How Did a Florida Man Become the Face of the Texas Republican Party?
Texas GOP chairman Allen West is at war with the governor and in love with the camera.
Christopher Hooks is a former senior editor at Texas Monthly. Raised in Austin, he has been writing about Texas since 2013, for publications including the Atlantic, Gawker, GQ, Rolling Stone, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, the Texas Observer, and the Washington Post. For Texas Monthly, he has written about redevelopment battles in El Paso; a congressional race in Amarillo; a wet/dry election in Texarkana; a Black Lives Matter rally in Vidor; and a water sommelier in Harlingen. He is probably currently somewhere between those five points.
Texas GOP chairman Allen West is at war with the governor and in love with the camera.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
GOP control of redistricting will cost Democrats for a decade, and out-of-state donors might well decide their money is best spent elsewhere.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
Cornyn's race against MJ Hegar has been relatively sleepy, but that is to the senior senator’s advantage.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
The last year has featured bizarre scandals, lots of bickering, and troubling signs that Tuesday could be rough on the state’s Republican juggernaut.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
The state’s minority party hasn’t had this big an opportunity to shake off its loser mentality in a long, long time.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
For the first time in a decade the Texas House—and influence over redistricting—is in play. Will it slip out of the Democratic party’s grasp once again?
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
State leaders have long tried to correct for the problem of too much democracy. But voters may get the last laugh this election.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
The Texas attorney general has called his 2015 indictment for securities fraud a “witch hunt.” Now, seven of his aides accuse him of corruption.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
The governor’s most recent order on ballot drop-off locations follows a long history of efforts by him and his party to lower voter turnout, and could have an outsized effect on the battle for control of the state House.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
Facing down a potential Democrat-controlled Texas House, the governor has made a hard push to reframe the November election on his terms.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
Both parties’ conventions sidelined politicians from the nation’s second biggest state. They might have had good reason.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
The East Texas Republican tested positive for the coronavirus after refusing to wear a mask—which almost made us forget about his supporters allegedly beating up his opponent’s campaign manager.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
While demonstrators marched in cities and towns across the country, a police union rep, an activist, a legislator, and an attorney sat down to discuss how to break the deadlock and bring about better policing.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
When Texas Republicans gather for their biennial convention, it's usually an impressive show of force. This time, it was an embarrassment.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
The COVID-19 crisis is the predictable result of the governor muddling through things.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
Originally scheduled for May and pushed back because of the coronavirus pandemic, the elections feature a few key races, some scandal-ridden candidates, and many old friends.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
The race to choose a Democratic challenger to John Cornyn has been overshadowed by other news, but it finds the Texas Democratic Party bitterly divided.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
With Donald Trump’s approval rating dropping among his formerly reliable white evangelical base, the administration dispatched the vice president to Robert Jeffress’s First Baptist Church.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
Days after he attended his county party convention, Bill Baker was hospitalized with COVID-19. In three weeks, more than 7,000 Republicans will descend on Houston.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
It’s an unusual and risky campaign strategy: Jackson is trying to appeal primarily to Trump, in the hopes that the voters will follow.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
A month and a half after telling local officials they couldn't mandate masks, the Texas governor congratulated a local official on realizing that, actually, they could.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
It's March 2021 and Democrats are in power again, the state budget is a bloodbath, and the coronavirus stalks the Capitol.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
After GOP leaders in 12 counties posted racist responses to the George Floyd protests, top Republicans declared war on bigotry in their party. It’s not going to be easy.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
The UT professor sees echoes of the past—and hope for the future—in the demonstrations rocking the nation.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
On Saturday, a diverse crowd of 150 showed up in Vidor, once known as a Klan stronghold, to turn their backs on the town's past.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
With a virus-infected economy and an oil bust to boot, the Texas model is facing an unprecedented crisis.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
The resignation of a key election official serves as a warning about the dangers of conducting elections in person during the coronavirus pandemic.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
The Shelley Luther saga gave Texas politicians an excuse to change the conversation, and deflect blame.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
Despite the loud protests, very few Americans are ready to go back to work.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
In the best of times, our politicians can be a frustrating bunch. How are they doing in an unprecedented crisis?
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
The candidate is running in a district that’s home to more Asian Americans than anywhere else in Texas. Her newest campaign ad blames the People's Republic for the coronavirus pandemic.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
The Texas lieutenant governor is among a growing number of politicians who are willing to trade lives to save the economy. It’s a false choice.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
Surprising statements by oil industry leaders have grabbed headlines. But the bigger change is underway more quietly, among young Republicans.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
A high uninsured rate, hospital closures, and poor elder care leave Texas especially vulnerable to a COVID-19 epidemic.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
At a honky-tonk in Dallas, the Democratic party made its move against Bernie—finally.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
Led by a twentysomething Latina, Democrats now run Harris County, offering a glimpse at what things might look like—for better or for worse—if the party finds itself back on top across Texas.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
The departure of the longtime Austin senator—for the greener pastures of higher education—will set off a fierce race for his seat.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
This year is going to feature a lot of confident pronouncements from experts who will be proved wrong again and again.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
Beto & co. came up embarrassingly short, but the result probably doesn’t say all that much about November.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
The author and UT professor believes our country is falling apart—and he has a plan to fix it.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
The governor’s decision makes no sense from a practical perspective, and ultimately, it can’t be explained as a policy choice at all.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick were quick to find a self-serving narrative in the shooting at a church last week.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
Castro’s presidential ambitions have ended, but Texas has likely not heard the last of him.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
The Austin director’s war film is notable for its near-total absence of politics.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
We stumble down memory lane, gawking at the madness and the mayhem of 2010–2019—and looking for an off-ramp.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
Like so much in American conservative politics these days, everything begins and ends with Trump.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
Now that races for the March primary are (mostly) set, here are a few things worth keeping an eye on.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
A.P. Merillat helped send at least 15 people to death row. On Wednesday, Travis Runnels will become the third this year to be executed, even though a former prison official calls Merillat’s testimony “bullshit.”
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
Now that the Texas GOP is trying to present a more diverse face this year, it can't afford to alienate voters in places like Fort Bend County.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
What Poncho Nevarez’s cocaine problem tells us about corruption and impunity at the Texas Capitol.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.