https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/james-barragan/The latest news by James Barragán.enThu, 25 Jul 2024 12:24:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/25/kamala-harris-texas-voters-black-indian-asian/Black and Asian American voters collectively made up just 15% of the turnout in Texas’ 2020 and 2022 elections, according to exit polls.By James Barragán and Jasper SchererThu, 25 Jul 2024 12:24:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/25/kamala-harris-texas-voters-black-indian-asian/Beverly Hatcher wears a “VOTE” necklace in her home in Beaumont on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. Hatcher had seen Michelle Obama wearing a similar necklace and immediately bought some for herself and others.Beverly Hatcher wears a “VOTE” necklace she saw Michelle Obama wearing in her garden home on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Beaumont, TX. Hatcher immediately found a similar necklace online and bought for herself and as gifts for others.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/21/joe-biden-withdraw-2024-texas-democrats/The vice president is not guaranteed the Democratic nomination and some delegates want an open nominating process.By Matthew Choi, Isaac Yu, Pooja Salhotra, James Barragán and Jasper SchererSun, 21 Jul 2024 13:28:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/21/joe-biden-withdraw-2024-texas-democrats/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/20/texas-voters-williamson-county-biden-trump/After an assassination attempt against Trump and growing divisions among national Democrats, Williamson County voters mull the November election.By James BarragánSat, 20 Jul 2024 14:03:36 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/20/texas-voters-williamson-county-biden-trump/Annette Maruska, president of the East Williamson County Republicans, center, welcomes members to a meeting Thursday, July 18, 2024 in Taylor.Annette Maruska, president of the East Williamson County Republicans, center, welcomes members to a meeting Thursday, July 18, 2024 in Taylor.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/20/ted-cruz-colin-allred-ut-poll-dade-phelan/The poll also showed House Speaker Dade Phelan with low approval rating among Texans after a heated primary battle.By James BarragánThu, 20 Jun 2024 06:30:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/20/ted-cruz-colin-allred-ut-poll-dade-phelan/U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, left, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, left, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/11/texas-house-republicans-censured/The censured members said they had been punished for campaigning against “liberal incumbents” alongside statewide elected officials like Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton.By James BarragánTue, 11 Jun 2024 12:03:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/11/texas-house-republicans-censured/A silhouette of the state of Texas near the stage at the 2024 Texas GOP Convention in San Antonio, on May 23, 2024.A silhouette of the state of Texas near the stage at the 2024 Texas GOP Convention in San Antonio, on May 23, 2024.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/10/texas-republican-closed-primaries-rule-changes/The state party plans to limit primaries to registered Republicans and keep elected officials it censured off the ballot. It’s unclear if it can without legislative approval.By James BarragánMon, 10 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/10/texas-republican-closed-primaries-rule-changes/The Texas GOP passed a pair of new rules aimed at enforcing ideological purity at its May 2024 convention.Texas GOP Party Chair Matt Rinaldi speaks on stage along with convention leadership during the 2024 Texas GOP Convention in San Antonio on May 24, 2024.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/04/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-operate/Under rules previously adopted by the Texas Senate, the trial will feature crucial votes on dismissing articles of impeachment as well as testimony under oath, private deliberations by senator-jurors and votes conducted without debate or discussion.By Yuriko Schumacher and James BarragánMon, 04 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/04/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-operate/The Senate gallery as technical staff prepares communications for the impeachment trial of Ken Paxton. Paxton is accused of several ethics violations during his three terms as Texas Attorney General.The Texas Senate gallery as technical staff prepares communications for next week's start in the impeachment trial of Ken Paxton on September 5th. Paxton is accused of several ethics violations during his three terms as Texas Attorney General.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/01/ken-paxton-impeachment-articles/The articles — including bribery, dereliction of duty and disregard of official duty — do not include four accusations originally adopted by the Texas House.By Chuck Lindell and James BarragánFri, 01 Sep 2023 15:33:42 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/01/ken-paxton-impeachment-articles/State Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference at the Houston Recovery Center on Oct. 26, 2021.State Attorney General Ken Paxton holds a press conference at the Houston Recovery Center on October 26, 2021.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/01/ken-paxton-impeachment-witnesses-parties/The suspended attorney general has been ordered to appear in the Texas Senate chamber to answer to 16 allegations of misconduct that were approved by the House in May.By Yuriko Schumacher and James BarragánFri, 01 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/01/ken-paxton-impeachment-witnesses-parties/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/29/texas-national-guard-migrants-whatsapp-intelligence/Four members of the unit working on Gov. Greg Abbott’s border mission have been punished after whistleblowers reported the surveillance operation violated long-standing rules against state-run spy operations.By Davis Winkie, Military Times, and James Barragán, The Texas TribuneTue, 29 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/29/texas-national-guard-migrants-whatsapp-intelligence/Aaron Provost for Military Timeshttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/02/texas-dan-patrick-tamu-professor/Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham alleged Wednesday that opioids expert Joy Alonzo told students in a guest lecture that “Your Lt. Governor says those kids deserve to die.” Alonzo denied the claims.By Kate McGee and James BarragánWed, 02 Aug 2023 18:06:57 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/02/texas-dan-patrick-tamu-professor/Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham on Wednesday accused Texas A&M University professor Joy Alonzo of telling students during a March lecture, “Your Lt. Governor