Ken Paxtonโs vote harvesting investigation in South Texas renews questions over politiqueras
Since the 2020 election, Texas Republicans have dramatically rewritten the stateโs voting laws, which have made some long-standing practices illegal.
About 40% of Texas election administrators leave their job each presidential election cycle, report finds
Texasโ turnover rate has held steady at 40% since 2014. Thatโs slightly above the new national average.
Tax cuts, teacher pension increases at stake after misinformation-led challenge to 2023 election
Tax cuts were a major legislative priority for Republican leaders, including Gov. Greg Abbott. The governor cannot certify the election results until the challenges are resolved.
Stewart Rhodes, the Texas-based leader of the Oath Keepers militia, given 18 years in prison for sedition
Rhodes was among the many Texans who played key roles in fomenting, planning or fueling the Jan. 6, 2021, violence at the U.S. Capitol.
Eliminating countywide voting in Texas would make the process harder on voters, cost more money, election leaders say
Currently, more than 80% of Texas voters can vote anywhere in their home county, a model that originated in Lubbock County. If lawmakers approve new legislation, that would change.
Texas elections secure despite COVID-related โirregularitiesโ in 2020, audit finds
Four Texas counties were evaluated in a 359-page audit released by Secretary of State John Scott on Monday, two weeks before he steps down as chief election official.
On โThe View,โ Ted Cruz refuses to acknowledge that President Joe Biden was legitimately elected
On the show, the Texas Republican repeatedly redirected attention to Democrats who had previously bemoaned their own electoral losses.
Conspiracy theorists and 16-hour days: Inside the stress elections officials face ahead of the midterms
Running elections in Texas has never been easy. But since 2020, the scrutiny elections administrators face has grown โ even in small Republican-controlled counties that former President Donald Trump carried.
Ted Cruz votes against bipartisan bill to prevent another Jan. 6
The Texan objected to certifying Arizonaโs electoral votes as rioters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The bill, which Cruz voted against in committee on Tuesday, would make a similar move in the future meaningless.
Texas AG Ken Paxton bans staff lawyers from speaking at state bar events, escalating feud sparked by 2020 election
The bar, which licenses lawyers and offers training sessions, is suing Paxton in an attempt to sanction him for trying block the certification of Joe Bidenโs victory over Donald Trump.
Ken Paxton seeks to dismiss state barโs lawsuit against him over his attempt to overturn the 2020 election
The Texas attorney general said that the suit was politically motivated and that the state bar has no authority to police the decisions of his office.
COVID-19 kept Texas Democrats off the campaign trail in 2020. Not this time.
In 2020, Democrats took their campaign efforts virtual. But they later admitted that the lack of in-person campaigning hurt them at the polls.
U.S. Capitol Police intelligence thought Louie Gohmert appeared to encourage violence before insurrection
A Capitol Police assessment flagged comments made by the Texas congressperson as a potential danger, Politico reported.
First part of Texasโ 2020 election audit reveals few issues, echoes findings from review processes already in place
An initial review of four countiesโ election results โ launched after pressure from former President Donald Trump and touted by GOP leaders โ showed few discrepancies between electronic and hand counts of ballots in a sample of voting precincts.
Gov. Greg Abbott sticks with hands-off approach to COVID-19 as omicron spreads
Abbottโs office says vaccines are the best defense to the pandemic, however, the governor has rarely spoken about vaccines in recent months other than to push back against mandates. He did not respond to a question about whether he got the booster.
Unhappy holidays: Texas endures another COVID Christmas
After nearly two years of navigating life during a pandemic, many Texans are now scrambling for COVID tests, delaying plans and worrying about relatives who have been exposed to the virus.
โEvery constitutional right is now at risk": Legal experts warn Supreme Court action on Texas abortion law could lead to copycats
Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the majority was straying from the courtโs precedent to step in when state laws chill the exercise of constitutional rights while allowing other states to follow suit.
A growing number of Texas Republicans want a fourth special session to pass COVID-19 vaccine mandate ban
It remains unclear whether Gov. Greg Abbott โ the only official with the power to convene special sessions โ will order state lawmakers back to Austin, or what issues he would include on the agenda.
Freshman state Rep. Jasmine Crockett is running for Dallas congressional seat, with Eddie Bernice Johnsonโs backing
Crockett is running for the seat vacated by Johnson, who announced Saturday that she would not seek reelection in the 30th Congressional District after serving nearly three decades in Congress. The seat is solidly Democratic.
Gov. Greg Abbott, GOP leaders allocate $4 million to fund county-level election audits
A new state law requires the secretary of state's office to audit results in four randomly selected counties every two years.
Jay Kleberg, King Ranch scion and conservationist, to run for land commissioner as a Democrat
At least three other Democrats and four Republicans are vying for the office that GOP incumbent George P. Bush is leaving to run for attorney general.
Texas voters split on whether voting laws should be more strict, UT/TT Poll finds
The October poll found that the percentage of Democrats who said voting rules should be less strict increased significantly, with 64% of voters taking that position compared to the 51% in August.
![Analysis: Are lawmakers trying to make Texans more confident in elections, or less?](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/rBJaqVr04YtELFvmGkCuCn4mivU=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/T7HFN5YRGVGRNGQ2BRBMETLJEU.jpg)
Analysis: Are lawmakers trying to make Texans more confident in elections, or less?
After conservative complaints about the national results in the 2020 election, Texas Republicans have tried to anticipate everything that might play against them in 2022, right down to whoโll be at the helm.
![Houston state Rep. Dan Huberty, who spearheaded Texasโ 2019 public education overhaul in Legislature, to retire](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/sXJpWhmqgSV4AQ6it2PP1QFu0F4=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WLQA4WSHJNDY5ECDFCVIW5VIRY.jpg)
Houston state Rep. Dan Huberty, who spearheaded Texasโ 2019 public education overhaul in Legislature, to retire
Earlier this year, Huberty was arrested in Montgomery County after he crashed his car into another vehicle and failed a sobriety test. The lawmaker was driving home from the Capitol in late April.
![Texas House passes proposed new map for chamberโs 150 districts, aiming to protect Republicansโ majority for the next decade](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/CiRQRlJfXNQusUI4VA7O-ptK9-g=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/DPMXKZHOWFHUPCWH67YYQL4PSY.jpg)
Texas House passes proposed new map for chamberโs 150 districts, aiming to protect Republicansโ majority for the next decade
Members considered more than 50 amendments to the proposed map during debate that began Tuesday and ended early Wednesday. Some of the biggest changes focused on Dallas and Harris counties.
![Texas House committee advances proposed map for lower chamber](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/9mZLwQUdMSVpaJWXagdy8fvMUA0=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/7YAUXBNCR5CK3L2Z3BDZSYDXFI.jpg)
Texas House committee advances proposed map for lower chamber
The draft, which will need a stamp of approval from the full chamber before it can head to the Senate for consideration, is likely to continue to change before the Legislature sends it to Gov. Greg Abbottโs desk for a signature.
![Texas House proposes map that increases Republican strength and decreases Black and Hispanic majority districts](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/Nz1XcfHpm6nFLXuHU9SviOlaYb8=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/QKYUJROSE5AUVL4GZQ4W3FTNAA.jpg)
Texas House proposes map that increases Republican strength and decreases Black and Hispanic majority districts
The Texas Legislature is in the midst of its third special session, which is dedicated to redrawing political maps based on the latest census data that showed people of color fueled 95% of Texasโ population growth over the past decade.
![Beto OโRourke on Matthew McConaughey: โI donโt know how he feels about any of the issuesโ](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/vxPXUtfHwD_29PpzVlvN1KCym44=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/HSFSYJMLXBB27HFBVLFTZCJ57Q.jpg)
Beto OโRourke on Matthew McConaughey: โI donโt know how he feels about any of the issuesโ
In a Texas Tribune Festival interview, the former member of Congress discussed the fight for voting rights, his takeaways from his last two runs for office and speculation about his becoming a candidate for governor.
![How the quorum break got broken: Texas Democrats splintered during second session break](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/wJYGxKi6Mn3BbTAljbykonUtO90=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/K27XJR4YI5G2LPH3M37TIOAGKY.jpg)
How the quorum break got broken: Texas Democrats splintered during second session break
For House Democrats, the story of the second special session is much different from that of the first one. The excitement of leaving the state had worn off, the media spotlight had dimmed and the pressures to return home were mounting.
![Texas Senate too late with hastily conjured bill allowing party officials to trigger audits of 2020 election](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/VgU8aoCHh1kgVakYd0HoJGlFPdI=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/NEDNXZ72Q5F4DIDCB4MLZPZXUA.jpg)
Texas Senate too late with hastily conjured bill allowing party officials to trigger audits of 2020 election
The bill, approved by the Senate and never considered by the House, would have allowed state and local party chairs to file requests to launch audits, but Republicans say the legislation would not have spawned a debacle akin to the controversial review underway in Arizona.
![Texas House speaker says โabsolutely no deals madeโ to bring back absent Democrats](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/0do2xnQXsdcOpROba7ubxgtEVOE=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/L52I4U56VZHQ5MZ7UNJH7XPDLY.jpg)
Texas House speaker says โabsolutely no deals madeโ to bring back absent Democrats
Navigating the quorum break, Speaker Dade Phelan said he was especially mindful of not doing โun-repairable harmโ to the chamber, indicating that could have happened if members were physically detained and brought to the chamber.
![Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan signs 52 arrest warrants for absent Democrats in bid to end chamberโs weekslong stalemate](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/yDePEXUZs0QRTgghUMMJrQPsCGo=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JPYW4PLRIBHLRO6WRQZV7RUXB4.jpg)
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan signs 52 arrest warrants for absent Democrats in bid to end chamberโs weekslong stalemate
The Texas Supreme Court earlier Tuesday ruled that Democrats who refuse to show up could be detained by law enforcement and brought back to the state Capitol.
![Texas Supreme Court denies Democratsโ request to overturn Gov. Greg Abbottโs veto of Legislatureโs funding](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/a8bIywsH0DF1VVVu2kHyp0Bihq0=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/O3MBN57JGJDM3CAJICIOTDUCG4.jpg)
Texas Supreme Court denies Democratsโ request to overturn Gov. Greg Abbottโs veto of Legislatureโs funding
Abbott vetoed a section of the state budget that funds the Legislature โ including salaries and benefits of 2,100 employees โ as punishment for House Democrats' May walkout to prevent passage of a controversial voting bill.
![First special legislative session ends without any bills passed and Democrats still in D.C.](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/3JLY1-yrqkO1i_yjQq22Tn95Tlo=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/RURRK4RDHJD2DJWDQQV5APS35E.jpg)
First special legislative session ends without any bills passed and Democrats still in D.C.
House Democrats are still camped out in the nationโs capital hinting that many may not return to Austin immediately as the next overtime round starts Saturday.
![With special sessionโs end looming, Texas Democrats and Republicans mull their next moves](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/mh1CbPIlp3o8H_Jie43GJSdILIo=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/6IS3BGPX5ZDKVLVR5337J553SQ.jpg)
With special sessionโs end looming, Texas Democrats and Republicans mull their next moves
Abbott has promised to call a second special session to pass the GOPโs priority voting bill, but the exact timing is uncertain. And House Democrats have not yet revealed what they have planned after the session ends this week.
![With time running out, Texas Legislature still at impasse on GOP elections bill](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/BZk9cQidd955VypNdghaKmjqUuw=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/TSIXTONMOJDRHMCS5Y4WYMT67M.jpg)
With time running out, Texas Legislature still at impasse on GOP elections bill
Republicans believe they have already compromised enough on the legislation, while Democrats are distrustful of both the policy driving the bill and their GOP colleagues after seeing how they have managed the process around the proposal so far.
