After backlash, Abbott expresses some regret after labeling all Cleveland shooting victims “illegal immigrants”
The governor’s focus on immigration status, not the loss of life, draws rebukes from across the country. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott addresses the House floor on the opening day of the 88th Legislative Session at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 10, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democrats rally around Joe Biden as he announces reelection bid
Texas Democrats are hopeful Biden can run a competitive race in the historically red state — especially if the GOP nominee is Donald Trump again. Full Story
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![President Joe Biden descends from Air Force One at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York on Oct. 6, 2022.]()
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Bills to create new Texas courts would likely reverse Democratic gains, restore GOP dominance
Supporters say the proposals would increase efficiency and expertise, but opponents argue the attempts are political and probably unconstitutional. Full Story
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![The Texas Supreme Court on Jan. 15, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democrats and Republicans are on the hunt for rare chances to flip seats in 2024
The dearth of competitive down-ballot races could contrast with the last few election cycles in Texas, when multiple congressional seats and state legislative seats drew significant national investment. Full Story
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![Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Robstown, a western suburb of Corpus Christi, on Oct. 22, 2022.]()
Credit: Lucas Boland/Caller-Times USA Today Network -
Texas Democrats admit to faltering on messaging and voter turnout, contributing to resounding midterm losses
Beto O’Rourke lost by double-digits on Tuesday night and so did every other statewide Democrat. That has left Democrats in a familiar position: wounded after a disappointing election night while contemplating their strategy and their future. Full Story
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![A woman watches the election results and waves a United States flag at the Beto O'Rourke election night headquarters event, on Nov. 8, 2022, in El Paso.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Kamala Harris to headline Texas Democratic Party fundraiser one month before midterm election
The Oct. 8 event in Austin will mark the Biden administration’s highest-profile political appearance in Texas since President Joe Biden and Harris took office. Full Story
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![U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris at an event marking the anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program at the Executive Office building in Washington, D.C., June 15, 2021.]()
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Texas Democrats to Biden: Protect out-of-state providers who prescribe abortion-inducing medication
The request for a public health emergency declaration was part of a set of recommendations to allow abortion access to Texans who might not be able to travel out of state. Full Story
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![Democratic congressional candidate Greg Casar delivers five strategies to the Biden administration to provide safe in-state abortions during the Texas Democratic Convention at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas on July 16, 2022.]()
Credit: Kylie Cooper/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa fends off two challengers, wins another term
Hinojosa, who became party chair in 2012, was among those who were the target of Democratic frustration over the party’s lack of gains in Texas in the 2020 election. Full Story
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![Gilberto Hinojosa waves at the conclusion of his acceptance speech of his re-election to Texas Democratic Party Chair during the general caucus of the Texas Democratic Convention at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas on July 16, 2022.]()
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Eager for a statewide breakthrough, Texas Democrats will soon decide who will lead their party
Hinojosa, the chair of the Texas Democratic Party since 2012, is running for reelection against two challengers, Kim Olson and Carroll G. Robinson, at the party’s biennial convention this weekend in Dallas. Full Story
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![Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa speaks at an election rally for Frank Ramirez, Democratic nominee for House District 118 in San Antonio on Oct. 31, 2021.]()
Credit: Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribune -
Henry Cuellar wins Democratic primary to keep his South Texas congressional seat, recount finds
A separate recount found that Michelle Vallejo won the party’s nomination for another congressional seat. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, at a Get Out the Vote rally in San Antonio on May 4, 2022.]()
Credit: Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribune -
Jessica Cisneros, Ruben Ramirez demand recounts in two close-call South Texas runoff races
The state Democratic Party confirmed Monday that Ramirez’s opponent, Michelle Vallejo, won by a slim margin. Full Story
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![Democratic candidate for Congress Jessica Cisneros speaks at a "Meet the Candidates" event thrown by the Webb County Democratic Party in Laredo on Feb. 16, 2022.]()
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State Rep. Chris Turner won’t run for House Democratic Caucus chair again
The Grand Prairie lawmaker has led the minority party’s House caucus since 2017. Full Story
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![State Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, House Democratic Caucus Chairman, speaks at a press conference on the opening day of the 87th legislative special session at the Texas Capitol on July 8, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democrats make moves to be early presidential primary state in 2024
The Democratic National Committee has decided to allow new states to bid for the coveted status, which has long belonged to places like Iowa and New Hampshire, in an effort to kick off the nominating process in states that better reflect the diversity of the broader electorate. Full Story
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![Denise Simmons and her son, Graham, 8, walk out of Austin Oaks Church after waiting 30 minutes to vote on election day on March 1, 2022.]()
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Texas Democratic Party leadership election roiled by accusation that a candidate shoved a staffer
Witnesses say Kim Olson pushed the party’s top staffer during a bus tour in 2018. Olson denies the allegation. Full Story
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![Kim Olson, a Democrat running for commissioner of agriculture, speaks to attendees of the WomenWin conference on Saturday June 9, 2018, which she co-hosted with Joi Chevalier to support first-time Democratic women candidates.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
Meet the three Democrats competing to oust Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
Mike Collier, Carla Brailey and Michelle Beckley are facing off for the Democratic nomination in the lieutenant governor race. Financially, the three candidates are outmatched by Dan Patrick’s $25 million war chest. Full Story
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![From left: Mike Collier, Carla Brailey and Michelle Beckley, Democratic candidates for Lieutenant Governor.]()
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As critical race theory and mask mandate debates heat up, Texas GOP takes aim at local school board and municipal races
The Republican Party of Texas announced Monday it had launched a new Local Government Committee to work with county parties on backing candidates for nonpartisan local offices. Full Story
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![The Carroll ISD Administration Building is photographed in Southlake, TX on November 18, 2021. The U.S. Department of Education has opened three investigations into allegations of racial and gender discrimination at Carroll Independent School District.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
After Texas Democrats’ woeful performance last year, the 2022 race to chair the party is already heating up
Current state party leader Gilberto Hinojosa has indicated he isn’t going anywhere. But that hasn’t stopped open discussion about leadership of the party with several months until convention delegates vote on the position. Full Story
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![Democratic Party signage and logos at the Texas Democratic Party office in Austin.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Longtime Houston Democrat Garnet Coleman to retire from Texas Legislature
The lawmaker has represented parts of central and southeast Houston in state House District 147 since 1991. Full Story
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![State Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, on the House floor on Aug. 23, 2021.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democrats rely on voters of color to be competitive. So why are their top statewide candidates mostly white?
The GOP slate for statewide office includes two high-profile Latinos and two Black candidates who have previously held state or federal office. Republicans are making a play to be more competitive with voters of color as the state’s electorate grows more diverse. Full Story
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![Democratic Party signage and logos at the Texas Democratic Party office in Austin on Oct. 8, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
With special session’s end looming, Texas Democrats and Republicans mull their next moves
Abbott has promised to call a second special session to pass the GOP’s priority voting bill, but the exact timing is uncertain. And House Democrats have not yet revealed what they have planned after the session ends this week. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dade Phelan speaks with legislators on the opening day of the special session at the Texas Capitol on July 8, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune