https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jasper-scherer/The latest news by Jasper Scherer.enTue, 17 Dec 2024 13:48:58 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/17/texas-legislature-school-choice-vouchers-education-savings-accounts/Some voucher opponents are ready to compromise; others are hoping supporters will fumble over the program's size, eligibility and accountability.By Jasper Scherer and Jaden EdisonTue, 17 Dec 2024 13:48:58 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/17/texas-legislature-school-choice-vouchers-education-savings-accounts/Gov. Greg Abbott addresses the Texas House during the Opening Day of the 88th Texas Legislature at the Texas Capitol. School vouchers will have strong support in the Texas Legislature next year but some opponents hope proponents will fail to agree on the details of the proposed program.Opening Day action of the 88th Texas Legislature at the Texas Capitol showing Texas Governor Greg Abbott addressing the House chamber.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/16/dustin-burrows-texas-house-speaker/Five years after weathering a major Republican House leadership controversy, Burrows finds himself at the center of another skirmish — this time as he seeks the speaker’s gavel himself.By Jasper SchererMon, 16 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/16/dustin-burrows-texas-house-speaker/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/13/texas-speaker-dustin-burrows/In a Q&A, Burrows said he’s still confident he’ll win. But he says the leadership race is bigger than any one person and his supporters are trying to protect the integrity of the House.By Jasper SchererFri, 13 Dec 2024 13:03:36 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/13/texas-speaker-dustin-burrows/State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, holds a press conference in the Speaker's Committee Room saying he has the votes to become Speaker of the House in the upcoming legislative session, on Dec. 7, 2024.State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, holds a press conference in the Speaker's Committee Room saying he has the votes to become Speaker of the House in the upcoming legislative session, on Dec. 7, 2024.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/07/texas-house-speaker-david-cook-dustin-burrows/Burrows claims the support of a coalition of Republicans and Democrats, while Cook has the endorsement of the GOP caucus.By James Barragán, Renzo Downey and Jasper SchererSat, 07 Dec 2024 17:14:18 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/07/texas-house-speaker-david-cook-dustin-burrows/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/06/texas-house-speaker-david-cook-dustin-burrows-dade-phelan/With Speaker Dade Phelan out of the race, Republican state Reps. David Cook and Dustin Burrows will now face off.By Jasper Scherer, Renzo Downey and James BarragánFri, 06 Dec 2024 12:45:09 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/06/texas-house-speaker-david-cook-dustin-burrows-dade-phelan/The Texas House floor on Aug. 31, 2021.The Texas House floor on Aug. 31, 2021.Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/05/texas-house-speaker-dade-phelan/Phelan, a Beaumont Republican, had previously insisted he had enough votes to thwart a challenge from the right led by state Rep. David Cook of Mansfield.By Jasper Scherer, James Barragán and Renzo DowneyFri, 06 Dec 2024 08:08:31 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/05/texas-house-speaker-dade-phelan/Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan before gavelling in the House for the third-called special session on Oct. 9, 2023.Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan before gavelling in the House for the third-called special session on Oct. 9, 2023.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/04/texas-thc-ban-dan-patrick-delta-8-9-hemp/Patrick contends retailers have exploited a law passed in 2019 to sell unregulated and potentially harmful consumable tetrahydrocannabinol products.By Jasper Scherer, Alejandra Martinez, Karen Brooks Harper and Stephen SimpsonWed, 04 Dec 2024 22:07:14 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/04/texas-thc-ban-dan-patrick-delta-8-9-hemp/Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Patrick said Wednesday that the THC ban would be designated as Senate Bill 3.Lt. Governor Dan Patrick speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/27/david-cook-dade-phelan-texas-house-speaker/The two-term Republican caught many Capitol observers off guard when he emerged as the standard-bearer for a coalition that wants to depose Phelan and reshape how the House operates.By James Barragán, Jasper Scherer and Renzo DowneyWed, 27 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/27/david-cook-dade-phelan-texas-house-speaker/State Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, takes the oath of office with his hand on a bible on the first day of the 88th Texas legislative session on Jan 10, 2023.State Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, takes the oath of office with his hand on a bible on the first day of the 88th Texas legislative session on Jan 10, 2023.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/19/texas-florida-trump-republican-rivalry-paxton-gaetz/So far Trump has looked elsewhere for his earliest cabinet and high-level staff appointments, in some cases passing over Texans who were in the mix.By Jasper SchererTue, 19 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/19/texas-florida-trump-republican-rivalry-paxton-gaetz/Former President Trump speaks during a tour of an unfinished section of border wall in Pharr, Texas, on June 30, 2021.Former President Trump speaks during a tour of an unfinished section of border wall in Pharr, Texas, on June 30, 2021.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/14/ted-cruz-texas-senate-win-transgender-rights-political-future/Cruz won over Latino voters and targeted Colin Allred’s support of transgender rights to win a third term.By Jasper SchererThu, 14 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/14/ted-cruz-texas-senate-win-transgender-rights-political-future/U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks during the debate with U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Dallas.U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a debate for the U.S. Senate with U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, hosted by WFAA on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Dallas, Texas. Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune via POOLShelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune via POOLhttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/08/texas-democrat-party-resigns-gilberto-hinojosa/Gilberto Hinojosa’s resignation ends a 12-year run leading the state party, dating back to his election at the 2012 Texas Democratic Convention.By Jasper SchererFri, 08 Nov 2024 09:04:08 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/08/texas-democrat-party-resigns-gilberto-hinojosa/Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa speaks during the first general session at the Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso on June 7, 2024.Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa speaks during the first general session at the Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso on June 7, 2024.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/06/donald-trump-near-sweep-texas-border-counties/The former president captured 55% of Latino voters in the state, according to exit polls. He also won 14 out of the 18 counties within 20 miles of the border, a number that doubled his 2020 performance in the Latino-majority region.By Jasper Scherer, Zach Despart and Berenice Garcia, The Texas Tribune, and Perla Trevizo and Dan Keemahill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaWed, 06 Nov 2024 21:45:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/06/donald-trump-near-sweep-texas-border-counties/Democratic Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez, right, secured a fifth term in office with bipartisan support. The county tipped strongly for Donald Trump, reflecting a broader trend of Republican gains along the border.Gabriel Garza, left, augmentee with the sheriff’s office, congratulates, Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez, right, after the final vote counts for the night were announced around 10pm at Val Verde County Courthouse on election day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Del Rio, Texas. Martinez was in the lead ahead of his opponent Rogelio “Roger” Hernandez 7,926 votes to 6,033.Salgu Wissmath for The Texas Tribune and ProPublicahttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/monica-de-la-cruz-michelle-vallejo-south-texas-congressional-district/De La Cruz defeated Democrat Michelle Vallejo for Texas’ 15th Congressional District in a rematch from two years ago.By Jasper SchererTue, 05 Nov 2024 22:45:30 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/monica-de-la-cruz-michelle-vallejo-south-texas-congressional-district/U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, waves to supporters after declaring victory against Democratic opponent Michelle Vallejo at an election watch party in Edinburg on Nov. 5, 2024.U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, waves to supporters after declaring victory against Democratic opponent Michelle Vallejo at an election watch party in Edinburg on Nov. 5, 2024.Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/ted-cruz-colin-allred-texas-senate-election-2024/U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, a former NFL linebacker and civil rights lawyer from Dallas, repeatedly broke fundraising records in his campaign, raising more than $80 million by mid-October.By Matthew Choi and Jasper SchererTue, 05 Nov 2024 21:23:55 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/ted-cruz-colin-allred-texas-senate-election-2024/Ted Cruz celebrates at his watch party in downtown Houston on Election Day.Ted Cruz celebrates on stage at his watch party on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in downtown Houston.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-election-day-trump-harris-allred-cruz-congress-legislature/Texas might not be a swing state, but many of its races will have major consequences to the national political landscape and on the lives of everyday Texans.By Texas Tribune Staff, James Barragán, Jasper Scherer, Matthew Choi, Robert Downen, Alejandro Serrano, Joshua Fechter, Kayla Guo, Pooja Salhotra and Terri LangfordTue, 05 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-election-day-trump-harris-allred-cruz-congress-legislature/Voters wait in line at the Houston Community College Southeast voting location in Houston on Election Day.Voters wait in line at the Houston Community College Southeast voting location in Houston on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/04/ted-cruz-colin-allred-texas-senate/Both candidates are making their closing arguments at the culmination of a heated and expensive race which could decide control of the U.S. Senate.By Jasper Scherer, Berenice Garcia, Matthew Choi and James BarragánMon, 04 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/04/ted-cruz-colin-allred-texas-senate/U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, left, and U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas.U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, left, and U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas.The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/01/texans-trump-administration/Donald Trump has built close ties to many Texas Republicans, from judges to elected officials to policy experts.By Matthew Choi, Robert Downen, Eleanor Klibanoff, James Barragán and Jasper SchererFri, 01 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/01/texans-trump-administration/Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally at Million Air in Austin, Texas on Oct. 25, 2024.Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally at Million Air in Austin, Texas on Oct. 25, 2024.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/29/ken-paxton-jeff-leach-robert-roberson/The AG also said he’d make a criminal referral against the lawmaker, who apologized for texting a Court of Criminal Appeals judge about a new trial for the death row inmate.By Jasper Scherer, Kayla Guo and Pooja SalhotraTue, 29 Oct 2024 16:38:17 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/29/ken-paxton-jeff-leach-robert-roberson/“His conduct demonstrates that he is unfit to serve in any capacity overseeing our judicial system and unfit to serve as a member of the Texas House,” Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement seeking Rep. Jeff Leach's resignation Tuesday.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/29/texas-house-fundraising-campaign-finance-republicans/Across a dozen of the most competitive House races, Republicans raked in more than $11 million over the last month, compared to the nearly $3.5 million collectively raised by their Democratic counterparts.By Jasper SchererTue, 29 Oct 2024 15:45:37 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/29/texas-house-fundraising-campaign-finance-republicans/House Speaker Dade Phelan listens to state Representatives on the House floor during Sine Die, the last day of the 88th Texas Legislative Session, at the Capitol in Austin on May 29, 2023.House Speaker Dade Phelan listens to state Representatives on the House floor during Sine Die, the last day of the 88th Texas Legislative Session, at the Capitol in Austin on May 29, 2023.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/25/kamala-harris-trump-ted-cruz-allred-texas-beyonce-joe-rogan/Harris talked about reproductive rights to a stadium full of supporters in Houston. In Austin, Trump stumped to supporters and reporters at a private jet terminal and appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast.By Jasper Scherer, James Barragán and Matthew ChoiFri, 25 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/25/kamala-harris-trump-ted-cruz-allred-texas-beyonce-joe-rogan/Donald Trump and Kamala Harris both visited Texas on Friday. Trump held a press conference and appeared on a podcast with Joe Rogan in Austin; Harris tells supporters in Houston, "We will win."Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are both visiting Texas today. Trump will hold a press conference and appear on a podcast with Joe Rogan in Austin; Harris is attending a rally in Houston.The Texas Tribune