Ted Cruz leads Colin Allred by double digits in latest UT poll
The poll also showed House Speaker Dade Phelan with low approval rating among Texans after a heated primary battle. 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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![U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, left, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Four Texas House Republicans censured for campaigning against incumbents
The censured members said they had been punished for campaigning against “liberal incumbents” alongside statewide elected officials like Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton. Full Story
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![A silhouette of the state of Texas near the stage at the 2024 Texas GOP Convention in San Antonio, on May 23, 2024.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
With new rules, the Texas GOP seeks to keep its elected officials in line
The state party plans to limit primaries to registered Republicans and keep elected officials it censured off the ballot. It’s unclear if it can without legislative approval. Full Story
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![Texas GOP Party Chair Matt Rinaldi speaks on stage along with convention leadership during the 2024 Texas GOP Convention in San Antonio on May 24, 2024.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Here’s how Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial will operate
Under rules previously adopted by the Texas Senate, the trial will feature crucial votes on dismissing articles of impeachment as well as testimony under oath, private deliberations by senator-jurors and votes conducted without debate or discussion. Full Story
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![The Texas Senate gallery as technical staff prepares communications for next week's start in the impeachment trial of Ken Paxton on September 5th. Paxton is accused of several ethics violations during his three terms as Texas Attorney General.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Here are the 16 articles of impeachment Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is facing
The articles — including bribery, dereliction of duty and disregard of official duty — do not include four accusations originally adopted by the Texas House. Full Story
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![State Attorney General Ken Paxton holds a press conference at the Houston Recovery Center on October 26, 2021.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
Who’s who in the Ken Paxton impeachment trial, from key participants to potential witnesses
The suspended attorney general has been ordered to appear in the Texas Senate chamber to answer to 16 allegations of misconduct that were approved by the House in May. Full Story
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Texas National Guard disbanded intelligence wing after members used WhatsApp to spy on migrants
Four members of the unit working on Gov. Greg Abbott’s border mission have been punished after whistleblowers reported the surveillance operation violated long-standing rules against state-run spy operations. Full Story
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Credit: Aaron Provost for Military Times -
Suspended Texas A&M professor denies saying Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick believes overdose victims “deserve to die”
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham alleged Wednesday that opioids expert Joy Alonzo told students in a guest lecture that “Your Lt. Governor says those kids deserve to die.” Alonzo denied the claims. Full Story
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![State Sen. Dawn Buckingham, R-Lakeway at the Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Kelly West for The Texas Tribune -
Texas A&M suspended professor accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in lecture
The professor, an expert on the opioids crisis, was placed on paid administrative leave and investigated, raising questions about the extent of political interference in higher education, particularly in health-related matters. Full Story
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![Joy Alonzo is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the Texas A&M Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy.]()
Credit: Texas A&M University Health Science Center -
2021 statements about role of outside lawyer could play a part in Ken Paxton impeachment trial
Paxton’s top aide told senators that an agency-hired lawyer worked with the Travis County district attorney’s office to investigate a complaint by Nate Paul. County prosecutors dispute that. Full Story
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![First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster speaks during a press conference in the William Clements Building in Austin on June 9, 2022.]()
Credit: Kylie Cooper/The Texas Tribune