State Rep. Poncho Nevárez won't seek reelection in 2020
The Eagle Pass Democrat, who chairs the House Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee, announced the decision Friday, saying it's "time to come home." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/498764507b73c18987841a69219ab1cc/06%20Poncho%20Nevarez%20JF%20TT.jpg)
-
![State Rep. Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass, on the House floor on May 1, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Secret recordings in Texas: A brief history of some Capitol controversies
Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen announced he would not seek reelection a week after the release of an infamous recording of a conversation between him and a political activist. It's not the first time that secret recordings caused a stir in Texas politics. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/400c79a6dbe9c4149e0f909c9b70dc29/Cap-Recordings.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman / The Texas Tribune -
In race to replace Zerwas in Texas House, Democrat Eliz Markowitz and Republican Gary Gates head to a runoff
Democrats are hoping to flip Texas House District 28 in the upcoming runoff. Meanwhile, in Dallas' House District 100 race, five votes separate two candidates trying to make it to the second round. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ec103c9be640e242eb6a900c0a5364d1/Elizabeth%20Markowitz%20Gary%20Gates%20TT.jpg)
![HD-28 candidates Democrat Elizabeth “Eliz” Markowitz and Republican Gary Gates will likely face each other in a runoff election to replace outgoing state Rep. John Zerwas in the Fort Bend County district.]()
Credit: Social media -
Castro gets support of nine lawmakers who previously backed O'Rourke as he tries to shore up his campaign
The wave of endorsements comes four days after O'Rourke dropped out of the race — and as Castro searches for a path forward for his cash-strapped campaign. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fb80eaec8ee79e743615bc8cf47e66fb/Julian%20Casto%20BD%2016%20TT.jpg)
![Katy Tur interviews presidential candidate Julián Castro at The Texas Tribune Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers ask Gov. Greg Abbott to stop execution of Rodney Reed, whose guilt is widely doubted
Rodney Reed's guilt in the 1996 murder of Stacey Stites has been questioned for decades. A bipartisan group of lawmakers join national calls to stop his upcoming execution. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bb83d676afd0c20ce5b65b0164f6d8c1/Rodney%20Reed%20KXAN%20TT.jpg)
![Rodney Reed was sentenced to death for the 1996 murder of Stacey Stites in Bastrop.]()
Credit: Courtesy KXAN -
Both sides brace for a more action-packed runoff in special election for Zerwas seat
The Tuesday special election for the suburban Houston seat is expected to advance to a runoff between the sole Democratic candidate and one of three viable Republican candidates out of six overall. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1897688765d98f4bde46fd6392510a4c/Voting_in_Katy_TX_PYH_TT.jpg)
![People wait to vote after polling places' official 7:00 closing time, at Tompkins High School in Katy in Fort Bend Co. on Nov. 6, 2018.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Gutierrez to announce second run for Senate District 19
The seat is held by Pleasanton Republican Pete Flores, who won it in a special-election upset last year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dcccfeee695e8086ac77a7c7d9928ed6/Roland_Gutierrez_RJ_TT.jpg)
![State Rep. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, speaks prior to the Texas House Committee on Defense and Veteran's Affairs hearing on how annexation reform affects nearby bases, in San Antonio on June 19, 2017.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Texas education officials recommend replacing Houston ISD's elected school board
A Texas Education Agency final investigative report, sent to lawmakers Wednesday evening, recommends the state appoint new leaders of Texas' largest school district. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/student-classroom-back.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Tom Woodward for The Texas Tribune -
Capitol insiders: Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is letting the state's budget agency fall apart
The Texas Legislative Budget Board is hemorrhaging staff and has been without an executive director for a year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/94e3b05fe8af9e85b0128ac800069822/Sine%20Die%20Weekend%20Saturday%20MG%20TT%2016.jpg)
![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at the dais on the Senate floor on May 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A race for speaker of the Texas House? Not so fast.
