https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/gabby-birenbaum/The latest news by Gabby Birenbaum.enThu, 14 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/14/texas-lloyd-doggett-greg-casar-democratic-primary-austin/The contest would unearth brewing Democratic tensions over age and experience, forcing Austin politicos to choose between two well-liked progressives.By Gabby BirenbaumThu, 14 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/14/texas-lloyd-doggett-greg-casar-democratic-primary-austin/U.S. Reps. Lloyd Doggett and Greg Casar, both of Austin (left), listen as Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, speaks during a news conference with Texas Democratic leaders at the Texas Capitol on July 31, 2025. Doggett and Casar could face each other in a primary under a new congressional map drawn by the Texas Legislature at President Donald Trump's prompting.U.S. Reps. Lloyd Doggett and Greg Casar, both of Austin (left), listen as Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio speaks during a press conference with Texas Democratic leaders at the Texas Capitol on July 31, 2025. Doggett and Casar could face each other in a primary under the new congressional redistricting maps drawn by the Texas Legislature at Pres. Trump's prompting.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/12/allred-texas-senate-lessons-learned/Allred says he has learned to show up more in his attempt at a Senate do-over. But critics contend he’s not generating enough attention.By Gabby BirenbaumTue, 12 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/12/allred-texas-senate-lessons-learned/U.S. Rep. Colin Allred speaks at his Election Night watch party after losing the Senate seat to incumbent U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz at Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas on Election Day, November 5, 2024.U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (R-Texas) speaks at his Election Night watch party after losing the Senate seat to incumbent U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) at Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas on Election Day, November 5, 2024.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/08/james-talarico-texas-democrat-senate-race-2026/The Democratic state lawmaker has inquired about Senate television ad rates, two sources told the Tribune.By Gabby Birenbaum and Kayla GuoFri, 08 Aug 2025 14:03:58 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/08/james-talarico-texas-democrat-senate-race-2026/State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, smiles during a redistricting rally at the Delco Activity Center in Austin on Friday, July 25, 2025.Texas Rep. James Talarico D-Austin smiles during a redistricting rally at Delco Activity Center Friday, July 25, 2025 in Austin, Texas.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/08/cornyn-paxton-primary-texas-senate-republican-primary/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.By Gabby Birenbaum and Owen DahlkampFri, 08 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/08/cornyn-paxton-primary-texas-senate-republican-primary/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/05/texas-senate-wesley-hunt-gop-primary-cornyn-paxton-2026/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.By Gabby Birenbaum and Owen DahlkampTue, 05 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/05/texas-senate-wesley-hunt-gop-primary-cornyn-paxton-2026/https://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-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-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/2025/07/31/texas-redistricting-map-democrats-defense-targeted-seats-congress/The new proposed lines would also prevent few, if any, opportunities for Democrats hoping that an aggressive gerrymander could backfire on Republicans.By Kayla Guo and Gabby Birenbaum, Graphics by Carla AstudilloThu, 31 Jul 2025 17:16:40 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/31/texas-redistricting-map-democrats-defense-targeted-seats-congress/From left: U.S. Reps. Greg Casar, D-Austin, Al Green, D-Houston, and Julie Johnson, D-Farmers Branch.From left: U.S. Reps. Greg Casar, D-Austin, Al green, D-Houston, and Julie Johnson, D-Farmers BranchThe Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/31/cruz-noaa-radio-modernization-texas-flooding/This comes after Cruz voted in favor of the spending megabill that rescinded funds for NOAA.By Gabby BirenbaumThu, 31 Jul 2025 12:03:19 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/31/cruz-noaa-radio-modernization-texas-flooding/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/31/texas-democrats-redistricting-maps-congress-primaries-retirements/Multiple Democratic members have been packed into blue districts in Austin, Dallas and Houston to make way for newly crafted Republican districts in those areas.By Gabby BirenbaumThu, 31 Jul 2025 11:34:24 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/31/texas-democrats-redistricting-maps-congress-primaries-retirements/U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries gives his support to Texas Democrats fighting a Republican redistricting effort on July 31, 2025. Standing behind Jeffries, left to right, are Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin, U.S. Rep. Greg Casar of Austin, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher of Houston, Rep. Al Green of Houston and Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Houston.