says those kids deserve to die,” referring to Hays County students who have overdosed. Buckingham shared the claim against Alonzo with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, sparking an internal university investigation.State Sen. Dawn Buckingham, R-Lakeway at the Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 23, 2017.Kelly West for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/25/texas-a-m-professor-opioids-dan-patrick/The professor, an expert on the opioids crisis, was placed on paid administrative leave and investigated, raising questions about the extent of political interference in higher education, particularly in health-related matters.By Kate McGee and James BarragánTue, 25 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/25/texas-a-m-professor-opioids-dan-patrick/Joy Alonzo is an expert on the opioid epidemic and a professor in Texas A&M University’s Department of Pharmacy Practice.Joy Alonzo is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the Texas A&M Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy.Texas A&M University Health Science Centerhttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/21/ken-paxton-impeachment-brent-webster/Paxton’s top aide told senators that an agency-hired lawyer worked with the Travis County district attorney’s office to investigate a complaint by Nate Paul. County prosecutors dispute that.By James BarragánFri, 21 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/21/ken-paxton-impeachment-brent-webster/Statements before a Senate committee in 2021 by First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster, shown speaking at a June 2022 news conference, could play a role in the impeachment trial of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton.First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster speaks during a press conference in the William Clements Building in Austin on June 9, 2022.Kylie Cooper/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/13/harriet-oneill-ken-paxton-impeachment/After 18 years as a district and appellate judge, O’Neill returned to private practice in 2010. She called the case against Paxton “clear, compelling and decisive.”By James BarragánThu, 13 Jul 2023 14:51:42 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/13/harriet-oneill-ken-paxton-impeachment/Former Texas Supreme Court Justice Harriet O’Neill in a 2010 interview with The Texas Tribune.Former Texas Supreme court Justice Harriet ONeill in a 2010 interview with The Texas TribuneJustin Dehn/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/30/carlos-uresti-prison-release-senator/The Democrat from San Antonio was initially sentenced in 2018 to 12 years in federal prison. His sentence was later reduced, and he will stay in a halfway house until December 2024.By James BarragánFri, 30 Jun 2023 12:32:29 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/30/carlos-uresti-prison-release-senator/Carlos Uresti talks with the media after his sentencing in federal court on June 26, 2018. The former state senator was released from federal prison Friday, his lawyer said.Carlos Uresti talks with the media following his sentencing in Federal Court on June 26, 2018. The former state senator will be released today from federal prison after serving more than 4 years of a 12-year sentence.Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/28/texas-legislature-tax-cut-plan/A stalemate among Texas’ top Republicans has dragged on for months. Tax-cut proponents in the House and Senate made their first pitches to end the impasse Wednesday.By Joshua Fechter, Karen Brooks Harper and James BarragánWed, 28 Jun 2023 15:35:22 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/28/texas-legislature-tax-cut-plan/Residents put up flags for the Fourth of July in a neighborhood on the south side of Pasadena on July 1, 2017.Residents put up flags for the Fourth of July in a neighborhood on the south side of Pasadena on July 1, 2017.Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/27/texas-legislature-special-session-ends/Gov. Greg Abbott quickly called lawmakers back to the Capitol for round two, hoping to break an impasse that has outlasted the regular session and one overtime period.By James Barragán and Patrick SvitekTue, 27 Jun 2023 13:08:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/27/texas-legislature-special-session-ends/The Texas Capitol seen from a parking garage at sunrise on June 6.The Texas Capitol seen from a parking garage at sunrise on June 6, 2023 in Austin.Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/22/ken-angela-paxton-impeach-recuse/Sen. Angela Paxton will have no say in deliberations to convict or acquit impeached Attorney General Ken Paxton, but she will sit on the Senate court of impeachment. That means 21, not 20, votes will be needed to convict.By James BarragánThu, 22 Jun 2023 18:36:16 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/22/ken-angela-paxton-impeach-recuse/Ken Paxton takes the oath of office to begin his third term as attorney general from Gov. Greg Abbott, as his wife, state Sen. Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, holds the Sam Houston Bible.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton takes the oath of office for the third time from Gov. Greg Abbott, as his wife, state Sen. Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, holds the Sam Houston bible Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023.Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/20/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-senate-rules/Senators, who will sit as a court of impeachment for the suspended attorney general, spent two days drafting rules that were adopted late Wednesday.By James Barragán and Patrick SvitekTue, 20 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/20/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-senate-rules/Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference at the Houston Recovery Center on October 26, 2021. Paxton was temporarily suspended from office after the House voted last month to impeach him.State Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a press conference at the Houston Recovery Center on Oct. 26, 2021.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/16/ken-paxton-impeachment-allegations/In 2020, deputies in the attorney general’s office met with FBI agents to accuse their boss of misconduct. Their accusations would form the backbone of articles of impeachment against one of the state’s most powerful officials.By James BarragánFri, 16 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/16/ken-paxton-impeachment-allegations/Attorney General Ken Paxton attends the inauguration ceremony for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Michelle Slaughter at the Capitol in Austin on Jan. 11, 2019.Ken Paxton at the inauguration ceremony of Judge Michelle Slaughter at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 11, 2019.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune