https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/eleanor-klibanoff/The latest news by Eleanor Klibanoff.enThu, 21 Aug 2025 07:10:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/21/chip-roy-attorney-general-republican-primary-2026-paxton/It will be the first test of whether Roy’s at times frosty relationship with President Trump — and his turn against Paxton — can withstand scrutiny in a statewide primary.By Gabby Birenbaum and Eleanor KlibanoffThu, 21 Aug 2025 07:10:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/21/chip-roy-attorney-general-republican-primary-2026-paxton/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/19/nicole-collier-texas-house-lawsuit-police-escort/The Fort Worth Democrat was confined in the Capitol overnight after refusing to be shadowed by state police, a requirement for lawmakers who had left the state over the GOP redistricting plan.By Eleanor KlibanoffTue, 19 Aug 2025 16:01:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/19/nicole-collier-texas-house-lawsuit-police-escort/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/19/texas-democrats-redistricting-quorum-break-tribcast/The gang looks at what’s next in the extra-special session, as Republicans prepare to finally pass a new congressional map.By Eleanor KlibanoffTue, 19 Aug 2025 15:24:45 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/19/texas-democrats-redistricting-quorum-break-tribcast/The floor of the Texas House on Aug. 18, 2025, after Texas Democrats returned to the Capitol, resuming the work of the House.Lorianne Willett for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/18/texas-senate-second-special-session-thc-disaster-relief-bathroom-bills/Senators moved fast on Gov. Greg Abbott’s agenda for the second special session. With House Democrats back in Texas, bills can now move through that chamber.By Jayme Lozano Carver, Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Alejandra Martinez, Alex Nguyen, Ayden Runnels, Eleanor Klibanoff, Emily Foxhall, Joshua Fechter and Stephen SimpsonMon, 18 Aug 2025 21:30:46 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/18/texas-senate-second-special-session-thc-disaster-relief-bathroom-bills/State Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, speaks on the Senate floor at the Capitol on July 21, 2025.State Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, speaks on the Senate floor at the Capitol on July 21, 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/17/texas-senate-redistricting-committee-maps-second-special-session/A second special session that has made approving the map a priority started Friday, shortly after the first one ended.By Eleanor Klibanoff and Alex NguyenSun, 17 Aug 2025 18:53:17 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/17/texas-senate-redistricting-committee-maps-second-special-session/State Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, who authored redistricting legislation during the two special sessions this year, at the Texas Capitol on July 29, 2025. The Texas Senate's redistricting committee advanced on Sunday legislation with the same maps proposed during the first special session. It now heads to the Senate floor for a full vote.State Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, listens to testimony during a special Senate virtual hearing on Texas redistricting at the Texas Capitol on July 29, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/13/texas-democrats-illinois-arrest-warrants-reject-extradite/Judge Scott Larson ruled that the Texas speaker and attorney general had “failed to present a legal basis for the court” to take up the issue.By Eleanor KlibanoffWed, 13 Aug 2025 15:53:03 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/13/texas-democrats-illinois-arrest-warrants-reject-extradite/Democratic Texas Rep. Ron Reynolds speaks during a press conference with members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus at IBEW Local 701 in Warrenville, Ill., on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025.Democratic Texas Rep. Ron Reynolds speaks during a press conference with members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus at IBEW Local 701 in Warrenville, Ill., on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. More than 30 Democratic Texas lawmakers fled the state the day before to block a quorum and delay a redistricting plan backed by former President Donald Trump. They regrouped in Illinois to prevent the Legislature from advancing a mid-decade congressional map that could shift several seats to Republican control.Jamie Kelter Davis for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/12/texas-democrats-supreme-court-delays-ruling-abbott-paxton-expel/The governor and attorney general have asked the court to find that Democratic lawmakers abandoned their seats when they left Texas to delay a new congressional map.By Eleanor KlibanoffTue, 12 Aug 2025 11:20:44 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/12/texas-democrats-supreme-court-delays-ruling-abbott-paxton-expel/Supreme Court of Texas justices sit at the bench for a Q & A after hearing oral arguments for two civil cases at the University of Houston Law Center in Houston on Oct. 29, 2024.Supreme Court of Texas justices sit at the bench for a Q & A after hearing oral arguments for two civil cases at the University of Houston Law Center in Houston on Oct. 29, 2024.Douglas Sweet Jr. for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/12/texas-republicans-redistricting-political-power-courts-quorum-break/Since Democratic lawmakers left Texas to delay Republicans’ new map, state leaders have challenged the limits of traditional democratic norms to break the impasse.By Eleanor KlibanoffTue, 12 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/12/texas-republicans-redistricting-political-power-courts-quorum-break/Streetlights and building lighting illuminate the Texas State Capitol through early morning fog on the ninth day of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 15, 2023.Streetlights and building lighting illuminate the Texas State Capitol through early morning fog on the ninth day of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 15, 2023.Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/08/beto-orourke-texas-democrats-ken-paxton-fundraising-quorum-break/The order came at the request of Attorney General Ken Paxton, who O’Rourke accused in a separate lawsuit of going on a “fishing expedition, constitutional rights be damned.”By Eleanor KlibanoffFri, 08 Aug 2025 18:35:34 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/08/beto-orourke-texas-democrats-ken-paxton-fundraising-quorum-break/Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke speaks during a Fight the Trump Takeover rally outside the south steps of the Texas Capitol in Austin on Thursday, July 24, 2025.Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke speaks during a Fight the Trump Takeover rally outside the South Steps of the Capitol on Thursday, July 24, 2025 in Austin, Texas.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/08/ken-paxton-texas-democrats-supreme-court-removal-redistricting/Gov. Greg Abbott previously asked the court to expel Rep. Gene Wu, the House Democratic leader. Paxton disputed the governor’s authority to make the request.By Eleanor KlibanoffFri, 08 Aug 2025 15:12:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/08/ken-paxton-texas-democrats-supreme-court-removal-redistricting/Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu, D-Houston, speaks during a news conference alongside Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and dozens of fellow Texas lawmakers in Carol Stream, Ill., on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025.Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu, D-Houston, speaks during a press conference alongside dozens of fellow Texas lawmakers and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker in Carol Stream, Ill., on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. Members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus announced they fled the state to block a quorum and halt a Trump-backed redistricting effort. The lawmakers regrouped in Illinois to prevent the Texas Legislature from advancing a mid-decade congressional map.Jamie Kelter Davis for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/07/paxton-texas-democrats-illinois-enforce-arrest-warrants/The attorney general is calling on the “full faith and credit” clause of the U.S. Constitution, which says states should typically honor each other’s judicial proceedings.By Eleanor KlibanoffThu, 07 Aug 2025 18:12:47 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/07/paxton-texas-democrats-illinois-enforce-arrest-warrants/Flanked by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, state Rep. and caucus chair Gene Wu speaks at a press conference at the DuPage County Democratic Party headquarters in Carol Stream, Ill., on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025.Flanked by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, state Rep. and caucus chair Gene Wu speaks at a press conference at the DuPage County Democratic Party headquarters in Carol Stream, Ill., on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025.Jamie Kelter Davis for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/07/greg-abbott-texas-democrats-quorum-break-supreme-court-removal/The Texas Supreme Court said in 2021 the Constitution allows members to thwart legislation by leaving the state. Abbott wants them to reconsider.By Eleanor KlibanoffThu, 07 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/07/greg-abbott-texas-democrats-quorum-break-supreme-court-removal/Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott look on as Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock swears in state senators during the first day of the legislative sesson in Austin on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott look on as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas Jimmy Blacklock swears in state senators during the opening of the Texas Senate in Austin on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/05/texas-democrats-ken-paxton-court-vacate-seats-quorum-break/Legal experts say it’s “inconsistent with the Texas Constitution” to argue that leaving the state to halt legislative action qualifies as abandoning an office.By Eleanor Klibanoff and Ayden RunnelsTue, 05 Aug 2025 14:13:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/05/texas-democrats-ken-paxton-court-vacate-seats-quorum-break/Gov. Greg Abbott at a bill-signing ceremony at the Texas Capitol in Austin on June 11, 2025. The governor asked the Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday to remove Rep. Gene Wu, the House Democratic Caucus chair, from office over Wu's departure from the state with other Democrats to block a new congressional map.Gov. Greg Abbott signs Senate Bill 2308, the Ibogaine Treatment Research law, at the Capitol in Austin on June 11, 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/04/texas-democrats-house-warrants-arrest-quorum-break/The warrants apply only within state lines, making them largely symbolic as most of the legislators in question decamped to Illinois, New York and Massachusetts.By Eleanor KlibanoffMon, 04 Aug 2025 15:21:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/04/texas-democrats-house-warrants-arrest-quorum-break/House Speaker Dustin Burrows during the Texas House session on August 4, 2025 where only 90 members registered as "present," failing to reach a quorum after the departure of dozens of Democrats out of state.during the Texas House session on August 4, 2025 where only 90 members registered failing to reach a quorum with the departure of dozens of Democrats out of state.