/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/0112James_Barragan_2x3.jpeg)
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.
The disaster declarations give the governor broad power to suspend state laws and regulations that hinder a jurisdiction’s recovery from a disaster and to allow the use of available resources to respond to the disaster. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b8a64d2224f826749f5153f504b3f3df/Hugs%20Not%20Walls%20JH%20TT%2004)
Miller was seen as a potential challenger to Abbott because of his vocal criticism of the governor's restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19 last year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2779b8d69201c78760811e3a3b07071d/Sid%20Miller%202018%20BD%20TT%2003.jpg)
“If people die again, blood will be on your hands,” U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, wrote in a tweet. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fa0a3bf5f55ded4b1b6c3e90863ecf76/Abbott%20Border%20Announcement%20SP%20TT%2018)
The governor did not specify how long the wall would be or where it would be built. He directed the Texas Facilities Commission to hire a program manager to begin that research. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/24c3a5bfdecc306d5362a7dd10f2815a/Abbott%20Border%20Announcement%20SP%20TT%2002)
Critics have denounced Abbott's proposal as "political theater" that won't pass legal muster. But the two-term Republican governor says it's time to secure the border. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/12/27/Border_Wall_7_CR_TT.jpg)
Statewide officials are campaigning in the Democratic stronghold and GOP groups are now targeting statehouse districts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1ab18bb8f94713e184c087a1d7e3a969/Javier%20Villalobos%20MG%20TT%2001.jpg)
Last month, a divided three-judge panel ruled that the case should move back to Collin County. Prosecutors are asking the full 1st Court of Appeals to review and reverse that ruling, potentially further delaying the 6-year-old case. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/88b280f4ec705b6ed3d5401e0b0c3c2a/Ken%20Paxton%20BD%20TT%2006.jpg)
Phelan has touted a list of conservative wins in his first session as House leader, such as passing legislation to let Texans carry handguns without a license and approving some of the strictest restrictions on abortion in the country. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/452eac0fdc274de9561b3f86fbc12446/House%20Floor%20SB7%20May%2030%20MG%20TT%2020.jpg)
A governor targeting the Legislature’s budget would be unprecedented in Texas history. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/70790230744dce8536b16b1aa19ed167/House%20File%20May%2028%20EL%20TT%2012)
Republicans were assigning blame after the measure’s dramatic failure Sunday night, but were also already looking ahead to a special session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/202ef32abd30fe9324d105d9e903541b/House%20Floor%20Abortion%20Bill%20%20MG%20TT%2015.jpg)