Past Contributions

• “Lives are at stake”: Three Texas regions battered by coronavirus are out of intensive care beds

  By Megan Menchaca and Mandi Cai Jan. 17, 2021

  Hospitals in the Abilene, Bryan-College Station and Laredo areas have run out of intensive care unit beds. State health officials are “greatly concerned” about high numbers of hospitalized people throughout Texas. Full Story 

• Advocates worry vaccines will be out of reach for Black and Hispanic neighborhoods devastated by COVID-19

  By Juan Pablo Garnham and Mandi Cai Jan. 9, 2021

  In the state's largest metropolitan areas, vaccine distribution centers like hospitals and pharmacies are more common in white, affluent neighborhoods. Full Story 

• Texas again sets record for new coronavirus infections as testing also sees sustained highs

  By Edgar Walters, Carla Astudillo, Chris Essig and Mandi Cai Nov. 25, 2020

  The apparent record comes one day before the Thanksgiving holiday. Public health authorities have urged people to celebrate apart this year as many Texas hospitals report overwhelming volumes of COVID-19 patients. Full Story 

• In Texas, Biden’s urban wins couldn’t offset Trump’s millions of votes in rural, red counties

  By Mandi Cai, Matthew Watkins, Anna Novak and Darla Cameron Nov. 6, 2020

  In order to turn the tide in 2020, Biden needed to take advantage of population growth in the state’s biggest cities and political shifts in the suburbs to erase Trump’s massive advantages in rural areas of the state. Full Story 

• Democrats hoped high turnout would usher in a blue wave across Texas. It didn’t.

  By Shannon Najmabadi and Mandi Cai Nov. 4, 2020

  In Texas, at least 66% of the 17 million registered voters cast ballots in the 2020 general election. That’s 6.6 percentage points higher than total turnout in 2016. Full Story 

• Joe Biden’s struggles along the Texas border raise questions about Democrats’ outreach there

  By Alex Samuels, Patrick Svitek, Anna Novak and Mandi Cai Nov. 4, 2020

  Democrats once again won a large number of counties along or near the Texas-Mexico border, but by narrower margins than in recent elections. That showing played a big role in disappointing results for the state’s Democrats. Full Story 

• Texas is on track for record turnout in this election after breaking early voting records

  By Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Mandi Cai, The Texas Tribune Updated: Nov. 1, 2020

  After early voting, 57.3% of registered voters in Texas have cast ballots, just shy of the total turnout of 59.4% in 2016. Full Story 

• Texas has added 1.8 million registered voters. Where they are shows how the state has become more competitive.

  By Mandi Cai, Alex Samuels, Darla Cameron and Matthew Watkins Oct. 30, 2020

  Most of the new voters registered in the state's fast-growing urban counties or suburbs. Full Story 

• More than 9 million Texans have cast ballots so far, surpassing the state’s total votes cast in 2016

  By Alex Samuels, Matthew Watkins and Mandi Cai Updated: Oct. 30, 2020

  Texas’ population is growing, and it extended its early voting period this year due to the coronavirus. Experts are predicting the percent of registered voters who cast ballots this year will be higher than it has been for years. Full Story 

• Texas hits record high for early voting turnout

  By Mandi Cai and Cassandra Pollock Oct. 27, 2020

  Forty-six percent of registered voters in Texas had cast their ballots through Monday. In 2016, the percentage was 43.5% for the entire early voting period. Full Story