INSIDER
Adam Hinojosa flips Texas Senate seat, becomes first Republican to represent Rio Grande Valley district since Reconstruction
Read full article: Adam Hinojosa flips Texas Senate seat, becomes first Republican to represent Rio Grande Valley district since ReconstructionHinojosa won the only competitive seat in the Texas Senate this cycle, besting Sen. Morgan LaMantia two years after she narrowly defeated him.
Democratic state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. endorses Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for reelection
Read full article: Democratic state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. endorses Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for reelectionThe endorsement comes after Patrickās Democratic opponent, Mike Collier, received endorsements from two Republicans, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley and state Sen. Kel Seliger of Amarillo.
Republicans, bullish on South Texas, weigh how hard to compete for a state Senate seat there
Read full article: Republicans, bullish on South Texas, weigh how hard to compete for a state Senate seat thereRepublicans are starting to pay more attention to Texas Senate District 27 ā the only competitive Senate seat in November ā but whether they will go all in remains an open question.
Moderate Democrats win two key South Texas runoffs, while another is too close to call
Read full article: Moderate Democrats win two key South Texas runoffs, while another is too close to callU.S. Rep. Henry Cuellarās too-close-to-call runoff got most of the attention, but three other primary runoffs Tuesday carried big stakes for Democrats as they try to defend South Texas from a new GOP offensive.
South Texas Democrats fight to shape their partyās future in primary runoffs
Read full article: South Texas Democrats fight to shape their partyās future in primary runoffsDemocratic primary runoffs for two congressional districts and two legislative seats in South Texas highlight the candidatesā divergent visions for the party in a region the GOP is heavily targeting.
State Rep. Alex Dominguez will run to replace retiring state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. in high-stakes Democratic primary
Read full article: State Rep. Alex Dominguez will run to replace retiring state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. in high-stakes Democratic primaryLucio is retiring from the Rio Grande Valley seat, and Dominguez wants to continue his legacy of focusing on education in the region. But he suggested he would take a different approach to at least a couple issues, including abortion.
Sara Stapleton Barrera, 2020 primary challenger to state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., announces comeback bid as he retires
Read full article: Sara Stapleton Barrera, 2020 primary challenger to state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., announces comeback bid as he retiresLucio announced Thursday that he is not seeking reelection after three decades in the Senate.
Democrat Eddie Lucio Jr., known for voting with Republicans on key issues, to retire after three decades in Texas Senate
Read full article: Democrat Eddie Lucio Jr., known for voting with Republicans on key issues, to retire after three decades in Texas SenateThe Brownsville Democrat, who made the announcement Thursday, has served in the upper chamber since 1991.
Texas Republicans pave way for new battleground state House district in Rio Grande Valley over local lawmakersā objections
Read full article: Texas Republicans pave way for new battleground state House district in Rio Grande Valley over local lawmakersā objectionsThe likely new district comes as Texas Republicans continue to try to make new inroads in South Texas after the 2020 election.
After minor changes, advocates are confident a bill requiring adequate shelter for dogs can avoid another Gov. Greg Abbott veto
Read full article: After minor changes, advocates are confident a bill requiring adequate shelter for dogs can avoid another Gov. Greg Abbott vetoThe new proposal, like its predecessor, would amend the health and safety code to make the unlawful restraint of a dog a criminal offense ā and more clearly outline proper treatment.
South Texas was already a political battleground. New maps could alter game plans.
Read full article: South Texas was already a political battleground. New maps could alter game plans.With proposed maps out, U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, says he might switch to a neighboring district where U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, is retiring. The initial maps are also sure to impact decisions in regional legislative races.
Texas Senate approves spending nearly $2 billion on border security
Read full article: Texas Senate approves spending nearly $2 billion on border securityProponents of House Bill 9 denounced the Biden administrationās approach to border security, saying the state had no choice but to step in to ramp up enforcement.
Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes criminal justice bills, legislation to protect dogs, teach kids about domestic violence
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes criminal justice bills, legislation to protect dogs, teach kids about domestic violenceAbbott vetoed 13 bills authored by Democrats and seven by Republicans. Twelve of the vetoes targeted bills that originated in the House, and eight were from the Senate.
Gov. Abbott sends state troopers, National Guard to border after increase in fentanyl seizures
Read full article: Gov. Abbott sends state troopers, National Guard to border after increase in fentanyl seizuresAbbott said the increase in fentanyl seizures correlates with President Joe Biden taking office in January and implementing new border policies.
Senate Democrats support conservative-backed Texas bill requiring pro-sports teams with state contracts to play national anthem
Read full article: Senate Democrats support conservative-backed Texas bill requiring pro-sports teams with state contracts to play national anthemSign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
Longtime Democratic state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. leading over challenger from his left
Read full article: Longtime Democratic state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. leading over challenger from his leftSen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, spoke during during a Senate State Affairs committee hearing on July 23, 2017. According to early returns from the Texas Secretary of State, Lucio was leading Stapleton-Barrera 54%-46%. Another Senate runoff that drew considerable attention was the Democratic race to go against state Sen. Pete Flores, R-Pleasanton. Flores fell short in his bid to upset state Sen. Carlos Uresti for the seat in 2016. As of late Tuesday evening, the special election to replace former state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, remained fluid.
Six things to watch in Texas primary runoff election
Read full article: Six things to watch in Texas primary runoff electionTexans will be voting in the middle of a pandemic on Tuesday in a runoff election originally scheduled for May. The wild card: Robert MorrowFor Republicans in Texas, Robert Morrow advancing to the GOP primary runoff for a seat on the State Board of Education was nothing short of frightening. The winner in the GOP runoff Tuesday will face Texas State University English professor Rebecca Bell-Metereau, a Democrat, in Novembers general election. When he issued a statewide mask mandate, Abbott excluded churches and people voting in the primary runoff elections. Disclosure: Texas State University and the Texas secretary of state have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.
After losing big on Super Tuesday, Texas progressives hope to salvage some victories in July
Read full article: After losing big on Super Tuesday, Texas progressives hope to salvage some victories in JulySara Stapleton-Barrera, a Democratic candidate for state Senate District 27, is facing incumbent Eddie Lucio Jr. in the July primary runoff. Brenda Bazn for The Texas TribuneJudging from March, the ideological left wing of the Democratic Party in Texas should be inconsolable. In the 10th Congressional District, Siegel is running on a platform that includes supporting Medicare for All and the Green New Deal. I feel really good not just about my chances, but the movement overall, says Mike Siegel, a candidate for Texas' 10th Congressional District. Hes already endorsed at least seven Texas congressional candidates.