Cornyn wins over Texas GOP leadership after being censured and booed for his gun safety bill
The senator’s embrace of the state party chair could neutralize a potential threat as Cornyn faces a challenging primary terrain. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f66e00131f73d57bdb2347d11bd83ec6/0318%20Cornyn%20Oilfield%20EH%20TT%2024.jpg)
Matthew Choi
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/Matthew_Choi_2x3.jpg)
Matthew Choi is a Washington correspondent for The Texas Tribune. He previously covered energy and climate policy at Politico, where he wrote the Morning Energy newsletter and covered campaign events as a breaking news reporter during the 2020 presidential election and the Mueller investigation. Before joining Politico, Matthew was a two-time reporting fellow at The Texas Tribune based in Austin, reporting on education, health care, immigration, guns, agriculture and land management. He graduated from Northwestern University where he studied journalism and political science and was managing editor of The Daily Northwestern. Matthew is a native of Northern Virginia and speaks both French and English. In his free time, Matthew enjoys cooking French country food while listening to Simon and Garfunkel.
Past Contributions
-
![U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, takes part in a tour of a well site, led by Diamondback Energy and ChampionX, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Midland.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune -
Rep. Wesley Hunt praised in statewide ads as Cornyn kicks off reelection campaign
A seven-figure Texas ad buy is seen as a strong indicator that the Houston congressman may challenge the incumbent senator. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a422b7a2146c03c9c542b5a069cb331/Wesley%20Hunt%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Congressman Wesley Hunt (R) speaks during House Judiciary Committee field hearing on New York City violent crimes at Javits Federal Building in New York City on April 17, 2023.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Lev Radin -
Jasmine Crockett criticized over comment mocking Greg Abbott’s wheelchair
The Texas Democrat made fun of the governor during a speech over the weekend in Los Angeles to an LGBTQ rights group. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4abbe357dd2299d51e76368d7b03dae0/Texas%20House%20Progressive%20Caucus%20EG%20TT%2016.jpg)
![State Rep. Jasmine Felicia Crockett, D-Dallas, speaks at a Texas House Progressive Caucus at the Capitol on Sept. 20, 2021.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Abbott praises Trump’s efforts to eliminate Education Department at White House
Gov. Greg Abbott dismissed concerns that federal funding and civil rights could be jeopardized by the reduction of the department. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1e355cdc38894ccfb34387bf964e195b/Greg%20Abbott%20Ed%20Dept%20Signing%20REUTERS.JPG)
![Gov. Greg Abbott applauds as he attends the signing of an executive order to shut down the Department of Education by President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 20, 2025.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Carlos Barria -
Ted Cruz funds ads supporting pro-voucher lawmakers
The ads praise 14 Texas Republicans, including House Speaker Dustin Burrows, for their support of education savings accounts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e72d39975d72cb6968fdb615188cf009/1008%20Cruz%20Hunstville%20HC%20TT%2034.jpg)
![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks to residents at his bus tour rally in Huntsville on Oct. 8, 2024, finishing his six-city tour campaign for reelection against U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas.]()
Credit: Hope Capwell for The Texas Tribune -
Amanda Edwards to run to succeed the late-U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner
Edwards unsuccessfully ran for the seat twice last year. She faced off against U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in the 2024 Democratic primary. Jackson Lee won the primary but died before the general election, opening the party’s nomination anew Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/21a414cb8298942e8ec25ceebc52bc61/Amanda%20Edwards%20AP%20TT.jpg)
![Houston City Councilwoman and U.S. Senate candidate Amanda Edwards outside of 919 Congress Avenue in Austin on Feb. 7, 2020.]()
Credit: Angela Piazza for The Texas Tribune -
National Republicans target South Texas Democrats for 2026 election
Reps. Cuellar and Gonzalez are moderate Democrats who represent border districts that increasingly vote Republican. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7e25035f0b0e5a7082176d198a3c1cb7/NRCC%20Cuellar%20Gonzalez%20dip%20TT.jpg)
![U.S. Reps. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen and Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Trump tariffs set to hit Texas’ biggest trading partners beginning next week
The president said Mexico and Canada have failed to curb the flow of drugs into the U.S. after giving the countries 30 days to do so before enacting the tariffs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/34ff06977abf6a39c5c435caf477594e/Laredo%20Trucks%20JV%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Trucks cross the World Trade Bridge over the Rio Grande from Mexico into the United States in Laredo on Sept. 16, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Rep. August Pfluger benefits from fund drive promoting third Trump term
A Trump official says the president did not approve the fundraising message connected to the Republican Study Committee. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/05dd31d33eeb668e306314bbfa65b9ff/August%20Pfluger%20RETUERS.jpg)
![Representative August Pfluger, R-San Angelo, arrives for a meeting with Texas Republicans at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023.]()
Credit: Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect -
Texas could sell 100 miles of border to feds, Abbott says
Abbott is in Washington this week to lobby Congress for $11 billion to compensate Texas for money spent on his Operation Lone Star, to secure the border during the Biden Administration. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/35d80aa19e51d2433c99ee4f02cb302b/0213%20Greg%20Abbott%20Interview%20LJ%20TT%2010.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott answers questions regarding Operation Lone Star, congressional leadership and his plans for Texas to work with the Trump administration among other things on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, at The Royal Sonesta Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.]()
Credit: Luke Johnson for The Texas Tribune