Politics & Policy
December 17, 2018
‘Betomaniacs’ Crash Into ‘Berniecrats’ Over 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary
Beto O’Rourke came out on top of a poll of progressives, prompting Bernie Sanders supporters to complain.
2018 Elections
Politics & Policy
November 30, 2018
Legally, Beto O’Rourke Can Run for President and Senate in 2020
Texas law would allow Beto to take a shot at the White House and at Senator John Cornyn at the same time.
Politics & Policy
November 26, 2018
Beto O’Rourke Sidesteps Presidential Question, Harshly Criticizes Trump Border Policies
In his first town hall since narrowly losing his election, O'Rourke shows he may not be ready to leave public arena.
Politics & Policy
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.
Politics & Policy
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.
Politics & Policy
November 7, 2018
ACLU: U.S. Border Patrol’s Planned ‘Crowd Control’ Exercise Violated Federal Voting Rights Act
The civil rights group filed a complaint one day after the Border Patrol postponed an Election Day "crowd control" exercise.
Politics & Policy
November 7, 2018
Gina Ortiz Jones Refuses to Concede to Will Hurd in Close TX-23 Race
Gina Ortiz Jones said she's not ready to call for a recount in a race that is separated by only hundreds of votes.
Politics & Policy
November 7, 2018
Beto O’Rourke Lost the Battle But Won the War
Ted Cruz won the Senate election, but he had no coattails. Some takeaways from election night.
Politics & Policy
November 6, 2018
Texas Congressional Delegation Grows More Diverse Amid Several Republican Upsets
An evening that included the unseating of longtime Congressman Pete Sessions saw the historic election of the state's first two Latinas to Congress.
Politics & Policy
November 6, 2018
Ted Cruz Wins a Second Term in Closely Fought Race
A spirited campaign by opponent Beto O’Rourke made the race a national obsession.
Politics & Policy
November 6, 2018
Greg Abbott Wins a Second Term as Governor
The Republican calls for unity in Texas in his victory speech.
Politics & Policy
November 6, 2018
2018 Texas Midterm Elections: The Latest
We updated this post throughout election night to bring you timely news and analysis as results rolled in.
Politics & Policy
November 6, 2018
What to Look For in 2018 Midterm Election Results
How to interpret results as they come in—and not hyperventilate in the process.
Politics & Policy
November 5, 2018
Border Patrol Postpones Plans To Conduct ‘Crowd Control’ Exercise on Election Day
The decision to postpone the exercise in El Paso, the home of U.S. Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke, comes amid widespread criticism by members of Congress and civil rights groups.
Politics & Policy
November 5, 2018
The Latest Washington Spin on the Ted Cruz-Beto O’Rourke Race Is Just Wrong
Texas voter turnout is the highest in a midterm election precisely because O’Rourke stayed left.
Politics & Policy
October 31, 2018
Texas Republicans Appear to be Losing the Youth Vote to Democrats
The GOP enjoyed the strong support of young Texans in the 2000s, but that appears to be changing.
Politics & Policy
October 30, 2018
Here’s How Asian American Texans Could Affect the Midterm Election
The fastest-growing minority group in the country had once been loyal to Republicans, but began showing an interest in Democrats.
Politics & Policy
October 29, 2018
What Does a Texas Millionaire Do When He Loses Political Races in His State? He Spends in Montana
Midland oilman Tim Dunn is best known for financing Empower Texans, but now he is putting $2.5 million into defeating Montana Democratic U.S. Senator John Tester.
Underdog: Beto vs. Cruz
October 26, 2018
‘Underdog: Beto vs. Cruz’ and the Nonvoting State
In Episode 3, we travel to the Rio Grande Valley, where voter turnout is historically low.
Border & Immigration
October 25, 2018
A New Focus on Border Security Comes Days Before Midterm Elections
In addition to deployment of Army troops, border nonprofits are seeing the beginnings of mass family releases.
Politics & Policy
October 25, 2018
2018 Texas Elections Coverage
Texas Monthly has been following the key races in the state all year; bookmark this page for the latest coverage, from Eric Benson’s ‘Underdog’ podcast to in-depth analysis by R.G. Ratcliffe and Carlos Sanchez as well as informative updates from Texas Monthly’s best writers.
Politics & Policy
October 24, 2018
Partisan Primary Voters Cast 70 Percent of the Ballots on the First Day of Early Voting
One in five voters on the first day have no voting history and are wild cards in the Senate race.
Politics & Policy
October 23, 2018
Donald Trump and Fellow Republicans Highlight America’s Divisions at Houston Rally
The Republican rally for Ted Cruz was a display of us-against-ourselves politics.
Politics & Policy
October 22, 2018
Ted Cruz Should Expect to Be a Prop for President Trump in Houston
The president's rallies for Republican candidates are more often about him than about the candidates he’s endorsing.
Politics & Policy
October 22, 2018
Beto O’Rourke May Not Win the Election, But His Supporters Are Winning the Internet
A slew of inventive—and humorous—political videos are emerging in the closing days of this year's election.
Politics & Policy
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.
Underdog: Beto vs. Cruz
October 19, 2018
‘Underdog: Beto vs. Cruz’ and the History of Democrats in Texas
In the second episode of the 2018 Senate race podcast, we explore how Texas turned red.
Politics & Policy
October 16, 2018
A More Aggressive Beto O’Rourke Takes on Ted Cruz in Second Debate
Despite repeated attacks, Cruz never appeared cornered or defensive.
Politics & Policy
October 15, 2018
Forget the Polls — What Are the Betting Odds on Beto O’Rourke Versus Ted Cruz?
Let’s see where people are putting their money.
Politics & Policy
October 15, 2018
Libertarian Candidate Files Federal Complaint Against Beto O’Rourke and CNN
Candidate Neal Dikeman alleges that planned hour-long town hall in McAllen amounts to a massive in-kind donation to the Democrat.
Politics & Policy
October 12, 2018
Beto O’Rourke Shatters Campaign Records by Raising $38.1 Million
His final quarterly fundraising report of the election season is a new high for all U.S. Senate races in the country.
Underdog: Beto vs. Cruz
October 12, 2018
Announcing ‘Underdog,’ an Inside Look at the U.S. Senate Race Between Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke
Can O’Rourke change the future of Texas politics, or will Beto-mania turn out to be another liberal fantasy? Listen to the first episode of ’Underdog.’
Politics & Policy
October 11, 2018
Is Beto O’Rourke a Dead Politician Walking? Or Are the Polls Missing a Democratic Wave?
A new Quinnipiac University poll indicates Republican Senator Ted Cruz will easily defeat Democrat Beto O’Rourke. But could that poll and several others be wrong?
Politics & Policy
October 10, 2018
Can Hackers Mess With Texas’s Elections?
Our lack of a voter-verified paper trail and contingency planning make us vulnerable, says Rice University’s Dan Wallach.
Politics & Policy
October 8, 2018
Richard Linklater Political Ad Pokes Fun at Ted Cruz
The video ad reminds viewers of Donald Trump’s Ted Cruz insults and of Cruz failing to act ’Texas Tough.’
Politics & Policy
October 5, 2018
Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke Fight It Out With Social Media Ads
O’Rourke has spent more on social media advertising than any politician in America this year—other than President Trump.
Politics & Policy
October 4, 2018
Donald Trump Jr. Comes to Texas to Stump for Dad’s Old Rival Ted Cruz
The president's son tell supporters that Cruz and his father have patched things up since the contentious 2016 presidential campaign.
Politics & Policy
October 3, 2018
Ted Cruz and John Cornyn’s Stances on Brett Kavanaugh Confirm Their Allegiances to the Old Boys’ Club
Of course it wasn’t any wonder that our Texas senators couldn’t find it in their hearts or minds to consider Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s version of events.
Politics & Policy
October 3, 2018
How Brett Kavanaugh Is Being Used Against Beto O’Rourke
Republicans are taunting the news media to treat O’Rourke’s DWI with the same vigor as the allegations against the U.S. Supreme Court nominee.
Politics & Policy
September 30, 2018
Beto O’Rourke Had a Very Different Type of Political Rally
And it wasn't just because of Willie Nelson. We spent time on the ground at Austin's Auditorium Shores on Saturday night, and here's what we found.
Politics & Policy
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.
Music
September 28, 2018
Texas Musicians Love Beto O’Rourke
...and they've loved him long before Willie Nelson stepped up.
Politics & Policy
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.
Politics & Policy
September 27, 2018
Have Politicians Learned Anything Since Clayton Williams’s Campfire Rape ‘Joke’?
With sexual-misconduct scandals swirling, from Brett Kavanaugh to Charles Schwertner, how politicians talk about them could bite them at the polls.
Politics & Policy
September 26, 2018
Ken Paxton Backs Expulsion of Student Who Refused to Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance
The attorney general’s office says that Texas law supports the school.
Politics & Policy
September 26, 2018
Meet the Texas Republican Going After the House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairmanship
Michael McCaul, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, shares his views on some of the world’s biggest political hot spots.
The Texanist
September 22, 2018
The Texanist: What’s the Deal With This Willie Nelson Boycott?
A California man wonders why people are angry at everyone's favorite Texas country artist
Politics & Policy
September 22, 2018
Cruz and O’Rourke Confident in First Debate, But Was There a Clear Winner?
The two candidates for U.S. Senate engage in a contentious discussion on a variety of policy issues.
Politics & Policy
September 21, 2018
Jack Martin Hopes for a Return to Civility in Texan Politics
The former Democratic kingmaker would also be happy to see a blue wave in November—but he’s not betting on it.
Politics & Policy
September 20, 2018
What to Look For in Friday’s First Debate Between Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke
Two politicians not known for brevity will face off at 6 p.m on statewide television.