Democrat Kristian Carranza of using a Hispanic surname to appeal to the district’s largely Hispanic population. Full Story
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![Kristian Carranza speaks at the Lady Bird Breakfast during the Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso on June 8, 2024. Carranza is the Democratic candidate for state House District 118 in San Antonio.]()
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Colin Allred keeps Kamala Harris at arms length as he makes a play for the center
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who is facing off against Allred in his reelection campaign, has worked to tie Allred to Harris’ political record. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, speaks during a coordinated campaign kickoff hosted by the Travis County Democratic Party in Austin on Sunday, July 21, 2024.]()
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In Austin, Biden slams “extreme” U.S. Supreme Court
Biden asked Congress to pass a constitutional amendment to end to presidential immunity during a speech to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at the Lyndon B. Johnson Library. Full Story
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![President Joe Biden delivers the keynote address during an event commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library Monday, July 29, 2024, in Austin. Biden’s visit to Austin, originally planned for July 15, was postponed for two weeks after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally on July 13 in Butler, PA and comes only a week after he dropped out of the 2024 presidential election.]()
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Kamala Harris’ historic candidacy energizes Texas’ Black and Indian American voters
Black and Asian American voters collectively made up just 15% of the turnout in Texas’ 2020 and 2022 elections, according to exit polls. Full Story
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![Beverly Hatcher wears a “VOTE” necklace she saw Michelle Obama wearing in her garden home on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Beaumont, TX. Hatcher immediately found a similar necklace online and bought for herself and as gifts for others.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Several Texas delegates coalesce behind Kamala Harris after Joe Biden abandons reelection
The vice president is not guaranteed the Democratic nomination and some delegates want an open nominating process. Full Story
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![President Joe Biden departs the White House in Washington on May 11, 2022 to attend to attend events in Illinois.]()
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In purple Williamson County, presidential politics casts pall over voters
After an assassination attempt against Trump and growing divisions among national Democrats, Williamson County voters mull the November election. Full Story
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![Annette Maruska, president of the East Williamson County Republicans, center, welcomes members to a meeting Thursday, July 18, 2024 in Taylor.]()
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