https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/renzo-downey/The latest news by Renzo Downey.enSat, 11 Oct 2025 16:49:33 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/11/texas-gop-srec-censure/Saturday’s decisions signal a deescalating intraparty tension that heightened at the start of the year.By Renzo DowneySat, 11 Oct 2025 16:49:33 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/11/texas-gop-srec-censure/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/08/texas-republican-party-censures-rule-44-primary-ballot/The state party’s governing board will meet Saturday to decide whether 10 Texas House Republicans tried to thwart GOP priorities during this year’s legislative session.By Renzo DowneyWed, 08 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/08/texas-republican-party-censures-rule-44-primary-ballot/Texas GOP Chair Abraham George speaks during a rally at the Tarrant County Republican Party headquarters in Fort Worth on Jan. 6, 2025.Texas GOP Chairman Abraham George speaks during a rally at the Tarrant County Republican Party Headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas on Monday, January 6, 2025. Photo by Emil T. Lippe for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/25/texas-democratic-party-dallas-staff-resignations-kendall-scudder/Party insiders said the way the move was handled undercuts Chair Kendall Scudder’s rhetoric about winning back working class voters, who lurched to the right in 2024.By Kayla Guo and Renzo DowneyThu, 25 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/25/texas-democratic-party-dallas-staff-resignations-kendall-scudder/Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder addresses attendees at an event in Brownsville on April 12, 2025.Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder addresses attendees at an event in Brownsville on April 12, 2025.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/09/greg-abbott-thc-executive-order-21-texas/The executive order comes after the Legislature ended a special session without the House, Senate and governor agreeing on restrictions.By Renzo DowneyTue, 09 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/09/greg-abbott-thc-executive-order-21-texas/Gov. Greg Abbott at a press conference in Austin on Aug. 15, 2025.Gov. Greg Abbott at a press conference in Austin on Aug. 15, 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/03/texas-legislature-thc-deal-ban-hemp/Legislators couldn’t reach a last-minute deal to tighten regulations on consumable hemp products.By Alex Nguyen, Kayla Guo, Renzo Downey and Paul CoblerWed, 03 Sep 2025 15:03:41 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/03/texas-legislature-thc-deal-ban-hemp/Hemp plants are seen at Caprock Family Farms, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Lubbock.Hemp plants are seen at Caprock Family Farms, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Lubbock.Annie Rice for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/02/texas-house-quorum-break-punishments-political-fundraising/House members who freeze future legislation by fleeing Texas will face steeper fines, loss of seniority and committee posts, and limits on political fundraising.By Alejandro Serrano and Renzo DowneyTue, 02 Sep 2025 17:09:27 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/02/texas-house-quorum-break-punishments-political-fundraising/Members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus at a press conference at IBEW Local 701 in Warrenville, Ill., on Aug. 4, 2025.Members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus at a press conference at IBEW Local 701 in Warrenville, Ill., on Aug. 4, 2025.Jamie Kelter Davis for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/14/alex-fairly-texas-republican-party-censures-primary-ballot/The Amarillo businessman said he would tap into the $20 million political action committee he launched last year to preserve ballot access for censured Republicans.By Kate McGee and Renzo DowneyFri, 15 Aug 2025 08:32:31 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/14/alex-fairly-texas-republican-party-censures-primary-ballot/Alex Fairly attends a board of directors meeting for the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation on Monday, April 21, 2025, in Amarillo.Alex Fairly attends a board of directors meeting for the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation on Monday, April 21, 2025, in Amarillo.Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/11/texas-gop-republican-party-censures-primary-ballot-dustin-burrows/Republicans who are censured by their county party leaders may be blocked from the primary ballot under a new party rule passed last year, that is expected to be tested by the courts.By Renzo DowneyMon, 11 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/11/texas-gop-republican-party-censures-primary-ballot-dustin-burrows/Republican Party of Texas Chair Abraham George speaks during the Texas GOP Convention on May 25, 2024 in San Antonio.Republican Party of Texas Chair Abraham George speaks during the Texas GOP Convention on May 25, 2024 in San Antonio.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/29/texas-house-democrats-new-mexico-redistricting/With a quorum break on the table for the minority party as a way to thwart a GOP bid for more congressional seats, members travel out-of-state for a third time.By Renzo DowneyTue, 29 Jul 2025 08:30:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/29/texas-house-democrats-new-mexico-redistricting/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/25/giovanni-capriglione-affair-texas-house-republican/A conservative news site published an interview with a woman who alleges a 17-year affair with the Southlake representative, who said this week he wouldn’t seek reelection.By Eleanor Klibanoff and Renzo DowneyFri, 25 Jul 2025 11:53:07 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/25/giovanni-capriglione-affair-texas-house-republican/State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, on the House floor at lawmakers debate bills at the Texas Capitol on Monday, May 26, 2025.State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, on the House floor at lawmakers debate bills at the Texas Capitol on Monday, May 26, 2025.