Politics & Policy
January 26, 2023
How to Survive the Texas Legislature
The ways of the Texas Legislature are confoundingly weird. Here’s a guide to the madness.
By
Christopher Hooks
![Christopher Hooks's Profile Photo]()
and
Forrest Wilder
![Forrest Wilder's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
Reporting and commentary on the Legislature, campaigns, and elected officials
Politics & Policy
January 19, 2023
Michael McCaul Is the Most Powerful Texan in the House. Will He Be Able to Lead Foreign Affairs With a Divided Caucus?
The new chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee discusses divisions in the House on continuing aid to Ukraine, the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and more.
Politics & Policy
January 18, 2023
Update: Family Members Press Congress on the Korean War Memorial Wall’s Errors
Families of those who died in the Korean War are asking Congress to investigate why their relatives’ names aren’t on the recently raised memorial wall in Washington, D.C.
By
Michael Hall
![Michael Hall's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
January 18, 2023
Opinion: Texas Should Accept Medicaid Expansion
By not doing so, the state is jeopardizing the health of its most vulnerable populations and leaving billions of savings on the table a year.
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
The Pastor of Dallas’s First Baptist on W. A. Criswell, Donald Trump, and God Himself
Robert Jeffress resuscitated a once powerful church—and courted controversy too.
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
The “Come and Take It” Flag Now Symbolizes Something It Never Stood For
On T-shirts and bumper stickers, the flag that flew during the Texas Revolution has had its cannon replaced by an AR-15. Would our ancestors approve?
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
The Rise and Fall of the Bush Family Dynasty
You can’t blame Jeb.
By
Jeff Salamon
![Jeff Salamon's Profile Photo]()
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
Why I Fought for Mexican American Civil Rights in Texas
José Angel Gutiérrez cofounded the Raza Unida Party, one of the most ambitious political forces to emerge from the Chicano Movement.
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
A Letter to My Fellow Black Texans About Juneteenth
The day commemorating the emancipation of slaves in Texas says as much about our future as our past.
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
Sixteen of the Most Influential Texas Political Figures of the Past 50 Years
From John Connally to Lina Hidalgo, these leaders have made Texas the bellwether state for the nation.
By
Christopher Hooks
![Christopher Hooks's Profile Photo]()
and
Texas Monthly
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
The Daughters of the Republic of Texas Haven’t Left the Alamo
The organization may have lost the right to manage the historical site, but key members still have a major influence on its future.
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
Comparing Two of the Most Powerful Lieutenant Governors in Texas History
Like Bill Hobby, Dan Patrick has made the most of an inherently powerful position.
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
Breaking! A Democrat and a Republican Have a Nice, Substantive Conversation
Senfronia Thompson and Tom Craddick are two of the longest-serving Texas legislators—and two of the most collegial . . . usually.
Politics & Policy
January 13, 2023
Opinion: Lethal Injection Was Once Considered a “Less Barbaric” Form of Execution. Now It’s Clear It’s Inhumane.
After what’s been deemed “the year of the botched execution,” Texas should end the practice.
Politics & Policy
January 12, 2023
The Lege Sets Its Sights on Voting Rights (Again)
Republicans in the Texas House and Senate have filed a blizzard of bills seeking to crack down on alleged voter fraud and increase state control over elections. Here’s an annotated guide.
Politics & Policy
January 11, 2023
Texas Lawmakers Want to Make It Harder to Know What They’re Doing
State leaders used to invite coverage of their activity. Now the Texas Legislature is making reporting more difficult than ever.
Border & Immigration
January 9, 2023
In El Paso, Joe Biden Embraces Trump’s Border Policies
The president’s brief trip to the Texas border city Sunday inflamed critics of his immigration policies on both the left and right.
Politics & Policy
January 9, 2023
Cruz Watch: Apparently It’s Legal to Throw Cans of White Claw at the Senator’s Head
“Ain’t no laws when you’re drinking Claws” appears to hold up in court.
By
Dan Solomon
![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
and
Ben Rowen
![Ben Rowen's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
January 9, 2023
A Republican Takes Aim at Austin’s Logistical Support for Abortion
Representative Candy Noble wants to ensure that governmental entities (i.e., the Capital City) can’t fund travel, childcare, or other support for abortion-seekers.
Politics & Policy
January 5, 2023
Chip Roy, Bless His Heart
The Central Texas representative who is helping block Kevin McCarthy’s ascent to Speaker of the House has a long history of obstructionism.
Politics & Policy
January 5, 2023
A GOP Lawmaker in Texas Wants to Try Again to Ban Puppy Mills
Representative Jared Patterson’s bill is a second swing at stopping pet stores from getting animals from out-of-state for-profit breeders.
By
Dan Solomon
![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
January 3, 2023
Is Ron DeSantis the Most Powerful Republican in Texas?
Forget Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick. Florida’s governor will be calling the shots when the Texas Legislature returns in January.
Politics & Policy
December 30, 2022
Stories We Wish We’d Published This Year
Fifteen staffers selected their favorite writing about our state that outlets other than Texas Monthly produced in 2022.
Politics & Policy
December 28, 2022
Every Texan Gets $900! And Other Ideas for Spending the State’s Massive Surplus
What should we do with our $27 billion windfall? We asked a variety of Texans for their brightest ideas.
Politics & Policy
December 28, 2022
More Trouble at the ‘Lord’s Mill’
Federal inspectors cited a sawmill run by members of the insular Church of Wells with multiple safety violations.
Politics & Policy
December 22, 2022
A Federal Court Will Rule on Book Bans in Llano. Many in the Community Have Already Made Up Their Minds.
Over the last year, the pulling of a dozen books off county library shelves has split the Hill Country town.
Politics & Policy
December 21, 2022
A Texas GOP Lawmaker Wants to Increase “Viewpoint Diversity” by Banning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Higher Ed
The legislation would rewrite a portion of the education code to target programs that represent marginalized groups.
By
Dan Solomon
![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
December 20, 2022
The Migration Crisis in El Paso Could Soon Grow Worse—Much Worse
The looming disaster has thrown both Governor Abbott’s and President Biden’s failed border policies into sharp relief.
Politics & Policy
December 16, 2022
A Texas Republican Defies His Colleagues on Ukraine, While Louie Gohmert Can’t Stop Believing
The lame-duck congressman looks to leave a mark, while his colleagues float a big border plan and do some culture warring.
By
Ben Rowen
![Ben Rowen's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
December 14, 2022
A Few Republican Lawmakers Said They Want Exceptions to Texas’s Abortion Ban. A Democrat’s Bill Proposes Some.
Austin Democratic representative Donna Howard’s legislation seems written to try to appeal to Republicans.
By
Dan Solomon
![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
December 9, 2022
Austin Powers: A Republican Lawmaker Wants the Texas Legislature to Take Over the Capital City
Representative Jared Patterson is following a long legislative tradition of trying to troll Austin.
Politics & Policy
December 9, 2022
Texas’s Abortion “Bounty” Law Just Lost Its First Test. Here’s What That Means.
The plaintiff was found to lack legal standing to bring the case. That has big implications—and not just for abortion laws.
By
Dan Solomon
![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
December 6, 2022
Texas Lege Watch: A Democratic Resolution Would Put Abortion Directly on the Ballot. But It’s Doomed.
Recent history and polling tell us that voters would support a measure to stop lawmakers from restricting abortion access—which is precisely why it’ll never pass.
By
Dan Solomon
![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
December 2, 2022
A Peek Inside Herschel Walker’s Controversial Texas Mansion
The former football star says his campaign for the U.S. Senate began in his home outside Dallas. Will it end there as well?
Politics & Policy
December 1, 2022
Harris County Botched Another Election. The GOP Senses Opportunity.
After an election marred by malfunctioning machines, long lines, and a shortage of paper ballots, Republicans are contemplating big changes in the next Legislature.
Politics & Policy
November 30, 2022
Texas Held an Election. Most Voters Didn’t Come.
Every two years the Democrats claim they will win by turning out new voters. Every two years they fail.
By
Ben Rowen
![Ben Rowen's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
November 21, 2022
Louie Gohmert’s Last Stand, Shuffling Government Spending, and Other Texan Proposals in Congress
Texan legislators in Washington keep their eyes on the important things. Texas Monthly rounded up the latest.
By
Ben Rowen
![Ben Rowen's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
November 18, 2022
Texas Lege Watch: Jared Patterson Wants to Regulate Drag Shows. He Has Trouble Defining Them.
Under his new Texas bill, any community theater that hosts a performance of ‘Peter Pan’ could find itself regulated as a strip club.
By
Dan Solomon
![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
November 16, 2022
Texas Lege Watch: Briscoe Cain Wants to Extend “Baby on Board” by Nine Months
The small-government conservative has proposed a bill to allow pregnant drivers to access carpool lanes.
By
Dan Solomon
![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
November 11, 2022
Texas Democrats: It’s Time for a Celebrity Candidate!
It’s worked for the GOP elsewhere, and nothing else has worked for Democrats here.
By
Dan Solomon
![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
November 10, 2022
Texas Democrats Are the Charlie Brown of Political Parties
Every two years, the party tries to kick the football—and every two years, it misses. Good grief!
Politics & Policy
November 9, 2022
GOP Gerrymandering Made the Texas Midterms Kind of Boring
Only a handful of the state’s 219 legislative and congressional races were competitive. That was by design.
Politics & Policy
November 7, 2022
How to Lose a Texas School Board Campaign in 150 Days
Maryam Zafar, a college junior, wanted to improve the Round Rock schools she had attended. Then she saw how hard it was.
Politics & Policy
November 4, 2022
Why Is Ken Paxton Sending a Task Force to Monitor Harris County’s Elections?
Local officials and civil rights activists worry that the attorney general could be laying the groundwork for challenging another election.
Politics & Policy
November 3, 2022
Gen Z Is More Liberal Than Older Generations. The Texas Right Has a Plan to Change That—One Local Race at a Time.
Amid a crowded field of conservative youth organizers, Run GenZ is supporting young candidates for local office across the state.
Politics & Policy
November 2, 2022
Inside the Movement to Root Out Nonexistent Election Fraud in Texas
Weston Martinez can’t provide evidence for his claims of fraud in the 2020 election, but he is drawing crowds of right-wing activists across Texas.
Politics & Policy
November 2, 2022
The Mysteries of Texas’s Midterm Elections
Republicans are pursuing South Texas Latinos. Democrats are counting on the Dobbs abortion decision. Nobody knows who’s going to turn out to vote. And the polls are all over the place.
By
Dan Solomon
![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
November 1, 2022
A Federal Judge Jailed Two Leaders of True the Vote
Catherine Engelbrecht and Gregg Phillips refused to disclose the name of a mystery man who supposedly helped them investigate election software company Konnech.
Politics & Policy
October 31, 2022
Can Texas Democrats Make the Election a Referendum on Abortion?
For the first time in fifty years, single-issue abortion voters are pro-choice. Can Texas Democrats capitalize on it?
By
Dan Solomon
![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
October 27, 2022
Can Alexandra del Moral Mealer Save the Harris County GOP?
State Republicans and local business leaders are betting big on the 38-year-old political newcomer, pouring nearly $5 million into her campaign to unseat County Judge Lina Hidalgo. Polls suggest the race is a dead heat.