Greg Abbott

May 20, 2019

The Culture Wars Come Roaring Back in the Closing Days of the Texas Legislature

The last few days have brought tearful, angry debate over abortion, religious discrimination, and LGBTQ rights.

May 8, 2019

Why the Sales Tax Swap Died a Painful Death

Here died Greg Abbott’s burden-shifting plan, orphaned and alone.

By Christopher Hooks

May 2, 2019

Without the Votes for His Sales Tax Hike, Dan Patrick is Exploring Other Tax Increases

The Big Three are desperate to save their property tax proposal. Among the ideas to buy down property taxes is an increase in the oil and gas severance tax.

April 23, 2019

Attacks on the Dallas DA Signal Trouble for the Criminal Justice Reform Movement

Big-city prosecutors are now driving the conversation around mass incarceration, and some lawmakers and law enforcement officials just can’t abide that.

By Christopher Hooks

April 16, 2019

The Governor Wants to Replace Property Taxes With ‘Consumption’ Taxes. That’s a Terrible Idea.

Many Texans think their property taxes are too high. But the highly regressive sales tax would put even more of a burden on those who can least afford it.

By Christopher Hooks

April 10, 2019

Is the Proposed State Sales Tax Hike Smart Fiscal Policy or a Hail Mary Pass?

The governor, lieutenant governor and speaker line up behind a penny increase to the sales tax to provide property tax relief.

April 1, 2019

Facing U.S. House Investigation for Voter Roll Review, Secretary of State Encourages Students to Vote

The embattled state official visited the Rio Grande Valley to encourage voter participation.

By Mitchell Ferman

News & Politics|

March 18, 2019

Greg Abbott Orders Texas University Boards to Investigate Admissions Policies After Bribery Scandal

The University of Texas at Austin’s men’s tennis coach was among those accused of accepting bribes in a massive federal probe.

Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson prepares for a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington, DC on June 6, 2017.

News & Politics|

March 11, 2019

Selection of Heather Wilson as Finalist for UT El Paso President Spurs Campus Protests

The protesters' key issue with Wilson was her congressional voting record on LGBT issues.

By Robert Moore

March 4, 2019

Texas Court Again Rules Against Government Transparency

It's the latest in a string of legal rulings that have chipped away at the Lone Star State’s once-heralded open records laws.

February 22, 2019

David Whitley’s Secretary of State Confirmation May Now Be Doomed

Multiple reports say all Senate Democrats are unified in opposition to confirming David Whitley—enough to kill the nomination.

Best and Worst Legislators|

February 8, 2019

Best and Worst Legislators in Real Time: Senator Kirk Watson

The Austin senator grills the secretary of state to get to the bottom of the controversial elections advisory.

February 6, 2019

Texan Wrongfully Flagged For Possible Illegal Voting Joins Lawsuit Against Texas Officials

A U.S. citizen for just 10 months, Julieta Garibay has emerged as the face of plaintiffs who say that tens of thousands of Texans have been falsely accused of voter fraud.

By Jessica Reyes

February 5, 2019

Governor Greg Abbott Calls for Significant Reforms on Complex Issues Like Property Taxes, School Safety

In a gentler state of the state speech, the governor also said the federal government has not fulfilled its mandate to protect our border.

January 31, 2019

Former Texas Secretary of State Believes Inaccurate Voting List Should Be Rescinded

The opinion to call the flawed list back comes as Governor Abbott downplayed the inaccuracies as a work in progress.

January 15, 2019

At Inauguration, Greg Abbott Declares It’s “Time for Texas to Deliver Real Education Reform”

The first step in that direction came from Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who announced a bill that would give Texas teachers a $5,000 pay raise.

BBQ|

January 15, 2019

Bring on the 350 Briskets: Eddie Deen is Ready for His Seventh Inauguration BBQ

The Terrell pitmaster will serve smoked meats and sides to an estimated 10,000 people. Good thing he brought his 28-foot-long cutting board.

