https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/gabby-birenbaum/The latest news by Gabby Birenbaum.enMon, 06 Oct 2025 12:46:08 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/06/trey-trainor-congress-texas-21st-district-chip-roy/The longtime GOP operative has spent decades as a lawyer for Texas Republicans and conservative causes.By Gabby BirenbaumMon, 06 Oct 2025 12:46:08 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/06/trey-trainor-congress-texas-21st-district-chip-roy/Attorney Trey Trainor waits for the House Committee on General Investigating and Ethics to resume on Sept. 15, 2015. Trainor was representing Rep. Jonathan Stickland, who was accused of breaking the law by listing witnesses who were not in Austin as supporters of his legislation during a House Transportation Committee hearing.Rep. Jonathan Stickland's attorney, Trey Trainor waits for House Committee on General Investigating & Ethics to resume on Sep 15, 2015. Stickland has been accused of breaking the law by listing witnesses who were not in Austin as supporters of his legislation during a House Transportation Committee in late April.Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/29/wesley-hunt-texas-senate-republican-primary-cornyn-paxton-2026/The Houston congressman is giving up his safe seat after just two terms, scrambling the contest between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton.By Gabby BirenbaumMon, 06 Oct 2025 07:55:43 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/29/wesley-hunt-texas-senate-republican-primary-cornyn-paxton-2026/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/02/texas-republicans-affordable-care-act-premium-tax-credits-shutdown/Democrats in Congress want to renew the Obamacare subsidies as part of any deal to reopen the government. Texas Republicans say the policy needs major reforms.By Gabby BirenbaumThu, 02 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/02/texas-republicans-affordable-care-act-premium-tax-credits-shutdown/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/01/government-shutdown-texas-congress-benefits-parks-veterans/Many federal employees are required to continue working without pay, though furloughs — or the usual uptick in workers calling in sick — could disrupt some services.By Gabby Birenbaum and Marijke FriedmanWed, 01 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/01/government-shutdown-texas-congress-benefits-parks-veterans/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/19/ted-cruz-jimmy-kimmel-fcc-brendan-carr-charlie-kirk/The Texas senator compared Brendan Carr’s threat to ABC to that of a mafia boss.By Gabby BirenbaumFri, 19 Sep 2025 16:23:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/19/ted-cruz-jimmy-kimmel-fcc-brendan-carr-charlie-kirk/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/19/michael-mccaul-retirement-foreign-policy-russia-ukraine-trump/The longtime Austin Republican, who is retiring at the end of his term, said he is concerned about the direction of his party and Congress as a whole.By Gabby BirenbaumFri, 19 Sep 2025 10:30:37 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/19/michael-mccaul-retirement-foreign-policy-russia-ukraine-trump/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/17/bobby-pulido-launches-texas-congress-campaign/The musician and Democrat is looking to flip Texas’ 15th Congressional District, which voted for President Donald Trump by 18% in 2024.By Gabby BirenbaumWed, 17 Sep 2025 08:30:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/17/bobby-pulido-launches-texas-congress-campaign/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/17/texas-redistricting-congressional-map-latino-hispanic-voters-lawsuit/Republicans note that some of the districts they intend to flip were redrawn to become majority-Hispanic. Democrats say the GOP made sure to add Hispanic Texans who are unlikely to vote.By Gabby BirenbaumWed, 17 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/17/texas-redistricting-congressional-map-latino-hispanic-voters-lawsuit/Presiding judge Dina Patel checks her watch as she waits for polls to open at Parker Elementary on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Houston.Presiding judge Dina Patel checks her watch as she waits for polls to open at Parker Elementary on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Houston.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/11/texas-solar-for-all-clean-energy-grants-canceled-trump-epa/Texas’ Solar for All program was intended to bring solar panels and batteries to low-income neighborhoods and create jobs by training workers to install the technology.By Gabby BirenbaumThu, 11 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/11/texas-solar-for-all-clean-energy-grants-canceled-trump-epa/A solar farm operated by solar developer 174 Power Global is seen on April 16, 2025, in Notrees, Ector County.An Oberon solar project on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Notrees, Ector County. The farm, operated by 174 Power Global, produces 180 megawatts of power and according to Chariot Energy has an estimated lifespan of 25 to 30 years.Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/08/lloyd-doggett-greg-casar-texas-redistricting-retirement-democrats-aust/Doggett’s shocking decision to retire signals U.S. Rep. Greg Casar’s growing strength among Democrats in Austin politics and in Congress.By Gabby Birenbaum, Graphics by Carla AstudilloMon, 08 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/08/lloyd-doggett-greg-casar-texas-redistricting-retirement-democrats-aust/U.S. Reps Lloyd Doggett and Rep. Greg Casar, both of Austin, at a press conference with Texas Democratic leaders at the state Capitol on July 31, 2025.U.S. Reps Lloyd Doggett and Rep. Greg Casar, both of Austin, at a press conference with Texas Democratic leaders at the state Capitol on July 31, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/28/jodey-arrington-brandon-creighton-texas-tech-chancellor/Arrington represents Lubbock in Congress. Creighton is a longtime state lawmaker.By Kate McGee, Gabby Birenbaum and Jessica PriestThu, 28 Aug 2025 16:51:32 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/28/jodey-arrington-brandon-creighton-texas-tech-chancellor/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/27/minneapolis-shooting-manifesto-brandon-herrera/Herrera, a gun rights activist with millions of online followers, said he was “disgusted” to be mentioned by the shooter. Herrera is challenging U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales in the Republican primary.By Gabby BirenbaumWed, 27 Aug 2025 16:22:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/27/minneapolis-shooting-manifesto-brandon-herrera/Florida then-U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz and Brandon Herrera, Republican candidate for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, at a campaign event at the Angry Elephant, a politically themed bar, in San Antonio, Texas on March 14, 2024.Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz and Brandon Herrera, Republican candidate for the US House for Texas’ 23rd congressional district, were seen during a campaign event at the Angry Elephant, a politically themed bar, in San Antonio, Texas on March 14, 2024.Christopher Lee for Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/25/paxton-reitz-cruz-roy-texas-attorney-general-endorsements/Aaron Reitz and Chip Roy, positioning themselves as Paxton’s ideological heirs, have served as top aides for both the attorney general and Cruz.By Gabby BirenbaumMon, 25 Aug 2025 10:25:59 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/25/paxton-reitz-cruz-roy-texas-attorney-general-endorsements/Aaron Reitz, left, and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, right, are both running for Texas attorney general after previously serving as top aides to the outgoing incumbent, Ken Paxton.Aaron Reitz, left, and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, right, are both running for Texas attorney general after previously serving as top aides to the outgoing incumbent, Ken Paxton.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect and Julia Nikhinson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/texas-redistricting-map-republican-candidates-new-districts/State Rep. Briscoe Cain kicked off what operatives expect to be a flurry of campaign announcements with a bid for Houston’s 9th Congressional District.By Gabby BirenbaumFri, 22 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/texas-redistricting-map-republican-candidates-new-districts/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/21/lloyd-doggett-congress-retire-redistricting-greg-casar-austin/Casar moved quickly to coalesce Austin Democrats, launching his campaign for the 37th Congressional District Monday with endorsements from 42 current and former Texas elected officials.By Gabby BirenbaumThu, 21 Aug 2025 16:51:21 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/21/lloyd-doggett-congress-retire-redistricting-greg-casar-austin/U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin speaks during a news conference with Texas Democratic leaders at the Texas Capitol on July 31, 2025. Democrats were fighting Republicans' mid-decade redistricting efforts pushed by President Donald Trump.U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin speaks during a press conference with Texas Democratic leaders at the Texas Capitol on July 31, 2025. Democrats are fighting mid-decade Republican redistricting efforts influenced by President Donald Trump. Left to right are U.S. Representatives Lloyd Doggett of Austin, Greg Casar of Austin, Lizzie Fletcher of Houston, Al Green of Houston and Sylvia Garcia of Houston.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/21/briscoe-cain-congress-texas-9th-congressional-district/The Houston-area district, currently occupied by Democratic Rep. Al Green, is being redrawn by GOP lawmakers to favor Republicans and cover almost entirely new territory.By Gabby BirenbaumThu, 21 Aug 2025 11:49:26 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/21/briscoe-cain-congress-texas-9th-congressional-district/State Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, speaks with press outside the Texas House on Aug. 18, 2025.State Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, speaks with press outside the Texas House on Aug. 18, 2025.Lorianne Willett for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/21/chip-roy-attorney-general-republican-primary-2026-paxton/It will be the first test of whether Roy’s at times frosty relationship with President Trump — and his turn against Paxton — can withstand scrutiny in a statewide primary.By Gabby Birenbaum and Eleanor KlibanoffThu, 21 Aug 2025 07:10:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/21/chip-roy-attorney-general-republican-primary-2026-paxton/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/21/texas-health-insurance-premiums-aca-tax-credit-expiration/Health insurers are hiking policy premiums in response to proposed federal cuts and rising costs in various parts of the health care sector.By Gabby Birenbaum, Data reporting by Dan Keemahill, Graphics by Edison WuThu, 21 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/21/texas-health-insurance-premiums-aca-tax-credit-expiration/Dr. Spencer R. Berthelsen visits with patient Francisco Garcia, a fellow physician, before his annual physical at their clinic in Sugar Land on Sept. 22, 2011.Dr. Spencer R. Berthelsen, M.D., Chairman, Board of Directors at Kelsey-Seybold, who still sees patients two days a week, visits with patient Francisco Garcia (also a doctor at Kelsey Seybold) before his annual physical at their clinic in Sugar Land. Sept. 22, 2011.Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/15/paxton-cornyn-texas-senate-poll-august-emerson/Every previous public poll had shown the attorney general with a considerable lead over Texas’ incumbent senator.By Gabby BirenbaumFri, 15 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/15/paxton-cornyn-texas-senate-poll-august-emerson/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is challenging U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the 2026 Republican primary.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is challenging U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the 2026 Republican primary.The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/14/texas-lloyd-doggett-greg-casar-democratic-primary-austin/The contest would unearth brewing Democratic tensions over age and experience, forcing Austin politicos to choose between two well-liked progressives.By Gabby BirenbaumThu, 14 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/14/texas-lloyd-doggett-greg-casar-democratic-primary-austin/U.S. Reps. Lloyd Doggett and Greg Casar, both of Austin (left), listen as Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, speaks during a news conference with Texas Democratic leaders at the Texas Capitol on July 31, 2025. Doggett and Casar could face each other in a primary under a new congressional map drawn by the Texas Legislature at President Donald Trump's prompting.U.S. Reps. Lloyd Doggett and Greg Casar, both of Austin (left), listen as Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio speaks during a press conference with Texas Democratic leaders at the Texas Capitol on July 31, 2025. Doggett and Casar could face each other in a primary under the new congressional redistricting maps drawn by the Texas Legislature at Pres. Trump's prompting.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune