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.
Election 2022
Your source for analysis, takes, and updates on the 2022 Texas elections and their most colorful characters.
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.
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.
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
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 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.
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
November 15, 2021
Exclusive: Beto O’Rourke Is Running for Governor
The former congressman from El Paso talked to Texas Monthly about why he thinks he can beat Greg Abbott, whether he regrets his 2020 presidential campaign, and whether his politics are too liberal for Texas.
Politics & Policy
October 13, 2021
Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis Are Competing to Be Trump. Who’s Winning?
The first edition of our GOP primary scorecard.
Politics & Policy
October 4, 2021
Mike Collier Thinks Republican Legislators Would Be Relieved If He Beat Dan Patrick
The certified public accountant is running for lieutenant governor again and hopes Beto O’Rourke will top the ticket.
Politics & Policy
September 23, 2021
Beto O’Rourke Is the Democrats’ Least Bad Option to Challenge Greg Abbott
He isn’t as strong a candidate in 2021 as he was in 2018, but Beto O’Rourke is still the Democrats’ least bad option to challenge Greg Abbott.
Politics & Policy
August 13, 2021
Texas Democrats Are Relying On Politicians Who Lost in 2020 to Carry Them in 2022
Three failed candidates, including Beto O’Rourke, lead ambitious voter-registration efforts. And they're assuming no changes are needed in their positions.
Politics & Policy
July 8, 2021
Texas Republicans Are Already Declaring for 2022. Democrats Are Dazed and Confused.
GOP challengers have announced bids against Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton, and Sid Miller, while a forlorn Democratic party casts its eyes on Matthew McConaughey.