As Trump administration takes shape, Texas takes a back seat
So far Trump has looked elsewhere for his earliest cabinet and high-level staff appointments, in some cases passing over Texans who were in the mix. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/13c0827f021eabd6150053f4fea7f051/Abbott%20Trump%20Wall%20Visit%20MG%20TT%2003.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/IMG_8535_1.jpeg)
Jasper Scherer is a politics reporter for The Texas Tribune. He previously covered Texas politics and government for Hearst Newspapers' Austin bureau, which he joined after stints covering City Hall for the Houston Chronicle and Bexar County for the San Antonio Express-News. A native of San Francisco, Jasper graduated from Northwestern University with degrees in journalism and political science. He is based in Austin.
Latest Contributions
-
![Former President Trump speaks during a tour of an unfinished section of border wall in Pharr, Texas, on June 30, 2021.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
How Ted Cruz pulled off a decisive win and kept his White House hopes afloat
Cruz won over Latino voters and targeted Colin Allred’s support of transgender rights to win a third term. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3e02c3cc784504bdfc75cfb10450c27d/1015%20Cruz%20Allred%20Debate%20ST%20TT%2026.jpg)
![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a debate for the U.S. Senate with U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, hosted by WFAA on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Dallas, Texas.
Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune via POOL]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune via POOL -
Texas Democratic Party chair steps down after dismal election performance
Gilberto Hinojosa’s resignation ends a 12-year run leading the state party, dating back to his election at the 2012 Texas Democratic Convention. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/47ad60f9f95b45526a0ae3a87d3fe275/0607%20TDP%20Convention%20JH%2019.jpeg)
![Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa speaks during the first general session at the Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso on June 7, 2024.]()
Credit: Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribune -
Trump’s near sweep of Texas border counties shows a shift to the right for Latino voters
The former president captured 55% of Latino voters in the state, according to exit polls. He also won 14 out of the 18 counties within 20 miles of the border, a number that doubled his 2020 performance in the Latino-majority region. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bfe0d5cdbc335bb65117055c9cd7f51e/20241105-Wissmath-Del-Rio-2660_A.jpg)
![Gabriel Garza, left, augmentee with the sheriff’s office, congratulates, Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez, right, after the final vote counts for the night were announced around 10pm at Val Verde County Courthouse on election day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Del Rio, Texas. Martinez was in the lead ahead of his opponent Rogelio “Roger” Hernandez 7,926 votes to 6,033.]()
Credit: Salgu Wissmath for The Texas Tribune and ProPublica -
Monica De La Cruz retains GOP control of South Texas congressional district
De La Cruz defeated Democrat Michelle Vallejo for Texas’ 15th Congressional District in a rematch from two years ago. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9fe006c5131c229370e3b1a999e64edc/Monica%20De%20La%20Cruz%20BL%20TT%2001.jpg)
![U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, waves to supporters after declaring victory against Democratic opponent Michelle Vallejo at an election watch party in Edinburg on Nov. 5, 2024.]()
Credit: Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz defeats Democrat Colin Allred
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, a former NFL linebacker and civil rights lawyer from Dallas, repeatedly broke fundraising records in his campaign, raising more than $80 million by mid-October. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3eb7980191cf18cb031ff02472c07aa7/crop-%201105%20Ted%20Cruz%20Election%20AM%2006.jpg)
![Ted Cruz celebrates on stage at his watch party on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in downtown Houston.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Election Day updates: South Texas continues dramatic shift toward Donald Trump, GOP
Texas might not be a swing state, but many of its races will have major consequences to the national political landscape and on the lives of everyday Texans. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7b0951cca85203b3f597b1e1a5ed0b34/1105%20Election%20Day%20Houston%20MF%20TT%2024.jpg)
![Voters wait in line at the Houston Community College Southeast voting location in Houston on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
In final days of Senate race, Cruz courts Latino voters along the border and Allred rallies in his hometown
Both candidates are making their closing arguments at the culmination of a heated and expensive race which could decide control of the U.S. Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fd6eacef51f6655e09bd78c828630573/Cruz-Allred%20Senate%20Split.jpg)
![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, left, and U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
These Texans could join or influence a second Trump administration
Donald Trump has built close ties to many Texas Republicans, from judges to elected officials to policy experts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b1db882e330d29e990c9f5591517b9ec/1025%20Trump%20Rally%20LW%20TT%2014.jpg)
![Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally at Million Air in Austin, Texas on Oct. 25, 2024.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton calls on Rep. Jeff Leach to resign over texts to judge in Robert Roberson case
The AG also said he’d make a criminal referral against the lawmaker, who apologized for texting a Court of Criminal Appeals judge about a new trial for the death row inmate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2d1055b8b44de964f743d05122a7c564/0523%20GOP%20Convention%20EH%2053.jpg)
![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune