In Re-Election Bid, Straus Faces Familiar Attacks
House Speaker Joe Straus finds himself in a familiar position, fending off Tea Party primary challenges to hold his San Antonio seat and, presumably, his grip on the gavel. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, campaigns for re-election at The Barn Door restaurant in San Antonio on Jan. 21, 2016.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
GOP Brags, Democrats Wince as HD 118 Goes Red
A day after a Republican unexpectedly snatched away a long-held Democratic statehouse seat in San Antonio, state GOP leaders were crowing while Democrats swore the low-turnout special election was a non-repeatable fluke. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
State Rep. Ruth McClendon Submits Letter of Resignation
State Rep. Ruth McClendon, D-San Antonio, has submitted a letter of resignation to Gov. Greg Abbott, effective Jan 31, the governor's office confirmed Tuesday. Full Story
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![Sen. Rodney Ellis and State Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio, celebrate Gov. Abbott's signing of HB48 that establishes the Timothy Cole Exoneration Review Commission. In background is Cole's brother, Cory Session.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: The Future of the Texas House Could Be Seen in Eight Races
Will bragging rights in the Republican primaries for Texas House seats go to the management now in place or to those opposed to the current leaders? Watching these races involving incumbents will provide some answers. Full Story
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![Clockwise, from top left: Republican state Reps. Tony Tinderholt of Arlington, John Frullo of Lubbock, Byron Cook of Corsicana and Matt Rinaldi of Irving.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: For Politicians, There's No Statute of Limitations on Comments
All of us have to watch our mouths — particularly politicians. State Rep. Jonathan Stickland is under political fire for past online comments. He's apologized, but time is the enemy here for the Bedford Republican, who's facing a primary challenge. Full Story
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![State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, is shown during a legislative debate on gun legislation on April 17, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Women Still Underrepresented in Legislative Races
It remains a daunting political reality in Texas. While women make up more than half the state, they are underrepresented in the halls of power, and it appears the 2016 elections will do little to change that. Full Story
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![State senators take the oath of office on the first day of the Texas Legislature on Jan. 13, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Perry Endorses Fisher's Bid to Unseat Rep. Stickland in GOP Primary
The longest-serving governor in Texas history is endorsing Bedford pastor Scott Fisher in his GOP primary campaign against state Rep. Jonathan Stickland, Fisher's campaign announced Tuesday. Full Story
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![Former Gov. Rick Perry announces his intentions to run for president in 2016 on June 4, 2015, at the Addison Airport.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Revisit Our Coverage of the Legislative Session
During the 2015 legislative session, the Tribune kept you updated daily on the various policy debates and legislative votes at the Texas Capitol. Use our Texas Legislative Guide to see that coverage, discover the fate of every bill and learn even more about the session. Full Story
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Revisit 31 Ways New State Laws Will Affect Texans
In August, we featured 31 ways in which Texans' lives would change starting Sept. 1, when many bills passed by the Legislature — including the budget — took effect. Take a look back at our 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
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Lt. Gov. Patrick Appoints Allen West to Texas Sunset Commission
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Friday announced the appointment of conservative firebrand Allen West, a former Florida congressman and prominent Fox News contributor, to the state's Sunset Commission. Full Story
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Analysis: For Many Candidates in Texas, Election is No Contest
Now that the political candidates have filed, some of the races in the 2016 election cycle have come to an end. It's not that the elections are over, but 75 federal and state lawmakers don't have any major-party opponents. Full Story
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![Voters wait in line to cast their ballots at the Flawn Academic Center on the University of Texas at Austin campus on Nov. 6, 2012.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa -
Analysis: Familiar Incumbents and Familiar Challengers, Too
The candidates for the 2016 elections have filed their papers, and the ballots have some familiar names. There are perennial candidates, former officeholders who want their own jobs back and candidates with the same names as their opponents. Full Story
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![Texas Supreme Court Justice Paul Green (left) is facing a Republican primary challenge from Rick Green.]()
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DPS Chief: Refugee Concerns Extend Beyond Syrians in Texas
Despite Texas Republicans’ laser focus on keeping Syrian refugees from being resettled here, the head of the state's Department of Public Safety says he’d prefer a wider lens that focuses on all countries connected to “Islamic extremist terrorism.” Full Story
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![A child walks in a United Nations refugee camp in Turkey where thousands of Syrian refugees reside.]()
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State Rep. Naishtat Changes Mind, Will Not Seek Re-election
Longtime state Rep. Elliott Naishtat announced Thursday he will not seek re-election to the House seat he first won in 1990, despite saying earlier this week that he would. Full Story
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![State Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin, at the at the Texas A&M Health Science Center in Round Rock.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: Equal Numbers of District Voters — or District Constituents?
When political districts are based on population, each official represents the same number of people. If the lines were based instead on voting-age populations, their districts could have large variations in the numbers of people — voters plus nonvoters — they represent and serve. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
State Rep. Reynolds Guilty of Ambulance-Chasing
State Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, convicted of five counts of illegal solicitation of legal clients last week, was sentenced Monday to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine, but plans to appeal the verdict and will seek reelection in 2016.. Full Story
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![Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, during a House Environmental Regulations Committee meeting on April 16, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Court: Texas Elections Should Proceed with Current Maps
The state’s 2016 elections for Congress and the Texas House can proceed under the current political maps, a three-judge federal panel in San Antonio said late Friday. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Ahead of 2017 Session, Straus Issues Directives for Texas House
House Speaker Joe Straus issued more than 150 interim charges Wednesday, directing committees to study issues such as the effectiveness of border security operations and the impact of the plummeting cost of oil on the local economy. Full Story
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![Texas House Speaker Joe Straus is shown during a June 9, 2015, interview with The Texas Tribune.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
2015 Tribune Festival: Videos of the Keynote Sessions
During the keynote sessions of the 2015 Texas Tribune Festival, we featured one-on-one conversations with Dan Patrick, Joe Straus, Nancy Pelosi and Julián Castro. You can watch those interviews and videos of our other keynote sessions here. Full Story
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![The 2015 Texas Tribune Festival's keynote sessions included one-on-one conversations with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (clockwise, from top left), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Texas House Speaker Joe Straus. There was also a panel discussion on the 2016 presidential race.]()
Credit: Illustration by Shelby Knowles -
Video: Their Last Sine Die
Here's video of the 2015 Texas Tribune Festival's "Their Last Sine Die" panel, which featured former state Rep. Joe Farias and state Reps. Patricia Harless and Jim Keffer. Full Story
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