Texas has added 1.8 million registered voters. Where they are shows how the state has become more competitive.
Most of the new voters registered in the state's fast-growing urban counties or suburbs. Full Story
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Matthew Watkins began serving as editor in chief of the Tribune in September 2024. Matthew is a Texas native, born in Houston and raised in Austin. He attended public schools and graduated from Texas A&M University. He’s spent nearly two decades in Texas journalism, and previously worked at The Eagle in Bryan-College Station and The Dallas Morning News. Matthew joined the Tribune in 2015 has held various roles, including higher education reporter, breaking news editor and politics editor. As a managing editor, Matthew has guided the Tribune’s award-winning journalism and other reporting of statewide significance, including coverage of elections and legislative sessions to major breaking news and ambitious storytelling about the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the Texas-Mexico border, the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, the impeachment of Texas attorney general and battles over public education. He lives in Austin with his wife, Susan, and their two children.
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![Some voters waited for more than three hours to cast their ballot at a shopping center in South Austin on the first day of early voting.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
More than 9 million Texans have cast ballots so far, surpassing the state’s total votes cast in 2016
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
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![Voters wait in line to cast their ballots on day one of early voting in at the Sunland Park Mall indoor voting site in El Paso on Oct. 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
What you should watch — and what you should ignore — while the votes are being counted in Texas
It's been an election season like no other. Brace yourself for a results process that lasts longer than in recent elections. Full Story
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![Day one of early voting in El Paso at the Sunland Park Mall indoor voting site on Oct. 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Is Texas really a toss-up?
In this week's TribCast, Matthew talks with Ross, Abby and Patrick about the state of the biggest races in Texas less than one week from Election Day. Full Story
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![Deputy voting clerk Justin Sullivan waits for voters to cast their ballots during the second week of early voting at Lions Park in San Antonio on Oct. 19, 2020.]()
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TribCast: What high early voting turnout means for Texas
In this week's episode, Matthew speaks with Alex, Cassi and Patrick about the state of politics in Texas less than two weeks before Election Day. Full Story
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![Early voters cast their ballots at the Performing Arts Center at Texas State University in San Marcos on Oct. 19, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Voting issues in Texas and Ken Paxton's troubles
In this week's TribCast, Matthew speaks with Emma and Cassi about the turmoil at the attorney general's office, legal fights over voting issues in Texas and how the 2021 legislative session will look. Full Story
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TribCast: How Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death will affect Texas
On this week's Tribcast, Matthew talks with Ross, Emma and Alex about the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy, Gov. Greg Abbott's latest reopening announcement and voter registration in Texas. Full Story
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![People gathered outside of the U.S. Supreme Court following the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Sept. 19, 2020.]()
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Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says it would be a mistake to push through a Supreme Court pick before the election
Speaking during a Texas Tribune Festival event, Hogan also said it would be a mistake for Democrats to pack the court. Full Story
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![Republican Maryland Governor Larry Hogan holds a news conference with updates about the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic at the Maryland State Capitol in Annapolis on July 22, 2020.]()
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TribCast: Texas again changes how it reports coronavirus data, and voting issues make their way through the courts
In this week's TribCast, Matthew speaks with Ross, Emma and Shannon about another change in how Texas reports its coronavirus data and the legal fights related to voting that have reached the state Supreme Court. Full Story
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![A COVID-19 testing site at the Nomad Shrine Club in McAllen. July 2, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Hurricane Laura, coronavirus on campus and the RNC
In this week's TribCast, Matthew speaks with Ross, Alex and Patrick about the incoming hurricane, the first week of college classes and the Republican National Convention. Full Story
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![A student walks past the Alkek Library on the first day of the fall semester at Texas State University in San Marcos on August 24, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for the Texas Tribune