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-credible-threats-lawmakers/The agency said there was no additional active threat, as Austin demonstrators took aim at the Trump administration.By Renzo Downey and Ayden RunnelsSat, 14 Jun 2025 14:19:58 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-credible-threats-lawmakers/Texas Department of Public Safety vehicles outside of the state Capitol on Aug. 11, 2021.Texas Department of Public Safety vehicles outside of the state Capitol on Aug. 11, 2021.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/12/texas-tony-gonzales-gop-primary-challenge-susan-storey-rubio/In a launch video, Storey Rubio attacked Gonzales’ border security record and said it’s “time to round up the career politicians and deport them out of Washington.”By Renzo DowneyThu, 12 Jun 2025 18:00:45 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/12/texas-tony-gonzales-gop-primary-challenge-susan-storey-rubio/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-house-senate-public-school-finance-deal/The deal appears to strike a face-saving compromise for both chambers over how to increase funds for the state’s public schools, with money earmarked for teacher pay and overhead costs.By Jasper Scherer, Renzo Downey and Jaden EdisonWed, 21 May 2025 15:13:08 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-house-senate-public-school-finance-deal/Texas House and Senate lawmakers on Wednesday were nearing a deal on an $8.5 billion package to provide new funding for the state's public schools.Bonham Elementary School in San Antonio on May 9, 2018.Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/05/texas-school-board-races/Issues about control of book purchases and how curriculums teach race and gender have led to change on many boards, including Keller, Katy and Mansfield ISDs.By Jasper Scherer and Renzo DowneyMon, 05 May 2025 19:07:41 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/05/texas-school-board-races/The school board election in the Keller ISD saw voters reject conservative candidates.A Keller ISD school board meeting in Keller, TX on April 25, 2022.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/25/republicans-texas-house-calendar-democrats/After Republicans and Democrats fight over the budget and constitutional amendments, GOP members stake out a new battlefield.By Kate McGee and Renzo DowneyFri, 25 Apr 2025 15:14:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/25/republicans-texas-house-calendar-democrats/In the Texas House of Representatives, Democrats have maneuvered to frustrate elements of the Republican agenda. Republicans pushed back by blocking a series of Democratic measures that usually attract little opposition.Members of the Texas House of Representatives on the House floor on April 10, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/15/texas-legislature-democrats-school-vouchers-constitutional-amendments/More than 50 House Democrats have signed on to a plan to spike all constitutional amendments unless the House allows voters to decide whether school vouchers will be legalized.By Renzo DowneyTue, 15 Apr 2025 12:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/15/texas-legislature-democrats-school-vouchers-constitutional-amendments/State Rep. John Bucy III, D-Austin, is surrounded by Democrats on the Texas House floor while he advocates for Medicaid expansion during the budget debate in the Texas House on April 10, 2025.State Rep. John Bucy III, D-Austin, is surrounded by Democrats on the Texas House floor while he advocates for Medicaid expansion during the budget debate in the Texas House on April 10, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/29/texas-democrats-party-chair/Scudder takes over after a difficult 2024 election for the party.By Kayla Guo and Renzo DowneySat, 29 Mar 2025 12:12:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/29/texas-democrats-party-chair/Newly elected party chair Kendall Scudder addresses Texas Democratic Party members during an election in Austin on March 29, 2025.Newly elected party chair Kendall Scudder addresses Texas Democratic Party members during an election in Austin, Texas on Saturday, March 29, 2025.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/28/texas-democrats-vote-new-chair/The State Democratic Executive Committee will meet on Saturday to elect the successor to party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa.By Renzo Downey and Kayla GuoFri, 28 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/28/texas-democrats-vote-new-chair/The first day of the Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso, Texas on June 6, 2024.The first day of the Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso, Texas on June 6, 2024.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/19/amanda-edwards-sylvester-turner-congress/Edwards unsuccessfully ran for the seat twice last year. She faced off against U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in the 2024 Democratic primary. Jackson Lee won the primary but died before the general election, opening the party’s nomination anewBy Matthew Choi and Renzo DowneyWed, 19 Mar 2025 10:09:45 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/19/amanda-edwards-sylvester-turner-congress/Houston City Councilwoman and U.S. Senate candidate Amanda Edwards outside of 919 Congress Avenue in Austin on Feb. 7, 2020. (Houston City Councilwoman and U.S. Senate candidate Amanda Edwards outside of 919 Congress Avenue in Austin on Feb. 7, 2020. Angela Piazza for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/dustin-burrows-david-cook-texas-house-speaker-vote/Burrows defeated Rep. David Cook with a coalition of Republican and Democratic votes.By James Barragán, Jasper Scherer, Renzo Downey and Robert DownenTue, 14 Jan 2025 14:46:54 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/dustin-burrows-david-cook-texas-house-speaker-vote/State Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) shakes hands with Rep. Jeff Leach, R- Plano, during opening day ceremonies on the House floor on Tuesday, Jan. 14th, 2025.State Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) shakes hands with Rep. Jeff Leach, R- Plano, during opening day ceremonies on the House floor on Tuesday, Jan. 14th, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune