Justin Rodriguez leaving Texas House after being appointed Bexar County commissioner
The San Antonio Democrat was selected to replace Bexar County Commissioner Paul Elizondo, who died last week. Full Story
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![State Rep. Justin Rodriguez, D-San Antonio, during a hearing held by the Interim Committee on Higher Education Formula Funding in Austin on Feb. 21, 2018.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
8 file in special election to replace Carol Alvarado; 3 sign up for Joe Pickett's seat
There will be special elections on Jan. 29 in two Texas House districts to fill vacant seats, and the filing deadline was 5 p.m. Thursday. Full Story
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![State Sen. -elect Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, and outgoing state Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
In the Texas Legislature, bills filed on marijuana, daylight saving are all fair game
Watch the first episode of our mini-documentary series, “Under the Dome,” chronicling the cast of characters passing laws in the Texas State Capitol. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman / The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. Joe Pickett to resign from Texas House after nearly 24 years in office
Citing health issues, the El Paso Democrat announced Saturday that he would step down from his post effective Jan. 4, four days before the start of the next legislative session. Full Story
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![House Transportation Commitee chair Rep. Joe Pickett, D-EL Paso, leads an interim hearing August 30, 2016, at the Texas Capitol. The committee grilled TxDOT director James M. Bass and listened to a Texas Transportation Institute study on ride-hailing companies.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Dennis Bonnen isn't Texas House speaker yet but he's hiring people like he is. How does that work?
The Texas House is about to get a new speaker and more than two dozen new members. While they all have started transitioning into their new roles, they can't do much until they are officially sworn in to their new positions next month. Full Story
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![The House chamber at the Texas Capitol on Aug. 16, 2017, the morning after the end of the special session.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: It’s still a Republican Texas government, but it’s a new one
Between the general election results and the changing management of the Texas House — where Joe Straus is retiring and Dennis Bonnen is poised to be the next speaker — the state government is getting a reboot. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton (left), and outgoing House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, at a Legislative Budget Board meeting in Austin on Friday, Nov. 16, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Three weeks after election, Texas Democrat concedes to state Rep. Morgan Meyer in tight race
Joanna Cattanach’s concession comes almost one month after the 2018 midterms. The Democrat had trailed state Rep. Morgan Meyer, R-Dallas, by roughly 200 votes and requested a recount nearly a week after the election. Full Story
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![Joanna Cattanach and state Rep. Morgan Meyer, R-Dallas.]()
Credit: Facebook campaign pages -
Despite prior differences, hardline conservatives cautiously optimistic about Dennis Bonnen as speaker
Ten of the 11 returning members of the Freedom Caucus in the Texas House have publicly backed the Angleton Republican as speaker. Full Story
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![The Texas Freedom Caucus on May 23, 2017 (back row, l-r): state Reps. Jonathan Stickland, Briscoe Cain, Matt Krause, Valoree Swanson, Mike Lang, Kyle Biedermann, Matt Rinaldi. (Front row, l-r): state Reps. Matt Shaheen, Matt Schaefer, Bill Zedler, Jeff Leach, Tony Tinderholt.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Beto O’Rourke. Julián Castro. John Cornyn. 2020 already looms large in Texas.
Texas Democrats and Republicans are already gearing up for an action-packed election cycle. Full Story
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![Left to right: Former HUD Secretary Julián Castro, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso.]()
Credit: Erich Schlegel: Castro/Marjorie Kamys Cotera: Cornyn/Michael Stravato: O'Rourke -
TribCast: What does a Dennis Bonnen speakership look like?
On this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Ross, Matthew and Cassi about the likely next speaker of the Texas House, the start of bill filing for the 2019 legislative session and an incoming Texas congressman's stint on Saturday Night Live. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, just before a press conference to announce he has the necessary support to be the next speaker of the Texas House of representatives, on Monday, Nov. 12, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
From staying out to declaring victory, how Dennis Bonnen ended the speaker's race in a weekend
The Republican from Angleton wasn't even a candidate a month ago. Now he says he has north of 100 votes — more than enough to win the gavel. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, announces at a press conference on Nov. 12, 2018 that he has the support of 109 members of the state House of Representatives to assume the speakership in January 2019. 76 votes — one half plus one of the 150-member chamber — are needed.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: If you can’t win a race for Texas speaker, you’re not ready for the job
State Rep. Dennis Bonnen appears to have secured the votes needed to become speaker. Now, the hardest political challenges begin. Full Story
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![Rep. Dennis Bonnen R-Angleton speaks during SB1, the property tax debate on August 12, 2017]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Bill filing for 2019 session begins with legislation on marijuana, taxes and daylight saving time
The Texas Legislature's 86th session doesn't start until Jan. 8, but lawmakers got a head start on filing legislation Monday. Full Story
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![Tracy Snowden Ortiz works to sort bills filed with the Secretary of the Senate for the 86th session of the Texas Legislature. The session starts in January.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus: Texas and the Republican Party are “moving in opposite directions”
In a wide-ranging conversation with Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith, Straus launched jabs at two fellow Republicans: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and President Donald Trump. He declined to weigh in on who should succeed him as the leader of the lower chamber. Full Story
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![Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith records an interview for a Texas Tribune podcast with Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, in the Speaker's office at the State Capitol in Austin on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018.]()
Credit: Rodolfo Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
Democratic super PAC injects $2.2 million into Texas House races in closing days
The investment by Forward Majority reflects Democratic optimism about significantly expanding their ranks in the Texas House come Tuesday. Full Story
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![View of the Texas House floor during the budget debate on House Bill 1 on May 29, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
In Dallas-area Texas House race, Deanna Metzger is the rare Republican who’s on offense
In most Dallas-area legislative races this year, incumbent Republicans are on defense. In House District 107, the script is flipped. Full Story
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![Republican Deanna Maria Metzger is challenging incumbent state Rep. Victoria Neave, D-Dallas, in state House District 107.]()
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State Rep. John Zerwas drops bid for Texas House Speaker
His departure comes amid an effort among roughly 40 GOP House members to draft state Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, into the race. Full Story
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![House Appropriations Committee Chairman John Zerwas, R-Richmond, talks about his reasons to run for speaker of the Texas House during a Tribune event on Nov. 6, 2017. House Speaker Joe Straus has announced his intention not to run for another term.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House Democrats expect midterms will boost their hand in speaker's race
In the GOP-dominated Texas House, can Democrats influence who will replace House Speaker Joe Straus? Some Republican members say that's unlikely but others insist that, on such an important decision, the minority party can't be ignored. Full Story
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![The House Chamber at the Texas Capitol on August 16, 2017, the morning after the end of the special session.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune -
Rep. Mary González says she's taking the high road after Rep. Pat Fallon mocked her sexuality
Rep. Mary González on Wednesday said Republican state Rep. Pat Fallon has apologized for his remarks before a Wichita Falls group. Full Story
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![State Reps. Pat Fallon, R-Prosper, and Mary González, D-Clint.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera: Fallon/Ivan Pierre Aguirre: González -
In Texas' tightest state House races, right-leaning groups are giving Republicans an edge
GOP candidates have a financial advantage thanks to deep-pocketed groups like Empower Texans and Texans for Lawsuit Reform. Full Story
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