Rogue Texas elector explains decision to back Ron Paul
Texas elector Bill Greene added one final twist to a wild presidential race when he voted for former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Lake Jackson, on Dec. 19. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/12/19/BDD_1473_group_photo.jpg)
-
![Electoral College members pose in front of the Capitol Christmas tree after completing their business at the Texas Capitol on Dec. 19, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Dan Patrick announces he's running for re-election
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick formally announced Monday he's running for re-election, looking to finally quell speculation he's interested in higher office. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/09/Patrick-2.jpg)
![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick held a press conference in Austin on Monday to announce he's running for re-election.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Dan Patrick uncertain if "votes are there" for constitutional carry gun bill
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Monday he was uncertain whether support exists in the Legislature for so-called "constitutional carry," which would give all Texans the right to openly carry a firearm — with or without a permit. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/05/Bathroom-1.jpg)
![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at the Texas Capitol on Jan. 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman / The Texas Tribune -
Once again, the Texas Legislature is mostly white, male, middle-aged
Here’s a look at the demographics of the 85th Legislature by lawmakers’ race, gender, age, education and religion. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/15/IMG_9835.jpg)
![The 84th legislative session ran from Jan. 13 through Jun. 1. State lawmakers enhanced gun rights, allowed epilepsy patients to use medicinal cannabis oil and outlawed local bans on fracking.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Top Texas Republicans meet with Taiwanese leader amid new tensions with China
Top Texas Republicans met Sunday with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen amid new tensions with China over the U.S. relationship with Taiwan, a country the United States hasn't officially recognized since 1979. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/08/Abbott_and_Taiwan_TT_2.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott meets with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.]()
Credit: Gov. Abbott's Flickr account -
Rodney Ellis leaves Texas Senate with criminal justice legacy
The 2017 legislative session will open without former state Sen. Rodney Ellis, a 26-year lawmaker who became a criminal justice reform titan in the upper chamber. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/02/17/_CMS_ACLUpress0239Ellis.jpg)
![Retiring Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, listens to testimony during the Senate Committee on State Affairs hearing on religious freedom on Feb. 17, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
News of Rep. Dawnna Dukes' change in plans fuels questions for potential successors
As a news report came out Saturday that state Rep. Dawnna Dukes no longer plans to leave office, the hopefuls looking to succeed her in House District 46 were left wondering whether there was still a campaign left to be run. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/02/05/_DSC7923.jpg)
![Texas State Representative Dawnna Dukes is honored at the unveiling of the African American Portrait Project at the African American Cultural and heritage Facility in Austin, Texas. June 9, 2014.]()
Credit: Charlie Pearce -
With "bathroom bill," Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick plows into "tough fight"
While Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has called a so-called bathroom bill a legislative priority, the issue has largely cooled off on the national stage and opposition to similar legislation in Texas had begun to gain momentum. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/05/Bathroom-2.jpg)
![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst unveil the text of Senate Bill 6, which would require transgender people to use bathrooms in public schools, government buildings and universities based on “biological sex,” on Jan. 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman / The Texas Tribune -
For Rep. Dawnna Dukes, delayed resignation yields bigger pension check
State Rep. Dawnna Dukes announced her retirement in September, but doesn't plan to make it official until Tuesday. That would make her annual pension payout $3,220 bigger. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/02/27/Dukes_HeritageFestTT_1.jpg)
![State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, speaks with media following the presentation of a $15,000 scholarship donation to Huston-Tillotson University at the African American Heritage Festival on the University campus in Austin, TX on Feb. 27, 2016.]()
Credit: Graphic by Gabriel Cristóver Pérez -
U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson to retire from Congress
U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson announced Friday morning that he will not seek re-election to represent his Plano-based North Texas seat in Congress. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/01/11/SamJohnson.jpg)
![U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Richardson]()
-
Texas files suit against FDA over execution drug (video)
In the Roundup: Texas sues the FDA over an execution drug, state Rep. Armando Martinez is shot by "celebratory gunfire" and the 85th Legislative Session is about to kick off. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/010617_Still.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Rep. Beto O'Rourke "very likely" to run for Sen. Ted Cruz's seat in 2018
U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke said Thursday he is all but certain to make a run for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's seat in 2018. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/11/04/7C2A1736.jpg)
![Tribune Conversation with U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke D-El Paso on November 4, 2016]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Arrington, a freshman in Congress, bucks trend by moving family to D.C.
Lubbock Republican Jodey Arrington, who was sworn in this week as one of the new members of the U.S. House, is moving his family to Washington. It is an unusual choice, both in the Texas delegation and in the rest of Congress. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/04/Veasey_Ratcliff_Arrington.jpg)
![(L.-R.) U.S. Reps. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, John Ratcliff, R-Heath and Jodey Arrington, R-Lubbock.]()
Credit: Veasey: Chris Maddaloni/Ratcliff: Bob Daemmrich/Arrington: Facebook -
Rick Perry resigns from board of Dallas company building Dakota Access Pipeline
Following his appointment by President-elect Donald Trump to be the country's next energy secretary, former Gov. Rick Perry has resigned from the board of Dallas pipeline company Energy Transfer Partners. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/05/06/7C2A9793.jpg)
![Gov. Rick Perry addresses media at a press conference following the unveiling of his official portrait at the Texas Capitol on May 6, 2016]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Former Bush operative Matthew Dowd mulls challenging Cruz for Senate
Matthew Dowd, a longtime Texas operative in both Republican and Democratic politics, is considering running against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCB8655.jpg)
![Political commentator Matthew Dowd speaks at a Texas Tribune event on June 28th, 2012.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Following North Carolina's lead, Dan Patrick unveils so-called “bathroom bill”
Texas Republicans on Thursday unveiled Senate Bill 6, which would require transgender people to use bathrooms in public schools, government buildings and public universities based on “biological sex.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/05/A95I8407_corrected1.jpg)
![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst unveil the text of Senate Bill 6, which would require transgender people to use bathrooms in public schools, government buildings and universities based on “biological sex,” on Jan. 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Ted Cruz dismisses concerns over Russian role in election
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, dismissed concerns Thursday about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, calling them an effort to undermine Donald Trump's victory. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/09/07/TRIBUNE_JUDGES_CRUZ.jpg)
![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., to consider five nominees to fill vacancies on federal courts in Texas. The hearing was Sept. 7, 2016.]()
Credit: Allison Shelley -
Ahead of hearings, Rick Perry and Rex Tillerson meet with key U.S. senators
Key U.S. senators appeared more comfortable Wednesday with former Texas Gov. Rick Perry being the next U.S. energy secretary than they were with former Exxon Mobil chief Rex Tillerson being the next U.S. secretary of state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/12/13/Tillerson-Perry.jpg)
![ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO Rex Tillerson and Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry.]()
Credit: Rueters / Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: Dithering judges asked to rule on Texas political maps
The judges overseeing litigation on Texas redistricting haven't done anything public for two years. The lawyers who sued the state over its political maps are trying to get the judges to chirp or get off the perch. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/RedistrictingAndLaw.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Straus approaches session without a challenger for speakership
With a week until the 85th Legislative Session begins, House Speaker Joe Straus is without something he has had before every session since he first took the helm of the chamber: a challenger for the gavel. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/09/13/JoeStrausDallas_010.JPG)
![Joe Straus, Texas Speaker of the House, at an 85th Legislative Session preview at the Dallas Regional Chamber on Sept. 13, 2016.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune