The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
Texas’ new voter identification law fully absolves the state from discriminating against minority voters in 2011, and courts should not take further action in a battle over the state’s old voter ID law, President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice argued in a legal filing. Full Story
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Decorated Air Force veteran MJ Hegar is hoping to flip a reliably Republican congressional district that includes one of the country's largest military bases. Full Story
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"Family friends" of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are continuing to pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into his effort to fight securities fraud charges. Full Story
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During an interview on KUT's Texas Standard, Lawrence Wright talked about his latest piece in The New Yorker, including strong words from House Speaker Joe Straus on the "bathroom bill." Full Story
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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, visited the Democratic stronghold of McAllen for the Fourth of July — and received an earful from protesters at one event. Full Story
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The Texas Supreme Court on Friday threw out a lower court ruling that said spouses of gay and lesbian public employees are entitled to government-subsidized same-sex marriage benefits. Full Story
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President Donald Trump has yet to nominate candidates for a dozen positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says his name has been floated for some of the vacancies. Full Story
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The Texas Republican Party's platform – a 26-page document covering the party's official positions on everything from tax reform to bathroom regulations – is being touted more boldly by the the party's new chairman. Full Story
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Here’s a look at the state-vs.-local fight over ride-hailing regulations, what the new state law means for drivers and customers, and how some Texans feel about the changes. Full Story
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The two U.S. Senators from Texas took opposing positions on the Senate GOP's long-awaited plan to overhaul the American health care system Thursday. Full Story
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True The Vote says it’s running short on the cash needed to complete an audit of 2016 presidential voting — an effort Donald Trump, while spreading unproven claims of fraud, applauded in his first days in the White House. Full Story
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After four days, seven stories, piles of graphics and one podcast about the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll, a handful of things stuck out. Full Story
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U.S. Rep. Pete Olson on Tuesday walked back comments he had made on local radio in which he accused — without evidence — former President Bill Clinton of admitting to the murder of deceased aide Vincent Foster. Full Story
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After years positioning himself as a principled bulwark against spineless moderates, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is now at the center of efforts to pass an Obamacare overhaul bill out of the U.S. Senate. Full Story
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State Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, said his office was "grossly misled" by a white nationalist group that wanted him to sponsor a rally at the Texas Capitol. Full Story
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The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday it was taking up a case from Wisconsin on political redistricting. What could the move mean for Texas, which is prepping for its own redistricting trial next month? Full Story
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The Texas Ethics Commission fined Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller a total of $2,750 to resolve two complaints accusing him of improper campaign accounting. Full Story
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A barrage of court rulings has forced Texas leaders to confront whether they strayed too far in enacting voting laws found to have disproportionately burdened minorities. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott remains Texas voters' favorite state official, with more voters giving him good grades than bad, and the Republican voters he depends on heaping him with approval they're not giving to potential rivals, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Immigration and border security remain atop Texas voters' list of most important issues facing the state, crowding out jobs, the economy and other issues, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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