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/30/texas-redistricting-congressional-maps-house-republicans/The first draft of the lower chamber’s new redistricting map targets Democratic members of Congress in the Austin, Dallas and Houston metro areas and in South Texas.By Gabby Birenbaum and Eleanor Klibanoff, Graphics by Carla AstudilloWed, 30 Jul 2025 10:08:39 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/30/texas-redistricting-congressional-maps-house-republicans/Graphic by Carla Astudillohttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/25/cornyn-russia-investigation-special-counsel-obama-collusion/The Texas senator maintains that Russia did meddle in the 2016 election but that there was no collusion between the Kremlin and the Trump campaign.By Gabby Birenbaum and Owen DahlkampFri, 25 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/25/cornyn-russia-investigation-special-counsel-obama-collusion/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/24/texas-hospitals-clinics-federal-cuts-gop-megabill/Texas clinics, in particular, are worried about their ability to meet patient needs once people begin losing insurance under changes from Republicans’ recent megabill.By Gabby Birenbaum, Graphics by Edison WuThu, 24 Jul 2025 12:53:38 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/24/texas-hospitals-clinics-federal-cuts-gop-megabill/An American flag flies in front of Ralls Family Medicine in Ralls on Sept. 1, 2022.An American flag flies in front of Ralls Family Medicine in Ralls on Sept. 1, 2022.Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/24/texas-clean-energy-tax-credit-cuts/The One Big Beautiful Bill drastically shortens the timeline for wind and solar projects to qualify for tax credits. This will impact even Texas, where wind and solar power have boomed and power demand is rising.By Emily Foxhall and Gabby BirenbaumThu, 24 Jul 2025 11:30:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/24/texas-clean-energy-tax-credit-cuts/A solar project in Ector County. The Trump administration's rollback of tax credits will mean fewer renewable energy projects get built in Texas, experts say.A solar project on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Ector County.Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/24/bobby-pulido-exploratory-committee-congress-south-texas/The music star is considering challenging Rep. Monica De La Cruz in a district emblematic of the GOP’s gains with Latino voters.By Gabby BirenbaumThu, 24 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/24/bobby-pulido-exploratory-committee-congress-south-texas/Tejano music star Bobby Pulido joins then-Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke during a campaign rally at HEB Park in Edinburg on May 1, 2018.Tejano music star Bobby Pulido joins then-Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke during a campaign rally at HEB Park in Edinburg on May 1, 2018.Douglas Young for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/21/texas-congress-eric-flores-vicente-gonzalez-34th-district/The prospect of Eric Flores’ candidacy has excited Republicans in Texas and Washington, due in part to his military and law enforcement credentials.By Gabby BirenbaumMon, 21 Jul 2025 17:01:14 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/21/texas-congress-eric-flores-vicente-gonzalez-34th-district/Army veteran and attorney Eric Flores has announced he's challenging U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, in South Texas' 34th Congressional District.Army veteran and attorney Eric Flores has announced he's challenging U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, in South Texas' 34th Congressional District.Courtesy of Eric Flores Campaignhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/18/texas-health-coverage-loss-trump-gop-megabill-affordable-care-act/Having never expanded Medicaid, Texas avoided most of the looming federal cuts other states will face. But the Affordable Care Act is a different story.By Gabby Birenbaum, Graphics by Edison WuFri, 18 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/18/texas-health-coverage-loss-trump-gop-megabill-affordable-care-act/The nurse’s office at the Ector County Youth Center on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, in Odessa.The nurse’s office at the Ector County Youth Center on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, in Odessa. The office does not have any attached restroom, causing residents to return to their rooms to use their toilets for drug tests, and during weekly doctor’s visits, the office can become quite cramped when three to four people are using the room at a time.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/17/ada-cuellar-democrat-monica-de-la-cruz-south-texas-congress/The 15th Congressional District is the only Republican-held seat in Texas that Democrats are targeting under the current map.By Gabby BirenbaumThu, 17 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/17/ada-cuellar-democrat-monica-de-la-cruz-south-texas-congress/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/15/texas-democrats-redistricting-response-trump-republican-five-seats/President Donald Trump said he thinks Republicans could flip a handful of congressional districts in Texas next year through “​​just a very simple redrawing."By Gabby Birenbaum and Owen DahlkampTue, 15 Jul 2025 13:36:34 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/15/texas-democrats-redistricting-response-trump-republican-five-seats/