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/04/texas-redistricting-democrats-quorum-break-live-updates/Texas Democrats left the state to stop a Republican-led effort to change the state’s congressional boundaries, setting off a national conversation.By Eleanor Klibanoff, Gabby Birenbaum and Kayla GuoMon, 04 Aug 2025 13:54:56 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/04/texas-redistricting-democrats-quorum-break-live-updates/U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., center, stands with other Democratic members of Congress and Texas House Democrats during a press conference at IBEW Local 701 in Warrenville, Ill., on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025.Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., center, stands with other Democratic members of Congress and Texas House Democrats during a press conference at IBEW Local 701 in Warrenville, Ill., on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025.Jamie Kelter Davis for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/03/texas-house-democrats-abbott-threatens-removal-quorum-break/The governor also alleged absconding Democrats may have committed felonies by fundraising to cover the $500-a-day fines they will face under House rules.By Eleanor KlibanoffSun, 03 Aug 2025 22:34:47 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/03/texas-house-democrats-abbott-threatens-removal-quorum-break/Gov. Greg Abbott at a bill signing ceremony at the state Capitol in Austin on June 11, 2025.Gov. Greg Abbott at a bill signing ceremony at the state Capitol in Austin on June 11, 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/03/texas-democrats-quorum-break-redistricting-map/The lawmakers’ absence means the lower chamber won’t have enough members present to function, stalling passage of a draft map Democrats have condemned as a political power grab.By Kayla Guo, Eleanor Klibanoff and Gabby BirenbaumSun, 03 Aug 2025 15:51:03 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/03/texas-democrats-quorum-break-redistricting-map/Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu speaks during a press conference alongside dozens of fellow Texas lawmakers and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker in Carol Stream, Ill., on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025.Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu speaks during a press conference alongside dozens of fellow Texas lawmakers and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker in Carol Stream, Ill., on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025.Jamie Kelter Davis for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/01/texas-congressional-redistricting-doj-coalition-districts/The Department of Justice said four districts unconstitutionally combined Black and Hispanic voters, a charge the state disputes. If the proposed map passes, two will still be multiracial.By Eleanor Klibanoff, Graphics by Carla AstudilloFri, 01 Aug 2025 17:12:41 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/01/texas-congressional-redistricting-doj-coalition-districts/U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, walks to a congressional redistricting meeting at the University of Houston campus in Houston, Texas, on July 26, 2025.U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, walks to a Congressional Redistricting meeting at the University of Houston campus in Houston, Texas, on July 26, 2025.Danielle Villasana for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/01/texas-redistricting-gop-gains/The new district lines could be considered by the entire state House as soon as early next week.By Eleanor Klibanoff, Kayla Guo and Gabby BirenbaumFri, 01 Aug 2025 16:15:17 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/01/texas-redistricting-gop-gains/State Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, makes introductory remarks during the Texas House special committee hearing on redistricting on Aug. 1, 2025.State Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christ, makes introductory remarks during the Texas House special committee hearing on redistricting August 1, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/30/texas-senate-election-crimes-attorney-general/A similar proposal stalled out earlier this year over disagreements between the House and Senate. This time, lawmakers might clash over whether to approve the new bill along with a constitutional amendment.By Eleanor KlibanoffWed, 30 Jul 2025 17:11:07 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/30/texas-senate-election-crimes-attorney-general/Texas Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, argues a point of order on a bill that authorizes the Texas Attorney General to prosecute certain election-related crimes.Texas Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, argues a point of order on CSSB11 a bill that authorizes the Texas Attorney General to prosecute certain election-related crimes.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune