Point of Order: The state of the race for Texas House speaker
In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith and Ross Ramsey discuss the contours of the speaker’s race. Full Story
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Texas Democrats think a seat on the oil and gas regulating board could be their best chance of winning statewide in two decades
With attention on Texas races up and down the ballot, a virtually unknown Republican candidate and big-time donations to the Democratic nominee, Democrats think they have a shot of winning a seat on the Railroad Commission. Full Story
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![Seal of the Railroad Commission of Texas.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman/The Texas Tribune -
More than 9 million Texans have cast ballots so far, surpassing the state’s total votes cast in 2016
Texas’ population is growing, and it extended its early voting period this year due to the coronavirus. Experts are predicting the percent of registered voters who cast ballots this year will be higher than it has been for years. Full Story
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![Voters wait in line to cast their ballots on day one of early voting in at the Sunland Park Mall indoor voting site in El Paso on Oct. 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Texans no longer have a straight-ticket voting option. How that affects Texas House races is unclear.
With control of the Texas House on the line, Republicans and Democrats are closely monitoring the state's massive voter turnout. But with no straight-ticket voting, how many voters are getting to the end of their ballots? Full Story
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![A voter casts their ballot at the Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center in Austin on the first day of early voting on Oct. 13, 2020. Voters are able to cast their ballots early until Oct. 30, 2020.]()
Credit: Amna Ijaz/The Texas Tribune -
Collin County is the center of a political storm as the Texas suburbs become more competitive for Democrats
A Republican stronghold as recently as a few years ago, the county north of Dallas is now home to two of the most hotly contested state House races and a congressional contest about which Democrats are increasingly bullish. Full Story
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![The Republican Party of Texas office in downtown Austin.]()
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What you should watch — and what you should ignore — while the votes are being counted in Texas
It's been an election season like no other. Brace yourself for a results process that lasts longer than in recent elections. Full Story
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![Day one of early voting in El Paso at the Sunland Park Mall indoor voting site on Oct. 13, 2020.]()
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Despite polls showing a close race, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick claims if Democrats win on Election Day, it will be "because they stole it"
Voter fraud in absentee voting, as with any type of voting, is rare. Many states, including many run by Republicans, have expanded mail-in voting options during the pandemic. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at the dais on the Senate floor on May 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
The race for Texas House speaker has quickly become a crowded contest as balance of power hinges on Tuesday's election
Republican state Reps. Trent Ashby, John Cyrier, Chris Paddie and Geanie Morrison are the first four from their party to file. And state Rep. Oscar Longoria became the third Democrat to file for the leadership post. Full Story
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![Empty chamber of the Texas House of Representatives at the state captiol.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Houston appeals court won't let Ken Paxton criminal trial move to Collin County, for now
Prosecutors had argued they couldn't get a fair trial in Collin County, where Paxton is deeply connected politically. The decision is likely to herald more delays in the five-year-old case. Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to the Gun Owners of America assembly in 2018.]()
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Worried your mail-in ballot still hasn't arrived? Here's how to be sure your vote counts
If you're concerned that you haven't received your mail-in ballot, there are ways to be counted by showing up in person. Officials say ballots are still being sent out with less than a week before Election Day. Full Story
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![Harris County election workers process and sort mail-in ballots at NRG stadium on Oct. 5, 2020.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Eva Longoria is famous for her acting, but she’s increasingly recognized as a political player in Texas and beyond
Longoria, who traces her Texas roots back centuries, has helped recruit candidates and raise money for Democrats seeking local and national office. Full Story
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![Actress Eva Longoria spoke before the arrival of Former Vice President and Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Joe Biden at a Hispanic Heritage Month event in Florida on Sept. 15, 2020.]()
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Always a battleground, never a landslide: Texas’ 23rd Congressional District stays competitive despite state’s political shifts
Even as Democrats expand their congressional offensive elsewhere in the state, the West Texas district remains a perennial battleground. Full Story
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John Cornyn embarks on final reelection sprint as late Democratic spending crests in U.S. Senate race
Cornyn expressed worry about the Democratic money coming in to support MJ Hegar but stressed on a bus tour of the state that he represents Texans' values. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, during his bus tour stop in College Station on Oct. 28, 2020.]()
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All seven of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's whistleblowers have resigned, been fired or put on leave
The last of the seven whistleblowers, Ryan Bangert, said he resigned Wednesday. Two others had already resigned, two more were fired last week, and two were put on leave earlier this month. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton during a press conference on Jan. 12, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
A MAGA face mask? A Black Lives Matter T-shirt? Here’s what you can and can’t wear to vote in Texas
Wearing T-shirts, buttons or hats supporting political candidates at the polls is illegal. But in the pandemic era, voters are now being reminded that the electioneering rules also apply to face masks. Full Story
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![There was no shortage of candidate signs outside the Carrollton Public Library on the first day of early voting in Carrollton.]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Is Texas really a toss-up?
In this week's TribCast, Matthew talks with Ross, Abby and Patrick about the state of the biggest races in Texas less than one week from Election Day. Full Story
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![Deputy voting clerk Justin Sullivan waits for voters to cast their ballots during the second week of early voting at Lions Park in San Antonio on Oct. 19, 2020.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Kamala Harris to visit Rio Grande Valley, Fort Worth and Houston during Texas campaign swing Friday
The vice presidential nominee and U.S. senator from California will swing through the state on the final day of early voting before Tuesday's election. Full Story
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![Democratic 2020 presidential candidate and Sen. Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign event at Texas Southern University on Saturday, March 23, 2019 in Houston.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Republicans highlight energy issues as a closing argument of campaign
Texas' oil and gas industry has had a horrible year. As the recession persists and Election Day nears, Republicans have latched on to Donald Trump and Joe Biden's debate exchange about the energy sector and the environment. Full Story
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![Oil pumpjacks in Andrews County, northeast of Kermit.]()
Credit: Jerod Foster for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The 2020 election’s October surprise has been with us for months
The pandemic persists as the top issue in the election, overpowering the kind of late-breaking news and events that can turn people’s heads just before they vote. Full Story
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![Medical personnel wear personal protective equipment as they register residents waiting in line at a COVID-19 testing site at Nations Tobin Recreation Center in El Paso on Oct. 21, 2020.]()
Credit: Joel Angel Juarez for The Texas Tribune -
As COVID-19 surges and curfew takes hold, El Paso leaders encourage voters to keep heading to the polls
The situation in El Paso prompted city leaders to ask residents to stay home unless it’s absolutely necessary to be out in public. But they said residents should still get out to vote. Full Story
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![An early voting site in El Paso on Monday.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune
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