![In a major upset against a candidate backed by Donald Trump, Jake Ellzey wins runoff for Fort Worth-area congressional seat](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/Snq_IXm1P5-rG3h7Zy18RCY2mGI=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/BSYY3KMB75BFPHJDYI3ZIXJ26I.jpg)
In a major upset against a candidate backed by Donald Trump, Jake Ellzey wins runoff for Fort Worth-area congressional seat
Ellzey, a state representative, beat fellow Republican Susan Wright, who was backed by former President Donald Trump. Ellzey will finish the term of Ron Wright, who died earlier this year after contracting COVID-19.
![Beto OโRourke group gives $600,000 to Texas House Democratsโ stay in Washington, D.C.](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/9rwl9FuOsI1xWGpht2fT10D7Gz4=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/YMDTHHR4S5FRBOZGYNTEHSA5BE.jpg)
Beto OโRourke group gives $600,000 to Texas House Democratsโ stay in Washington, D.C.
Members left Texas about 10 days ago and have said they plan to stay out of state until after the special session ends Aug. 6.
![Sixth Texas Democrat in Washington, D.C., tests positive for COVID-19](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/yqB20aYN2coRzianoWxRRbhSFWY=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/LCYLWBVJQVEKXGU3UD4Q7NXFS4.jpg)
Sixth Texas Democrat in Washington, D.C., tests positive for COVID-19
The Texas House Democratic Caucus, which has said it plans to not identify lawmakers who test positive, has started additional precautionary measures, such as providing daily rapid tests.
![Deploy law enforcement? Call another special session? Texas GOP mulls options for elections bill after Democrats leave the state](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/_4104V1RTtJTOFaJHLOI43cYu_A=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WYDNE3K5EBDGJH6GF2YXS3RZUQ.jpg)
Deploy law enforcement? Call another special session? Texas GOP mulls options for elections bill after Democrats leave the state
A number of House Republicans indicated that they would support whatโs known as a call of the House, a procedural move that would allow law enforcement to track down lawmakers who have already fled the chamber.
![Texas House attempting to reset on contentious elections bill with new author, new committee in special session](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/iV3Tnk1B1GiNb8xtlco3wPyaces=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/VCC6FKUC4VHFVK6VDRYW4B2CVM.jpg)
Texas House attempting to reset on contentious elections bill with new author, new committee in special session
The lower chamber, led by House Speaker Dade Phelan, is trying to start off on a new foot with a controversial election bill that blew up during the regular session.
![Texas House Democrats and legislative staffers take Gov. Greg Abbott to court for defunding Legislature](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/lE4LUgcohtc4op434_rI9CiyFeU=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/W4SCO7S3ZJA4VJJ3FU2TYIZ7OM.jpg)
Texas House Democrats and legislative staffers take Gov. Greg Abbott to court for defunding Legislature
The governor had vowed to veto the Legislatureโs funding in the final hours of the regular legislative session in May after House Democrats broke quorum and left the chamber to prevent passage of a controversial elections bill.
![After 2020 disappointments, Democrats look to prioritize year-round organizing](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/YWo5S0Ke46_EW6InHxrnS4jXhtw=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/KCAFB7OKJFBI3PUHYSM2VL3G24.jpg)
After 2020 disappointments, Democrats look to prioritize year-round organizing
Two former congressional candidates, Julie Oliver and Mike Siegel, are hoping to help Democrats learn the lessons of 2020 with a new group called Ground Game Texas.
![Effort to curb governors' pandemic emergency powers falls short at Texas Legislature](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/bfkjJ4QPk8EAU_AvTJIL5AxHSHU=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/GJXTKMLWKZFCBKPMKCDA2LCQOI.jpg)
Effort to curb governors' pandemic emergency powers falls short at Texas Legislature
The proposalโs low bill number signaled it was a priority of new House Speaker Dade Phelan, a Beaumont Republican who referred to the legislation as โthe Houseโs blueprint for pandemic response.โ