With Dennis Bonnen not seeking another term, state representatives are once again at the start of a race for Speaker of the Texas House. This could take a while. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/172ab1b5e02538725f6ed91e980c8c6f/Empty%20Chamber%20MKC%20TT%2007.jpg)
![Empty chamber of the Texas House of Representatives at the state captiol.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen's downfall throws House majority fight into uncertainty
The speaker's decision Tuesday to not seek reelection after months of scandal could have deep implications for the fight for the House majority. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/12937edb785ed31c2cf979ecb3cd5f28/09%20Sine%20Die%20Weekend%20Saturday%20MG%20TT.jpg)
![House Speaker Dennis Bonnen signs paperwork on the House floor on May 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Dennis Bonnen gave Texas legislators a reason to distrust their leaders, too
The quick political demise of Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen is the kind of insider news that buttresses what many think about people in politics — and trust. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/496c59f8f20f3042d5fb69664da3d30a/Bonnen_sworn_in_as_Speaker_2_MG_TT.jpg)
![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, is sworn in as House speaker by U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. Looking on is Speaker Bonnen's wife Kimberly.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Bonnen regrets comments about Texas cities and counties — yet also says urban governments have "run amok"
Local leaders felt targeted by state lawmakers even before the release of a secret recording that has imperiled the Texas House speaker's future. Bonnen says he was trying to convey a larger point about those officials and how they treat taxpayers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8350a4b252a48880035024a6a565a9df/Dallas%20Skyline%20IS%20TT.jpg)
![Dallas city skyline at sunset.]()
Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto -
Texas voters could stabilize funding for state parks with Proposition 5
Decades ago, lawmakers passed a law that was meant to fully fund Texas Parks and Wildlife, but the money never seemed to make it to the parks. Now they're asking voters to create a constitutional mandate that parks get more money. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6e95a6eda3ee344cac443b58c710852d/Bastrop%20State%20Park%20SS%20TT.jpg)
![Bastrop State park.]()
Credit: Spencer Selvidge for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: In the Texas House, it’s going to be a little tougher to say, “Come, let us reason together”
The recording of Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen's raw political conversation with a conservative activist threw a partisan rock into the state Legislature's normally bipartisan pool. Now the members have to sort that out. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d6aec2e0e36adab1d4e86a3aa2f2c265/01_House_Democratic_Caucus_Presser_EW.jpg)
![The House Democratic Caucus speaks to the press following Gov. Abbott's State of the State address in Austin on Feb. 5, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Live TribCast recording
We're livestreaming this week's TribCast recording, hosted by The Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith and featuring political reporters Cassi Pollock, Alex Samuels and Patrick Svitek. They break down the Dennis Bonnen tape released Tuesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d3115b525e26c4116ba52457f124aad0/TTE-LiveTribCast_leadart-tt.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Local Texas officials balk at animus toward cities, plans for sales tax cuts in legislators' secretly recorded meeting
The recording revealed that top Republican lawmakers wanted the 2019 session to be painful for cities and counties — and 2021 to be even worse. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/354e77c286100bea0a1841307be14347/04%20Houston%20Skyline%20MG.jpg)
![The Houston skyline on Dec. 17, 2018.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Dennis Bonnen, Michael Quinn Sullivan and who? We break down who was in the room and who’s mentioned on the tape.
Here’s who was mentioned in the recording where Republican Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen urged a hardline conservative activist to politically target members of their own party — and suggested he could get the activist's group media access to lawmakers next legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/09b2e019236d4f1b40929948f253c8c2/MQD%20and%20Bonnen%20Split%20TT.jpg)
![Michael Quinn Sullivan and Dennis Bonnen.]()
Credit: Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Anti-abortion activists take their fight to small-town East Texas
Five towns have passed ordinances aiming to outlaw abortion. Critics say a legal challenge is likely. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bb7cc0ca313b3766decbcb2275f052a6/08%20AntiAbortion%20Sanctuary%20Cities%20BF%20TT.jpg)
![Lucy Cummings, 67, a 50-year resident of Joaquin and a supporter of the recent anti-abortion ordinance, stands on her front porch with her granddaughter, Brystal.]()
Credit: Ben Fenton for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recuses himself from opinion, citing conflict of interest
A local official had asked Paxton for legal guidance on special prosecutor pay — a major question in the criminal case against Paxton himself. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/21727e695c2fc32f1f4ad3e06c833737/06%20AG%20Ken%20Paxton%20MG%20TT.jpg)
![Ken Paxton at the inauguration ceremony of Judge Michelle Slaughter at the state capitol. Jan. 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune