Federal judge appears ready to dismiss 2 of 14 charges in Henry Cuellar’s bribery case
The dismissal comes after Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo narrowing the enforcement of laws relating to foreign lobbying and bribery. Full Story
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Owen Dahlkamp was a Washington, D.C.-based reporting fellow covering political developments that affect Texans in the nation's capital. Hailing from San Diego, California, Owen is be a Brown University senior majoring in political science and cognitive neuroscience. He is the managing editor of the Brown Daily Herald, the campus newspaper, and his reporting has appeared in CNN, the Nation, NPR and more.
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![U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, R-Laredo, at a Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on April 10, 2024.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Michael A. McCoy -
Texas could lose political clout under Trump’s call for a new census that excludes undocumented immigrants
Republicans believe population increases in red states, such as Texas, would offset losses from not counting immigrants who lack legal status. Full Story
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![No Kings Protest against the policies of Pres. Donald Trump in McAllen on June 14, 2025.]()
Credit: Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribune -
Gun rights YouTuber Brandon Herrera to challenge U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales again in GOP primary
Herrera, who came within 400 votes of ousting Gonzales in a 2024 runoff, is once again positioning himself to the right of the incumbent. Full Story
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![San Antonio, Texas - March 14, 2024:
Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz and Brandon Herrera, Republican candidate for the US House for Texas’ 23rd congressional district, were seen during a campaign event at the Angry Elephant, a politically themed bar, in San Antonio, Texas on March 14, 2024.
Photo: Christopher Lee for Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Christopher Lee for The Texas Tribune -
John Cornyn enters critical window to change trajectory of Texas Senate primary against Ken Paxton
The annual summer break is a critical window for Texas’ senior senator, whose allies are blitzing the airwaves with ads courting primary voters — and President Donald Trump. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Cornyn says FBI will help locate absent Texas Democrats, but scope of feds’ role unclear
The Republican senator, who is facing a tough primary challenge, previously asked FBI Director Kash Patel for the agency’s help in tracking down the House lawmakers. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the basement of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Thursday, July 31, 2025.]()
Credit: Aaron Schwartz/Sipa USA via REUTERS -
Paxton launches investigation into Beto O’Rourke’s political group for funding Democrats who left state
The attorney general is also looking into the George Soros-backed Texas Majority PAC, which is playing a coordinating role to solicit donations from Democratic donors. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Republican Party of Texas Convention in San Antonio on May 23, 2024..]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Beto O’Rourke’s political group is a top funder for Texas Democrats’ exodus to block GOP congressional map
The former El Paso congressman also contributed to House Democrats’ 2021 quorum break. A PAC backed by Democratic donor George Soros is also involved in this year’s effort. Full Story
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![A private plane headed to Chicago sits on the tarmac after loading luggage at Signature Aviation in Austin with Texas Democratic legislators headed to Illinios on a quorum break on August 3, 2025.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Wesley Hunt tests waters of a Senate bid, setting up possible heavyweight primary with Cornyn and Paxton
The Houston Republican’s case rests on the notion that Sen. John Cornyn cannot win the primary and his challenger, Attorney General Ken Paxton, could jeopardize the seat in November. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Houston, alongside his house Republican colleagues, speaks about the Republican Party’s upcoming legislative agenda and accomplishments in the first one hundred days of holding the majority in the House of Representatives, on Capitol Hill in Washington on April 17, 2023.]()
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In draft congressional map, Texas Republicans bet big that gains with Latino voters will persist
The plan increases the share of Hispanic voters in three of the five districts targeted by the GOP, banking that enough will turn out and vote for Republicans without Donald Trump on the ballot. Full Story
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![An attendee holds a Trump hat during a prayer at a GOP event in McAllen to motivate Republicans to vote for U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Los Indios, running for re-election and congressional candidates Monica De La Cruz, TX-15, and Cassy Garcia, TX-28, on Nov. 6, 2022.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
Newsom will move to redraw California map if Texas redistricts, teeing up national fight
The governor plans to go through the Legislature to usher in a map with more Democratic seats if Texas tilts its map to the right, according to a person with knowledge of Newsom’s thinking. Full Story
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![California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference with Texas state representatives about redistricting at the Governor's Mansion in downtown Sacramento, California, on Friday, July 25, 2025, after meeting with Texas lawmakers about Republican plans to redraw districts in Texas.]()
Credit: DANIEL HEUER/The Sacramento Bee via ZUMA Press Wire via REUTERS