Far-right favorite Abraham George elected to lead Texas GOP
George was backed by outgoing GOP chair Matt Rinaldi, who ushered in a Republican civil war and oversaw staffing cuts and drops in fundraising. Full Story
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Robert Downen is a reporter covering democracy and the threats to it, including extremism, disinformation and conspiracies. Before joining the Tribune in 2022, he worked for five years at the Houston Chronicle. As a Hearst Media fellow, he developed what would become "Abuse of Faith," a landmark investigation into child sexual abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention that prompted a Department of Justice investigation. Before coming to Texas, Robert was a business reporter in New York's capital region, and the managing editor of six newspapers in his home state of Illinois. He is a 2014 graduate of Eastern Illinois University.
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![Texas GOP Party Chair candidate Abraham George delivers his candidate speech during the first general session of the convention in San Antonio, on May 23, 2024.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
“The house is on fire”: Texas GOP plots its next chapter amid civil war, depleted staff, funding drops
Under outgoing chair Matt Rinaldi, the party’s donor base has shrunk as it aligns with two far-right megadonors. Full Story
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![Republican Party of Texas Chairman Matt Rinaldi gives voting directives during the 5th General Meeting of the 2022 Texas State Republican Convention on June 18, 2022.]()
Credit: Briana Vargas for The Texas Tribune -
Travis County GOP Chair Matt Mackowiak announces run to lead state Republican Party
The political consultant joins a crowded field to replace outgoing Chair Matt Rinaldi when party delegates meet next week. Full Story
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![Matt Mackowiak in Austin on Sept. 20, 2018.]()
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Dade Phelan directs House leaders to revisit vouchers, property taxes in the next legislative session
The Beaumont Republican issued his interim charges even as it remains unclear whether he’ll be reelected. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dade Phelan speaks with other represenatives during a special legislative session at the state capitol in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 17, 2023.]()
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Faculty petition to hold no-confidence vote in UT-Austin president after protest response
President Jay Hartzell defended the response but faculty criticized the presence of armed state troopers. Fifty-seven people were arrested. Full Story
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![Protesters link arms on the campus of UT-Austin on April 24, 2024.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh for The Texas Tribune -
Far-right activist Jonathan Stickland starts new group, months after white supremacist scandal
The former lawmaker registered “RaTmasTeR Holdings” along with Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi. The name is a nod to Stickland’s alias as an infamous internet troll. Full Story
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![State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, on the House floor on May 21, 2019.]()
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Texas Supreme Court justice implies Democrats will cheat in 2024 election
Justice John Devine’s comments at a conservative event are the latest to prompt concerns about his impartiality as a jurist. Full Story
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![Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine, far left, with fellow judges on the House floor in Austin in 2013.]()
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Former Texas House speaker says GOP megadonor Tim Dunn told him only Christians should hold leadership positions
Straus, who is Jewish, publicly confirmed the conversation for the first time Thursday. It had previously been reported by Texas Monthly. Full Story
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![Sandi Villarreal, deputy editor for digital at Texas Monthly, moderates a panel with US Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, and former speaker of the Texas House Joe Straus at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 24, 2022 in Austin, TX.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas could require social media influencers to disclose paid political posts
The Tribune reported last year that a company called Influenceable LLC was paid to recruit influencers to defend Attorney General Ken Paxton over his impeachment. Full Story
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![The Texas Ethics Commission took the first step in adopting rules that would require social media influencers to include political advertising disclosures when they are paid to post political advertising online.]()
Credit: Photo Illustration by Kylie Cooper/The Texas Tribune -
Race to succeed Texas GOP chair Matt Rinaldi has become referendum on his tenure
Some Republicans and candidates are calling for a serious change, warning that the party could be vulnerable in future elections because of the ongoing disunity that has defined Rinaldi’s two terms. Full Story
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![Texas Republican Party Chair candidates Dana Myers, left, and Abraham George.]()
Credit: Campaign websites