No red wave, but Republicans continue inroads into long-Democratic South Texas
The GOP flipped only one of the three congressional seats it wanted this cycle. But the party made inroads down the ballot. Full Story
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![Supporters of Monica De La Cruz hold a campaign banner outside the Lark Community Center in McAllen on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
“The fight goes on”: Families of Uvalde shooting victims hoped for change that didn’t come
The families of some of the 19 children killed at Robb Elementary rooted for Beto O’Rourke, hoping he would help change Texas gun laws. They left disappointed but determined to fight on. Full Story
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![Jerry Mata rubs his eyes after learning the news that Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to win the election at the Lunkers Bar and Grill watch party in Uvalde on Election Day Nov. 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Abortion helped Democrats across the U.S. hold off a “red wave.” Not in Texas.
In conservative Kansas and Kentucky, voters turned out in droves and crossed party lines to support abortion access. In Texas — where candidates, not issues, were on the ballot — there was no such surge in support. Full Story
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![Demonstrators march against the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which virtually bans abortion in the state of Texas, on June 24, 2022.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Republicans against “critical race theory” win seats on the State Board of Education, strengthening its GOP majority
The board is responsible for dictating what Texas’ 5.5 million students are required to learn in the state’s public schools. Full Story
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![Linder Elementary School second grade students participate in Rosa Ramirez's class. They are studying the life of Martin Luther King Jr., and the significance of the upcoming holiday.]()
Credit: Miranda Lipton for The Texas Tribune -
WNBA star Brittney Griner being transferred to Russian penal colony
The 32-year-old was arrested in Moscow on Feb. 17 and accused of entering Russia with vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, which is illegal in Russia. She pleaded guilty to carrying the cartridges. Full Story
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![U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner, who was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport and later charged with illegal possession of cannabis, before receiving the verdict in a court hearing in Khimki, outside Moscow, Russia, on Aug. 4, 2022.]()
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Republican dominance continues for the two highest courts in Texas
Three seats were up for election in the Texas Supreme Court, which handles civil cases, and three in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Democrats haven’t been elected to either court since the late 1990s. Full Story
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![The Texas Supreme Court on Jan. 15, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Republicans narrowly increase their majorities in Texas Legislature
Republican incumbents are successfully defending their seats while the party appears to be making inroads in South Texas. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol in Austin on Aug. 13, 2022.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Austin mayor’s race heading to a runoff, Dallas county judge wins reelection
In three key local elections, the Austin mayoral race will be decided in a runoff, Republican Tim O’Hare won the Tarrant County judge race and Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins won reelection. Full Story
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo wins tight race for reelection
GOP donors spent millions to unseat Hidalgo, a Democrat who leads the state’s most populous county, and take back a seat they lost four years ago. Republican Alexandra del Moral Mealer conceded the race Wednesday morning. Full Story
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![Houston, Texas: Judge Lina Hidalgo poses for a portrait outside of her office on May 13, 2020 in Houston, Texas.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
State Sen. Dawn Buckingham wins bid to manage the Alamo, disaster relief funds and more as Texas’ next land commissioner
The land commissioner manages public land, enforces mineral rights leases, controls the Texas Permanent School Fund, distributes natural disaster relief funding and is responsible for the Alamo. Full Story
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![State Sen. Dawn Buckingham, R-Lakeway.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Republican victories show Texas is still far from turning blue
Republicans continued their 28-year dominance of statewide races but fell short of their hopes for a South Texas congressional sweep. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott at his watch party in McAllen on Nov. 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
Five Texas cities vote to decriminalize having small amounts of marijuana
Voters in Denton, San Marcos, Killeen, Elgin and Harker Heights overwhelmingly supported the local ballot propositions to decriminalize low-level possession. These moves followed Austin voters’ similar decision in May. Full Story
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Sid Miller declares victory in Texas agriculture commissioner race
Securing a third term with strong support across rural Texas, the Republican pledged to expand medical use of cannabis and funding for rural health care. Full Story
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![Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller onstage on the final day of the Texas Republican Convention in San Antonio on June 16, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Vicente Gonzalez holds back Republican surge, returns 34th Congressional District to Democratic control
The Democratic congressman ousted Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Los Indios, who had won a special election in June. The race was key to Republican efforts to win over Hispanic voters in South Texas. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, and Democratic candidate for Texasí 34th Congressional District at his watch party in Brownsville on Nov. 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
Congressman Henry Cuellar wins reelection in South Texas despite shadow of FBI raid
The 28th Congressional District race was one of three seats in South Texas where Republicans hoped to make gains in a region Democrats have long dominated. Full Story
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![Henry Cuellar celebrates his victory with his daughter Catherine and wife Imelda Cuellar at an election night party in Laredo on Nov. 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Jessica Rodriguez for The Texas Tribune -
Republican Glenn Hegar defeats Janet Dudding to keep his state comptroller job for third term
During the campaign, Hegar touted his work on lowering taxes and expanding broadband in Texas, reforming the tax code, reducing regulations on agriculture and pushing for government transparency. Full Story
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![Glenn Hegar, Texas comptroller of public accounts, speaks one-on-one with Danielle Moran, financial journalist for Bloomberg News, at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 23, 2022 in Austin, TX.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton wins third term as attorney general, beating Democrat Rochelle Garza
In a difficult cycle for Democrats, the race was widely seen as the most competitive statewide election because of Paxton’s laundry list of legal troubles. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to supporters Paxton Watch Party Barn in Plano after being re-elected on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
Dan Patrick secures third term as lieutenant governor, beating Mike Collier
Patrick will get another four years leading the Texas Senate, one of the state’s most powerful positions. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks to reporters at a press conference at the state Capitol on Feb. 18, 2022.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Beto O’Rourke has lost three races in four years. Is his political career over?
He has been the Texas Democratic Party’s great hope. But after failed runs for senator, president and governor, observers wonder if he has a political future. Full Story
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![Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke is interviewed by the press after a town hall over the shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde and gun reform in Dallas on June 1, 2022.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Greg Abbott reelected Texas governor, defeating Beto O’Rourke
The governor prevailed after a tumultuous period that included the pandemic, a statewide blackout, restrictions on voting and abortion and the Uvalde school shooting. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott at his watch party in McAllen on Nov. 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune
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