By Daniel Vaughn

January 8, 2019

Texas House Unanimously Elects Dennis Bonnen New Speaker

The Angleton Republican takes control of the lower chamber as the 86th Legislature convenes.

State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, speaks about border security at a news conference at the Capitol in Austin on Wednesday Jan. 11, 2017.

January 7, 2019

Five Things to Watch in the Upcoming Session of the Texas Legislature

The 86th Legislature convenes at noon on Tuesday. Here's a primer on some of this year’s action.

A view of the four-story building at 55 Savushkina Street in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Feb. 17, 2018. The building at one point housed the Internet Research Agency’s

December 20, 2018

Russians Sowed Divisions in Texas Politics, Says U.S. Senate Report

Keying off of Governor Abbott’s opposition to President Obama’s Syrian resettlement policy, Russian trolls built Texas dissent.

November 26, 2018

Straight Ticket Voting Says Farewell to Texas in a Big Way

Governor Greg Abbott signed a law that gets rid of straight-ticket balloting and this was its last election.

By Robert Moore

Governor Greg Abbott of Texas addresses the crowd before President Donald Trump took the stage for a rally in support of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on October 22, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston.

November 9, 2018

Despite Tight Race With Ted Cruz, Beto O’Rourke Got Fewer Votes Than Least-Popular Statewide Republican

Governor Greg Abbott emerged as the top vote-getter on Election Day.

November 6, 2018

Greg Abbott Wins a Second Term as Governor

The Republican calls for unity in Texas in his victory speech.

Republican U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, Democratic U.S. Representative Beto O'Rourke, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Gubernatorial candidate Lupe Valdez.

October 19, 2018

Election 2018: This Year’s Races to Watch

Early voting in Texas for this year’s midterms begins Monday; these are some of the races in Texas generating the most buzz.

By R.G. Ratcliffe and Carlos Sanchez

Democratic candidate for governor Lupe Valdez, right, smiles before a debate against Gov. Greg Abbot, left, at the LBJ Library in Austin on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018.

September 29, 2018

Lupe Valdez Comes on Strong in Debate Against Greg Abbott. But is it Enough?

In their only debate, Valdez was often the aggressor, but could not force any Abbott errors.

September 28, 2018

What to Watch for in Tonight’s Gubernatorial Debate Between Greg Abbott and Lupe Valdez

Trailing badly, this may be Valdez’s best shot at changing the dynamics in her challenge to Republican Governor Abbott.

August 8, 2018

A Brief History of Texas Officials Falling for Fake Memes

Tuesday morning, Greg Abbott retweeted a fake Churchill quote. It’s not the first time one of our elected officials has been duped.

By Dan Solomon

August 1, 2018

O’Rourke Trails Cruz by Two Points in Latest Poll

All other statewide offices on the ballot remain comfortably in the hands of Republicans.

June 22, 2018

Just How Doomed Is Lupe Valdez?

She made history by becoming the first Latina nominated by a major political party to run for governor of Texas. Will that historic moment become nothing more than a footnote?

June 21, 2018

Abbott Caught in His Own Duplicity on Family Separations

The governor declared that only Congress can fix family separations shortly before the president ended the policy.

June 21, 2018

Abbott Sets Special Election Date for Carlos Uresti Seat

The governor has set July 31 as the date in which voters will choose who will fill the vacancy of a lawmaker convicted of multiple federal counts of fraud and money laundering.

By Willow Higgins

June 19, 2018

Texas Lawmakers Speak Out Against Family Separation Policies

House speaker Joe Straus asks President Trump to stop the policy, while State Representative César Blanco asks Abbott to cease National Guard deployment.

By R.G. Ratcliffe and Carlos Sanchez

June 18, 2018

Carlos Uresti Resigns from Texas Senate

The San Antonio lawmaker’s resignation comes four months after his conviction on multiple counts of fraud and money laundering.

By Willow Higgins

June 3, 2018

Back to the Future

Abbott’s school safety plan could land us back in darker times.

By Mimi Swartz

Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott, left, hosts a roundtable discussion in Austin, Thursday, May 24, 2018, to address safety and security at Texas schools in the wake of the shooting at Santa Fe, Texas. Thursday's roundtable included victims, students, families and educators from the Santa Fe, Alpine and Sutherland Springs communities.

June 1, 2018

Abbott Plan on School Security Too Little, Too Late

The governor’s proposals would not prevent more than 70,000 high school students from legally buying rifles and shotguns.

Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-Texas takes a photo with supporters during a town hall meeting March 22, 2018, at Texas Southern University in Houston.

May 30, 2018

O’Rourke, Valdez Election Support Is Slipping

What may be more troubling for Democrats is that half of the state’s voters still don’t know much about the two standard-bearers.

Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lupe Valdez takes part in a debate with Andrew White, Friday, May 11, 2018, in Austin ahead of the state's May 22 primary runoff election.

May 22, 2018

Democrats Choose Lupe Valdez as Their Nominee for Governor of Texas

The former Dallas County sheriff will take on the formidable and formidably funded Greg Abbott in November.

May 22, 2018

Podcast: Valdez and White and Tuesday’s Runoff

Ethnic politics has been an undeniable factor in the Democratic race to replace Republican Governor Greg Abbott.

In this March 6, 2018, photo, Lizzie Pannill Fletcher and her husband, Scott Fletcher, walk out of the polling place at St. Anne's Catholic Church after voting in the primary election in Houston. Fletcher is up against Laura Moser in the Texas 7th Congressional District democratic primary runoff Tuesday, May 22, 2018.

May 21, 2018

What to Watch in Tuesday’s Runoff Elections

The governor’s race gets the attention, but the undercard may be more important this year.

May 18, 2018

Will Gun Control Be On Abbott’s School Shooting Roundtable?

State officials put emphasis on mental health and school ”hardening” to prevent future violence.

Santa Fe High School junior Guadalupe Sanchez, 16, cries in the arms of her mother, Elida Sanchez, after reuniting with her at a meeting point at a nearby Alamo Gym fitness center following a shooting at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, on Friday, May 18, 2018.

News & Politics|

May 18, 2018

Everything We Know About the Shooting at Santa Fe High School

The 22nd school shooting of 2018 happened on Friday morning near Galveston.

By Dan Solomon

May 10, 2018

Friday’s Debate With Andrew White Could Be Lupe Valdez’s Last Stand

The toughest opponent Lupe Valdez has for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination is herself.

April 18, 2018

Little-Known Beto O’Rourke Is Nipping at Ted Cruz’s Heels

More than half of those in a new survey lack an opinion of Beto O’Rourke, but he’s still tied with Cruz.

April 17, 2018

Speaking Truth to the Powerful

A small-town sheriff took on his president and his governor and learned that facts can get in the way of a good political narrative.

By Robert Moore

A member of the National Guard checks on his colleague inside a Border Patrol Skybox near the Hidalgo International Bridge in Hidalgo.

April 5, 2018

Trump’s Deployment of Troops to the Border: What You Need to Know

National Guard troops are once again heading to the U.S.-Mexico border. So what?

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announces that President Trump will soon sign an order to deploy National Guard troops to the U.S. southern border.

April 4, 2018

Trump to Deploy National Guard Troops Along the Border

Presidents Obama and Bush, as well as former Texas governor Rick Perry, made the same decision several times before.

March 21, 2018

Attorney General Ken Paxton Spread False Information on Austin Bombings

Paxton incorrectly whipped up fear on Sean Hannity’s national television show.

March 13, 2018

Appeals Court Upholds State ‘Show Me Your Papers’ Law

A three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Texas cities are unlikely to win constitutional challenge to the law.

March 12, 2018

Democrats Argue Victory and Values in Facebook Fight Over White, Valdez

Bitter argument leads former Texas first lady Linda Gale White to defend her son’s record.

March 7, 2018

Democratic Blue Wave Surged But Did Not Look Like a Tsunami

Texas Democrats had their best off-year primary turnout since 2002 and still had fewer voters than the Republicans.