Analysis: Texas Democrats sensing a theme in Republican misfortunes
With the speaker of the house and state attorney general under fire, the long-suffering party sees a potentially helpful thread heading into 2020. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dennis Bonnen presiding over his first votes as speaker of the house. Jan. 9, 2019. Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / Texas Tribune.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democrats sue over Michael Quinn Sullivan and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen meeting
In their lawsuit, the Democrats contend Bonnen, Sullivan and state Rep. Dustin Burrows violated campaign finance laws and demanded that Sullivan produce a recording of the meeting that he has so far played only for select Republicans. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dennis Bonnen during the Texas Fallen Heroes ceremony at the Capitol on May 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: After an encouraging 2018, Texas Democrats taking some risks
The 2018 elections put some cracks in the Republican Party's dominance in Texas elections — enough to attract Democratic candidates into races they used to be too risk averse to consider. Full Story
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![State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, announces he's running for the U.S. Senate against John Cornyn, in Dallas on July 22, 2019.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
The Texas Republican Party platform supports some marijuana expansions. So why doesn’t Dan Patrick?
Earlier this month, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said a bill that decriminalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana was "dead on arrival" in the Senate. But his party's platform supports marijuana decriminalization. So what gives? Full Story
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![The Texas Republican Convention at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in San Antonio. Bob Parks salutes the flag from the front row on June 14, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democrats plan multimillion-dollar effort to unseat Cornyn
The state party is launching an early, aggressive campaign to "define Cornyn before he defines himself." Full Story
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![US Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and US Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speak to media following Texas Public Policy Foundation's annual policy orientation in Austin on Jan. 11, 2019]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Backlash builds against UTEP president nominee Heather Wilson
Student activists, professors and community members have rallied to oppose Wilson's nomination, citing her anti-LGBTQ voting record. Full Story
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![Heather Wilson.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Why Julián Castro's first trip in his 2020 campaign was to Puerto Rico, not Iowa
During his visit, the newly announced presidential candidate highlighted the much-criticized federal response to Hurricane Maria and aimed to distinguish himself as the candidate of an increasingly diverse Democratic Party. Full Story
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![2020 presidential candidate Julián Castro greets a man in San Juan, Puerto Rico, whose home was damaged by Hurricane Maria on Jan. 14, 2019.]()
Credit: Patrick Svitek/The Texas Tribune -
Julián Castro's 2020 announcement brightens spotlight on potential Texas showdown with Beto O'Rourke
Texas could have two Democrats running in the 2020 presidential race — and one of them, Julián Castro, got an early start Saturday as speculation continues to swirl around Beto O'Rourke's intentions. Full Story
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![Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro (left) and former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke.]()
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Split Decision: Watch candidates in the 2018 Texas elections virtually debate
During the general election campaign, The Texas Tribune produced six episodes of its Split Decision video series. Watch candidates for lieutenant governor, Congress and agriculture commissioner discuss the various issues in their races. Full Story
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Win or lose, Beto O’Rourke’s campaign against Ted Cruz could shape Texas politics for years
Despite the excitement he's generated among Democrats, U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke's bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is still widely viewed as a long shot. Yet the El Paso congressman's campaign could still help rebuild his party and make a difference in races lower on the ballot. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, speaks to his Gainesville supporters at the Historic Santa Fe Train Depot in Cooke County on June 9, 2018.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
Surge of candidates leaves Texas Democrats struggling to recruit qualified staffers
The uptick in the number of Democrats running across Texas this election cycle has exposed a weakness in the party’s statewide apparatus: a shortage of experienced operatives equipped to run campaigns. Full Story
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![Campaign volunteers for Sri Kulkarni, a Democrat vying to unseat U.S. Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, work the phones before a primary runoff in May.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Legalizing marijuana, limiting access to assault-style weapons part of Texas Democrats' platform
Party delegates in Fort Worth also decided to back required paid sick leave for working Texans and oppose building a wall on the Texas-Mexico border. Many platform ideals contradict those of Republicans, who hold every statewide office and control both chambers of the Legislature. Full Story
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![The 2018 Texas Democratic Party convention in Fort Worth.]()
Credit: Joan Brook for the Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Are Texas political conventions necessary?
The state's major political parties hold huge conventions every two years, and they're about to do it again. But why? Full Story
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![Front row delegates at Day 3 of the Texas Republican Convention in Fort Worth, Saturday, June 7, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: Millennial Texans might be louder, but they’re not voting
In all of the attention paid to low voter turnout, this got lost: Millennial Texans made up only a small part of the electorate in this year's Democratic and Republican primaries. Full Story
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Credit: Waylon Cunningham for the Texas Tribune -
The son of a governor, Andrew White long avoided politics. Then a health crisis, his dad's death and a hurricane changed his mind.
A series of life-changing events propelled Andrew White to follow in the footsteps of his father, former Gov. Mark White, and launch his own bid for Texas' highest office. Full Story
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![Democratic candidate for governor Andrew White is interviewed in his home in Houston on Friday, April 20, 2018.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
In Texas' Zavala and Foard counties, no Republicans voted in primaries
In Foard County, near the Texas-Oklahoma border, only one person even showed up to the polls. Zavala County, about 100 miles north of Laredo, didn't even hold a primary. Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House Democrats welcome former state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer's return
Former state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer's history in the Capitol and facility with legislative rules make him a strong player on a political team that's vastly outnumbered in the Republican-controlled lower chamber, some of his former colleagues say. Full Story
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![Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, is interviewed by Texas Tribune CEO and Editor-in-Chief Evan Smith on Feb. 4, 2016.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles/ Texas Tribune -
Three takeaways from the 2018 Texas primaries (video)
How'd that "blue wave" turn out? How did new female candidates fare? What's in store for the Ted Cruz-Beto O'Rourke matchup? Here's what you need to know. Full Story
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Livestream: Watch our Texas 2018 primary election news desk
Texas Tribune social media manager Bobby Blanchard and multimedia reporter Alana Rocha will interview reporters about election results and take voter questions as the Texas primary results roll in. Full Story
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TX-21 primary showcases intra-party conundrum for Texas Democrats in Trump era
The Democratic primary for Texas' 21st Congressional District has put on display a growing debate over whether the party should court disaffected Republicans this year, focus on getting their revved-up base to the polls or do some of both. Full Story
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![Clockwise from top left: Derrick Crowe, Joseph Kopser, Elliott McFadden and Mary Wilson, the four Democrats vying for Congressional District 21, currently held by outgoing U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio.]()
Credit: Facebook campaign pages