Biden makes first Texas trip as a 2020 presidential candidate, pitching new education plan
The former vice president was making a two-day swing through Texas, with stops planned in Houston and Dallas. Full Story
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![Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign stop in Philadelphia, Pa. on May 18, 2019.]()
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Analysis: Tinkering with the 2020 elections in the Texas Legislature
The power of incumbency is more than raising money for campaigns and having a well-known political name. Changing the state's election laws — or even debating issues that resonate strongly with voters — can set the rules and frame the arguments for the next election cycle. Full Story
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![Voter wait in line outside Marshall Middle School, one of several polling places in Houston being kept open an hour longer after polls opened late with issues including election machine technical problems that caused delays in voting.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Castro's out and Hegar's in but other Democrats still eyeing John Cornyn's seat
Hegar, who drew national attention last year with a viral campaign ad, is the most high-profile Democrat in the race. But others are weighing whether to jump in after Castro decided to bow out. Full Story
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![Clockwise from left: Houston Councilwoman Amanda Edwards, former Democratic Congressman Chris Bell, State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, and MJ Hegar.]()
Credit: Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
"I can do a better job": O'Rourke acknowledges need for campaign pivot
Two months in to his presidential bid — and no longer flying high — the former El Paso congressman is making clear he needs to do more to take his message national. Full Story
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![Democratic presidential candidate Beto OâRourke on The View on May 14, 2019.]()
Credit: Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Gina Ortiz Jones running again to unseat Texas U.S. Rep. Will Hurd
Jones, a former Air Force intelligence officer, lost to Hurd last year by a razor-thin margin. Full Story
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![Gina Ortiz Lopez, a candidate running for US Congress district 23 during an event at LiftFund in San Antonio on February 20, 2018]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Chris Bell, former Democratic congressman, might run for U.S. Senate in 2020 against John Cornyn
Bell is a former gubernatorial candidate, congressman and member of the Houston City Council. Full Story
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![Former Democratic congressman Chris Bell.]()
Credit: Illustration by John Jordan/The Texas Tribune -
Julián Castro unveils education plan with focus on pre-K, tuition-free college
It's the second policy rollout from the Democratic presidential candidate. Full Story
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![Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro speaks to supporters at a fundraiser at Native Hostel in Austin on May 8, 2019.]()
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Texas lawmakers see a more engaged Gov. Greg Abbott. Will it pay off?
Once knocked as detached, the governor has become more involved in a legislative session hinging on two big-ticket items he's prioritized: school finance and property tax reform. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott chats with state Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, on the House Floor on April 30, 2019.]()
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Beto O'Rourke, once the talk of the 2020 field, settles in for long haul
Two months into his campaign, the Democratic presidential candidate is pressing forward with an aggressive campaign under a dimmer spotlight. Full Story
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![Presidential Candidate Beto OâRourke addresses the press in Iowa on May 8, 2019.]()
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Beto O'Rourke's impeachment rhetoric shifts as Mueller report sinks in
As a U.S. Senate candidate last year, O'Rourke didn't go out of his way to talk impeachment. Full Story
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![Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke speaks with reporters Sunday in Red Oak, Iowa on May 5, 2019.]()
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Five high-profile Democrats descend on Texas as 2020 spotlight on state grows
Through Sunday, the state will see visits from Stacey Abrams, Pete Buttigieg, Julián Castro, Kirsten Gillibrand and Beto O'Rourke. Their party, though still a minority in Texas, is becoming ascendant in a state once considered unshakably Republican. Full Story
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![Presidential candidate and former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke speaks at the Paul Quinn College commencement ceremony in Dallas on May 4, 2019.]()
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Julián Castro hits 65,000-donor threshold to secure spot in first presidential debate
The Democratic presidential contender had recently made a big public push to meet the criteria. Full Story
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![Julián Castro, the former mayor of San Antonio and the former secretary of House and Urban Development, announced his candidacy for the 2020 Democratic Presidential nomination on Jan. 12, 2019. Castro made the announcement in Guadalupe Plaza in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Beto O'Rourke signs "No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge" after weeks of pressure
The Democratic presidential candidate also said he was returning campaign contributions that had run afoul of the pledge. Full Story
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![Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke, 46, speaks with supporters during a three day road trip across Iowa, in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, U.S., March 15, 2019. REUTERS/Ben Brewer]()
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Joaquin Castro won't challenge John Cornyn for U.S. Senate seat
After months of speculation that he would run for statewide office, the fourth-term congressman has decided to run for reelection in the U.S. House. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, speaks at the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus Press Conference on April 17, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Beto O'Rourke unveils plan to fight climate change
In the first major policy rollout of his presidential campaign, O'Rourke focuses on one of the most dominant issues in his party. Full Story
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![Presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke speaks at a rally in El Paso on March 30, 2019, his first in Texas since announcing his bid on March 13.]()
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Joaquin Castro's U.S. Senate deliberations baffle state and national Democrats
The San Antonio congressman is slated to announce next week whether he'll run against Republican U.S. Sen John Cornyn. That will follow weeks of frustration from within his party over a perceived delay in a decision. Full Story
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![Congressman Joaquin Castro listens to comments during A Symposium on Immigration by the Texas Tribune at the University of Texas San Antonio's downtown campus.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
MJ Hegar "not at all" backing away from celebrity supporters as John Cornyn targets Patton Oswalt
"We can talk all day about where our support is coming from," said Hegar, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn's latest Democratic opponent, in an interview. Full Story
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Analysis: Unseating John Cornyn won’t come cheap, and MJ Hegar knows it
The senator's first serious official challenger has a good story, ran a good race in 2018 and has a good bank of loud supporters cheering her on. But the way to measure Hegar's race is the same way Beto O'Rourke's challenge to Sen. Ted Cruz was measured — by how much money she can raise. Full Story
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![MJ Hegar.]()
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On the road to 2020: I’m Patrick Svitek, and I cover politics for The Texas Tribune.
Texans need to know who’s vying to represent them and how their policies would affect people's daily lives. That's where we come in. Full Story
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Democratic 2020 candidates pitch platforms to women of color, black mayors in early swing through Texas
Both Texans running for president were joined by their fellow Democratic candidates at forums hosted by She the People and the African American Mayors Association in Houston. Topics included voting rights, health care and criminal justice. Full Story
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![The audience listens at the She the People Presidential Forum at Texas Southern University in Houston on Wednesday April 24, 2019. Eight Democratic presidential candidates attended to answer questions.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune
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