Politics & Policy
April 7, 2022
Greg Abbott’s Latest Border Theater
The governor's plans to bus migrants to D.C. and ramp up vehicle inspections at ports of entry have little to do with federal immigration policy.
Politics & Policy
Reporting and commentary on the Legislature, campaigns, and elected officials
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Politics & Policy
April 6, 2022
A Democratic Congressman’s Gift to the GOP
By chasing an early retirement and triggering a special election, veteran Rep. Filemon Vela of Brownsville has opened up a big opportunity for Republican candidate Mayra Flores.
Politics & Policy
April 5, 2022
Bad News for George P.—Lots of Texas Republicans Just Don’t Like Bushes
Two-fifths of Texas Republicans say they would never vote for a Bush.
Politics & Policy
April 5, 2022
A Texas County Welcomed a Border Militia Last Fall. Now Some Officials Have Grown Weary of It.
The Patriots for America answered Kinney County's call for help cracking down on immigration. The group's methods concern civil liberties groups.
Politics & Policy
April 4, 2022
Texas Abortion Providers Feel “Ignored” by the Biden Administration
After the state’s abortion ban went into effect last year, the president promised a response that experts say has not materialized.
Politics & Policy
April 2, 2022
Texas Log Cabin Republicans Will Settle for a Slightly-Bigger-Tent GOP
At an event of the group of “GLBT” conservatives in Houston, speakers studiously avoided discussion of their party’s anti-trans policies.
Politics & Policy
March 29, 2022
Lina Hidalgo Aides Are Accused of Steering a Contract to an Ally. Internal Communications Paint a Murkier Picture.
Documents shared with Texas Monthly reveal the thinking of some of the Harris County Judge’s staffers in awarding an $11 million bid.
Politics & Policy
March 28, 2022
A Fundamentalist East Texas Church Bought a Sawmill. Injuries and Child Labor Violations Began to Pile Up.
Almost 25 percent of severe injuries at mills in the state since 2017 have occurred at a single facility, owned by members of the Church of Wells.
Politics & Policy
March 21, 2022
Democratic Voters Aren’t Behaving as if They Think Ken Paxton Is Vulnerable
Texas’s attorney general is seen as the most beatable statewide Republican, but Rochelle Garza and Joe Jaworski are struggling to motivate the Democratic base.
Film & TV
March 19, 2022
A Christian Parent of a Trans Child Battles the Texas Government in a New Doc
‘Mama Bears’ ties together the stories of three conservative families with LGBTQ children, but as the only trans child in the film, Kai Shappley stands out.
Politics & Policy
March 15, 2022
Wendy Davis Lost Her Fight Against Abortion Restrictions. A New Documentary Pretends She Won.
‘Shouting Down Midnight’ is a hagiography of the state senator that tries to impose a triumph narrative for Texas Democrats where none exists.
Politics & Policy
March 14, 2022
How a 27-Year-Old Texan Became the Face of Russia’s American TV Network as It Imploded
The Russian-funded network may have folded, but Texas native Rachel Blevins is still propagandizing for Putin.
Politics & Policy
March 10, 2022
Why Can’t the Biggest County in Texas Run an Election?
The new voting law passed by the Legislature created headaches for those who cast ballots, but the problems with election administration in Harris County run far deeper.
Politics & Policy
March 10, 2022
Texas Democrats Have a Recruitment Problem
Beyond Beto O’Rourke, the candidates on the party’s statewide slate are short on experience in elective office and in statewide campaigns.
Politics & Policy
March 9, 2022
Latinas Are Pushing a Political Revolution in South Texas—to the Right
Monica De La Cruz, Mayra Flores, and Adrienne Peña-Garza, all from Hidalgo County, hope to flip congressional seats across the region.
Politics & Policy
March 8, 2022
Republicans and Democrats Are Both Claiming Victory Based on South Texas Primary Turnout. Who’s Right?
Trying to use March voter counts to predict results in November, as many politicos have done over the past week, is fraught.
Health
March 8, 2022
Texas Aimed to Ban Abortion Pills—But the Law Has Had Little Effect
“Medication abortion,” already the state’s most common method of ending a pregnancy, has only gained in popularity since the legislature restricted it.
Politics & Policy
March 7, 2022
Is It Illegal to Have a Transgender Child in Texas?
Answers to your questions about the state's new rules targeting transgender kids.
Sports
March 7, 2022
How Baylor Great Brittney Griner Became a Political Prisoner in Russia
Over the weekend, news broke that the WNBA star, one of the best basketball players Texas has ever produced, has been in custody for weeks.
Politics & Policy
March 2, 2022
Results: Texas Primary Election 2022
Greg Abbott wins the GOP nomination outright, Ken Paxton is heading to a runoff against George P. Bush, and democratic socialists running for U.S. House have a good night.
Politics & Policy
February 25, 2022
Forget About November. Thanks to Gerrymandering, the Texas Primary Matters More Than Ever.
The new maps have done away with nearly every competitive district, meaning most races will be decided next week or in the May runoffs.
Politics & Policy
February 25, 2022
The Attorney General’s Race Is Texas Democrats’ Best Statewide Pickup Opportunity
With Republican incumbent Ken Paxton's legal troubles, Democrats have plenty of contenders this year.
Politics & Policy
February 23, 2022
How the West Campaign Was Lost
Former Texas GOP chair Allen West is a darling of the right wing. But the grassroots in Texas is not the kingmaker it used to be.
Politics & Policy
February 21, 2022
Marjorie Taylor Greene, Madison Cawthorn, and Mike Lindell Walk Into the Houston ’Burbs
The three Trumpian firebrands came to support U.S. House candidate Christian Collins, whose primary run is dividing prominent Republicans.
Politics & Policy
February 18, 2022
Brazoria County Is Poised to Elect Its First Black Congressman. Not Everyone Is Happy About It.
