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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Ross Ramsey
Executive Editor
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Ross Ramsey is executive editor and co-founder of The Texas Tribune, the only member-supported, digital-first, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. He writes regular columns on politics, government and public policy. Before joining the Tribune, he was editor and co-owner of Texas Weekly. He did a 28-month stint in government with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Before that, he reported for the Houston Chronicle, the Dallas Times Herald, as a Dallas-based freelancer for regional and national magazines and newspapers, and for radio stations in Denton and Dallas.
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![Medical personnel wear personal protective equipment as they register residents waiting in line at a COVID-19 testing site a…]()
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Analysis: Democrats or Republicans could win the Texas House this year. But what if they tie?
The next speaker of the Texas House will come from the majority party, whether that’s the Republicans or the Democrats after the election. But there’s an outside chance the parties will have the same number of members. Full Story
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![The Texas House of Representatives chamber on Nov. 20, 2018.]()
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Analysis: Money counts in Texas elections, but timing matters, too
MJ Hegar's challenge of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has attracted millions of dollars in financial support, most of it late in the race. She's now in better financial shape than the incumbent, but time is running short. Full Story
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![Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and challenger MJ Hegar face off in a Nexstar televised debate on Oct. 9, 2020, at the Bull…]()
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Analysis: The second election can be harder than the first one
Texas Democrats are trying to add nine seats to their total in the Texas House, enough to regain a majority they lost almost two decades ago. But Republicans aren't idle, and they're targeting seats Democrats barely won last time. Full Story
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![A voting sign at the South Austin Recreation Center polling site on Oct. 14, 2020.]()
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Analysis: It's harder to vote in Texas than in any other state
Voting laws in Texas are the most restrictive in the country. And voter turnout here is among the lowest, too. Maybe those facts are related. Full Story
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![A voter casts their ballot at a polling site at the Austin Oaks Church on Oct. 14, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Running government like a business — except for elections
You've heard that refrain — the one about running the government like a business — from dozens of candidates over the years. In the case of voting, businesses might be a good place for government officials to pick up some pointers. Full Story
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![Herb Kelly and his wife Linda Simien Kelly, who is an artist in Houston, wait in line at the Metropolitan Multi-Services Cen…]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast, special edition: Our pollsters analyze the latest UT/TT Poll on the election and pandemic
In this edition of the TribCast, Ross talks to pollsters Joshua Blank, James Henson and Daron Shaw about the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll, focused on the election and the pandemic. Full Story
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![People wait in line to vote at Audelia Road Branch Library on the first day of early voting in Dallas, Texas on Oct. 13, 202…]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune -
Sharp partisan and racial differences mark Texan voters’ view of police, UT/TT Poll finds
With some political campaigns embracing law enforcement in Texas, the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll found two things to be true: Most voters don't want to decrease funding for police, and almost all voters feel safe where they live. Full Story
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![State police in riot gear block protesters from gathering in the street in downtown Austin on Aug. 1, 2020.]()
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Texas voters disagree on top issues, as well as candidates, UT/TT Poll finds
Texas voters' disagreements on candidates are mirrored by differences over top priorities and problems, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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![Texas State Capitol in the late afternoon on June 12, 2017.]()
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Fears about the coronavirus dip from April peak, but remain high, UT/TT Poll says
Amid the apprehension that Texans expressed about the spread of infections, there are partisan differences about how serious a problem the coronavirus is, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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![A Kroger pharmacist explains how to administer the self-swab test at a COVID-19 testing site in the Fifth Ward in Houston on…]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Coronavirus vaccines could be a hard sell in Texas, UT/TT Poll finds
Less than half of Texas voters say they'd get a coronavirus vaccine if one were widely available, and 41% believe a vaccine will be announced before it's proven to work, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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![Pedestrians in downtown Austin on June 24, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas voters are as split as the Senate on Supreme Court opening, UT/TT Poll finds
When it comes to filling a spot on the U.S. Supreme Court, Texas voters are split the same way the U.S. Senate is split — along party lines, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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![The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, U.S., November 30, 2018.]()
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Texas voters have serious concerns about voting and the 2020 election, UT/TT Poll finds
Only a minority of Texas voters from both parties say they're ready to trust the results of the 2020 election for president, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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![A polling location for Texas' July primary runoffs and special elections in Houston on July 14, 2020.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's ratings fell during the pandemic, UT/TT Poll finds
As the pandemic has dragged on in Texas, the distance between Abbott's approval and disapproval ratings from voters has narrowed, according to the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott gives an update on Texas hospital bed capacity and the state's strategy for fighting COVID-19 during a pres…]()
Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell/Pool via Austin American-Statesman -
Donald Trump leads Joe Biden by 5 points in Texas, UT/TT Poll finds
The president leads the former vice president 50%-45% in Texas, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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![President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden.]()
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John Cornyn leads MJ Hegar by 8 points in U.S. Senate race, UT/TT Poll finds
Cornyn, the Republican incumbent, leads Hegar 50%-42% in his bid for a fourth term, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. candidate MJ Hegar and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.]()
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Analysis: Ken Paxton faces a predicament familiar to Texas attorneys general
Four of the seven Texas attorneys general since 1972 have gone on to higher office, one stalled and one went to prison. Ken Paxton, the current AG, is in a situation now that could determine which way his career will go. Full Story
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![Ken Paxton receives an applause as he is sworn into office as Attorney General. Paxton replaced outgoing Attorney General Gr…]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Greg Abbott’s latest retreat comes at the expense of Texas voters
Given the opportunity to make it easier to vote in Texas’ 2020 general election, to leave the election process alone or to make it harder to vote, the governor chose the third option. Full Story
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![A ballot drop-off location in Austin on Oct. 1, 2020, where voters can safely hand deliver their ballots by Election Day.]()
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Analysis: The confounding commotion around voting in Texas
Voting and election cases are piled up in the courts in Texas, and the days between now and Nov. 3 are growing short. Some of the rules could change while we're voting. But vote anyhow. Full Story
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![A voter casts her vote at the gymnasium at the Metropolitan Multi-Services Center in Houston for the delayed primary runoff …]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Unlike the 2018 election in Texas, 2020’s top races won’t set spending records
Two years ago in Texas, interest and election turnout were juiced by a $125 million race for U.S. Senate. This year's ballot is topped by an extraordinary race for president, but the political spending at the top won't match 2018. Full Story
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![U.S Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate MJ Hegar.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. and Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune