Federal panel rules some of Texas' congressional districts illegal
Some of the state's 36 congressional districts violate either the U.S. Constitution or the federal Voting Rights Act, a panel of three federal judges ruled Friday. Full Story
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Ted Cruz: New health care bill doomed in the Senate without changes
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz said Wednesday that he has "significant concerns" about the new House health care plan, though he's optimistic those differences can be resolved. Full Story
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![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.]()
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Proposed federal health plan brings uncertainty in Texas
After Republicans in Congress unveiled their long-awaited plan to repeal the 2010 health law on Monday, the potential impacts of the proposed bill in Texas are unclear. Full Story
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Paul Ryan raised $5 million during Texas swing
U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan raised $5 million while barnstorming Texas in February, attending nine events and eight meetings in five cities including a tour of the border. Full Story
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![U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan at the Republican National Committee in Washington D.C. on April 12, 2016.]()
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Cruz: Firestorm over U.S. Attorney General Sessions is a "nothingburger"
In a television interview on Thursday, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz said the uproar over Attorney General Jeff Sessions' previous meetings with the Russian ambassador is nothing more than "political theater." Full Story
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![Speaking to reporters after President Donald Trump's address to Congress on Feb. 28, 2017, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz reiterated his desire to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, saying that Americans were suffering from high insurance premiums.]()
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As Trump talks unity, Texas delegation offers a divided response
Among members of Congress, Texans' reactions to President Donald Trump's first joint address to Congress fell along partisan lines. Full Story
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![President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 28, 2017.]()
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Beto O’Rourke is a Mexico-loving liberal in Texas. Can he really beat Ted Cruz?
The Democratic Congressman from El Paso maintains that crime is not the only story about the U.S.-Mexico border, nor even the most important one. The question is: Can he get the people of Texas to see the same thing? Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, spoke Tuesday, Sept. 3, during an El Paso town hall forum on whether the U.S. should take action against Syria.]()
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Most Texans in Congress not planning in-person town halls over recess
Few of the 38 Texans in Congress plan on reaching out to constituents at in-person public forums during this congressional recess, according to a Tribune search of lawmakers' websites and social media. Full Story
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Trump team's alleged Russia ties get muted response from Texas Republicans
Texas Democrats on Capitol Hill are calling for more Congressional oversight, amid news reports of Trump allies communicating with Russian officials. Full Story
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![Donald Trump rallies a crowd of veterans at Drake University on Jan. 28, 2016, while other Republican presidential candidates hold a final Des Moines debate prior to the Iowa caucuses.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texans in Congress raise questions about Russia, Trump administration
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said the Senate should investigate now-former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, according to a news report. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. John Cornyn wraps up his keynote address to delegates at the Republican Party of Texas convention in Dallas on May 13, 2016.]()
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U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela will back Joaquin Castro if he runs for Senate
U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela says he will back U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, should the San Antonio Democrat challenge U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, in Austin for a discussion with Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith, on Monday, Feb. 13, 2017.]()
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Survey of Texans in Congress shows most Republicans back Trump's travel ban
As of late Monday, nearly all of the 38-member Texas congressional delegation had taken a position on President Trump's travel ban executive order. Most Republicans backed the measure, while Democrats viscerally opposed it. 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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Texas congressional delegation largely silent on Trump travel ban
Most members of the Texas congressional delegation remained silent about President Trump's travel ban over the weekend, but one Republican challenged the ban and another — Michael McCaul of Austin — said his input on the order did not include a ban on Muslims. Full Story
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![A protester holds a sign at D/FW airport Saturday.]()
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Texans celebrate Trump at Black Tie and Boots Ball
An estimated 12,000 people brought their best cowboy hats to the Texas State Society's Black Tie and Boots Ball just outside the U.S. capitol on Thursday night. Many Texans there were in a celebratory mood on the eve of a Republican takeover of the White House. Full Story
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![Fans and attendees watch the Lil' Wranglers of College Station, Texas, perform at the 2017 Black Tie & Boots Presidential Inaugural Ball, on the eve of the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, on January 19, 2017.]()
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Six of 11 Texas Democrats in Congress skipping Trump inauguration
U.S. Reps. Filemon Vela, Vicente Gonzalez and Sheila Jackson-Lee announced Thursday they were not attending Friday's inauguration. Vela said 40 migrant students from his district were subject to racial slurs from inauguration attendees. Full Story
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![US Congressman Filemon Vela during evening speech at the Texas Democratic Convention on June 17, 2016]()
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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
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![Tribune Conversation with U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke D-El Paso on November 4, 2016]()
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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
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![(L.-R.) U.S. Reps. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, John Ratcliff, R-Heath and Jodey Arrington, R-Lubbock.]()
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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
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![Political commentator Matthew Dowd speaks at a Texas Tribune event on June 28th, 2012.]()
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Texas Republicans unite behind Speaker Paul Ryan, split on plan to gut ethics office
While all the Republicans from Texas backed U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, some were more comfortable than others with a surprise plan to gut the chambers' ethics office, making for a raucous first day of the new Congress. Full Story
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Texas Congressman on thin ice...on purpose
U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth has tried everything from moving baggage on a runway to housekeeping at a Holiday Inn to better understand the lives of his constituents. This week, he helped out at a local ice skating rink. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, operates an ice-resurfacing machines at a Fort Worth ice skating rink on Dec. 21, 2016, as part of an ongoing effort to perform constituent jobs in his district.]()
Credit: Abby Livingston