Brazoria County is diversifying fast, but its top elected officials are all white.
Politics & Policy
February 17, 2022
One Candidate Shows Her Breasts. Another Dies Tragically. A Third Is Accused of Graft.
The campaign for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, usually a low-profile affair, is getting more attention—and that’s a good thing.
Politics & Policy
February 17, 2022
Some of Texas’s “Big Lie” Candidates Are Looking Like Big Flops
In Texas's Republican primaries, the stop-the-steal message doesn’t seem to be catching fire.
Politics & Policy
February 15, 2022
Louie Gohmert Is Pitching Himself as Ken Paxton Without the Baggage. Will It Work?
The nine-term congressman and right-wing firebrand from Tyler is staking his career on unseating the indicted attorney general.
Politics & Policy
February 14, 2022
Will the Bush Dynasty Die With George P. Bush?
Jeb’s son is running for his political life in the Texas attorney general’s race. But Donald Trump may get the last laugh.
Politics & Policy
February 13, 2022
Can Justice Democrats Swing Two Texas Congressional Districts to the Left?
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez came to Texas to back two candidates who share her platform.
Politics & Policy
February 12, 2022
Don Huffines Won the War of Ideas. Did It Cost Him a Chance to Unseat Greg Abbott?
He decided to mount a GOP primary challenge when COVID-19 policy was animating Texas’s right wing. But the governor stole his thunder.
Politics & Policy
February 11, 2022
In a Newly Competitive South Texas, Democrats Are Clashing Over the Best Way Forward
The race to replace state senator Eddie Lucio Jr. features four candidates, each with a competing vision for the future of their party.
Politics & Policy
February 9, 2022
Retiring Kel Seliger Hopes Someone Else in the Texas GOP Will Stand Up To Dan Patrick
The old-school conservative spoke with us about partisan gerrymandering, Patrick’s hold on the state Senate, and Donald Trump.
Politics & Policy
February 9, 2022
Kim Ogg Blames Rising Crime on Houston Judges. 14 of Her Prosecutors Are Vying to Unseat Them.
The lawyers in the district attorney’s office say they decided to run on their own, reflecting internal Democratic divisions over public safety.
Politics & Policy
February 4, 2022
What Do Texans Want? Progressive Policies and Conservative Politicians.
That’s among our four takeaways from recent polling, as the primary election approaches.
Politics & Policy
February 2, 2022
A Flying Motorcycle? This Texas Congressional Candidate Has One in the Works.
Dan McQueen, best known for serving as Corpus Christi mayor for just 37 days, now wants to fly his personal autonomous aerial vehicle to D.C.
Politics & Policy
January 30, 2022
Texas Republican Candidates Need Donald Trump More Than He Needs Them
At the former president’s Saturday evening rally in Conroe, even candidates whose opponents he’d endorsed were out in full force.
Politics & Policy
January 29, 2022
Who Is Baroness Kandy Kaye Horn, the Candidate With All Those Billboards?
The relative unknown has spent $1.4 million on her primary against Greg Abbott—on par with Allen West, a serious challenger. But why?
Politics & Policy
January 27, 2022
Is Henry Cuellar’s Political Support Strong Enough to Weather an FBI Raid?
So far, no major backer has publicly abandoned him. But one group has suspended TV ads on his behalf, and a major paper has endorsed his primary opponent.
Politics & Policy
January 26, 2022
A Texas GOP Candidate’s New Claim: School Cafeteria Tables Are Being Lowered for “Furries”
The allegation isn’t true. But that isn’t stopping some politicians and right-wing activists from running with it.
Border & Immigration
January 24, 2022
Presidio Officials Worried About a New Trade Route for Truckers. Locals Saw an Opportunity.
With an obscure change in Mexican trade policy, the cash-strapped border town started seeing more visitors.
Politics & Policy
January 19, 2022
Is Dan Crenshaw in Trouble?
The rising GOP star's district was redrawn to protect him—but it might instead have created a problem for the representative.
Energy
January 18, 2022
The Texas Electric Grid Failure Was a Warm-up
One year after the deadly blackout, Texas officials have done little to prevent the next one—which could be far worse.
Politics & Policy
January 17, 2022
Sheriff A.J. Louderback Is a Fox News Staple. Now He’s Running for Congress.
The Jackson County lawman is running to represent southeast Texas on a Trump-style “America First” platform. There’s only one problem: Trump endorsed his opponent.
Politics & Policy
January 14, 2022
Why Joy Diaz Is Challenging Beto O’Rourke in the Democratic Primary for Governor
The daughter of Mexico City missionaries and former public radio reporter thinks the El Paso congressman can’t reach Republicans—and she believes in miracles.
Politics & Policy
January 11, 2022
Greg Abbott’s GOP Challengers Debated Without Him on Monday—and Gave Him Hell
Don Huffines, Chad Prather, and Allen West had plenty to say about the governor’s failings—all in perfect unison.
Politics & Policy
January 10, 2022
The Republican Race for Attorney General Will Be the Weirdest, Wildest—And Most Telling—Texas Election in 2022
Scandal-plagued incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton faces a Bush, a congressional performance artist, and a former state Supreme Court justice.
Politics & Policy
January 6, 2022
Troy Nehls Defended the House Floor From Rioters. Then He Got to Work Defending Trump.
The representative from the Houston suburbs faced down the mob on January 6, then voted along with its desires.
Politics & Policy
January 6, 2022
Texas Contributed More Than Just Rioters to the January 6 Insurrection
Our leaders aided and abetted Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the election more than those in any other state.
Politics & Policy
December 29, 2021
Stories We Wish We’d Published This Year
There was a lot of great coverage of happenings in Texas this year. Our staff selected its favorite stories.