https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/kayla-guo/The latest news by Kayla Guo.enTue, 01 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/01/colin-allred-texas-us-senate-democrat-2026-cornyn-paxton/Allred lost to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz last year by 8.5 points while outperforming the top of the ticket.By Kayla GuoTue, 01 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/01/colin-allred-texas-us-senate-democrat-2026-cornyn-paxton/Then-U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, at a Kamala Harris campaign rally at the Shell Energy Stadium in Houston on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024.Then-U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, at a Kamala Harris campaign rally at the Shell Energy Stadium in Houston on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024.Joseph Bui for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-porn-websites-age-verification-law-supreme-court/The case involves a 2023 state law requiring adult websites to verify users’ ages, but the ruling is expected to have broader implications for free speech law.By Kayla Guo, Eleanor Klibanoff and Paul CoblerFri, 27 Jun 2025 11:18:26 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-porn-websites-age-verification-law-supreme-court/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to the media outside the Supreme Court building in Washington on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 following arguments in the case “Free Speech Coalition, Inc., et al. v. Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas.”Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to the media outside the Supreme Court building in Washington on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 following arguments in the case “Free Speech Coalition, Inc., et al. v. Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas.”Luke Johnson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/26/texas-death-row-ruben-gutierrez-supreme-court/Ruben Gutierrez is challenging the constitutionality of a state law that restricts death row inmates from seeking tests that he says will prove he’s not a murderer.By Ayden Runnels and Kayla GuoThu, 26 Jun 2025 15:35:42 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/26/texas-death-row-ruben-gutierrez-supreme-court/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/24/robert-nichols-texas-senate-trent-ashby/After Nichols announced his retirement, Rep. Trent Ashby said he would run for the open seat.By Kayla GuoTue, 24 Jun 2025 16:27:45 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/24/robert-nichols-texas-senate-trent-ashby/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/24/nate-schatzline-texas-senate-district-9-kelly-hancock/The North Texas district opened up last week when Republican Kelly Hancock resigned from the upper chamber to take over as the state’s acting comptroller.By Kayla GuoTue, 24 Jun 2025 12:46:41 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/24/nate-schatzline-texas-senate-district-9-kelly-hancock/State Rep. Nate Schatzline, R-Fort Worth, addresses the crowd during a rally at the Tarrant County Republican Party headquarters in Fort Worth on Jan. 6, 2025.State Rep. Nate Schatzline, R-Fort Worth, addresses the crowd during a rally at the Tarrant County Republican Party Headquarters in Fort Worth on Jan. 6, 2025.Emil T. Lippe for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/23/joan-huffman-texas-attorney-general-republican-primary-2026/In her announcement, Huffman framed herself as the most experienced candidate, pointing to her time as a prosecutor, judge and chair of key Senate committees.By Kayla GuoMon, 23 Jun 2025 16:03:28 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/23/joan-huffman-texas-attorney-general-republican-primary-2026/State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on April 3, 2019.State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on April 3, 2019.Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/23/texas-thc-ban-veto-dan-patrick-greg-abbott-sb-3/The clash marks a rare break between two of the most powerful Republicans in Texas after a legislative session that ushered in a series of conservative victories.By Kayla Guo and Alejandro SerranoMon, 23 Jun 2025 15:34:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/23/texas-thc-ban-veto-dan-patrick-greg-abbott-sb-3/Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks to a reporter during a press conference at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas on Monday, June 23, 2025.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks to a reporter during a press conference at the Texas Captiol in Austin, Texas on Monday 23, June 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/22/texas-thc-ban-bill-greg-abbott-veto-senate-bill-3/The move infuriated Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the powerful head of the Senate, who had called the ban among his top five bills over 17 years in the Legislature.By Kayla GuoSun, 22 Jun 2025 23:38:14 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/22/texas-thc-ban-bill-greg-abbott-veto-senate-bill-3/Various Delta 8 THC products on display at a convenience store in Spring Branch on Feb. 9, 2023.Various Delta 8 THC products on display at a convenience store in Spring Branch on Feb. 9, 2023.Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/20/texas-congressman-blake-farenthold-dies/Farenthold, a local radio personality, served in Congress from 2011 to 2018 and is credited with securing funding for the port. He resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment.By Kayla GuoFri, 20 Jun 2025 20:10:28 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/20/texas-congressman-blake-farenthold-dies/Former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold began his congressional tenure in 2011 after he unseated Democratic Rep. Solomon Ortiz for Texas' 27th Congressional District.U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi.Facebookhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/17/texas-robert-roberson-execution-date-ken-paxton/A judge could set a new execution date for no sooner than 90 days from now, though Roberson has a pending appeal.By Kayla GuoTue, 17 Jun 2025 12:50:30 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/17/texas-robert-roberson-execution-date-ken-paxton/Robert Roberson at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Polunsky Unit in Livingston on Dec. 19, 2023. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has requested a new execution date for Roberson.Robert Roberson photographed through plexiglass at TDCJ Polunsky Unit in Livingston on Dec. 19, 2023. Texas death row prisoners are housed in Livingston but executed at the state prison in Huntsville, about 43 miles away.Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Innocence Projecthttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/16/texas-democrats-candidates-2026-midterms-senate-governor/Democrats will need to sort through a pileup of potential candidates who see an opportunity to harness backlash to the Trump administration in next year’s midterms.By Kayla GuoMon, 16 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/16/texas-democrats-candidates-2026-midterms-senate-governor/Beto O’Rourke speaks at a reception kickoff event at the Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso, Texas, on June 6, 2024.Beto O’Rourke speaks at the Texas Democratic Convention Reception Kick-Off in El Paso, Texas on June 6, 2024.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/06/dustin-burrows-texas-legislature-house-speaker-first-term/At the same time, some Democrats acknowledged the Lubbock Republican let them leave their mark on some of the GOP bills they disagreed with.By Kayla GuoFri, 06 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/06/dustin-burrows-texas-legislature-house-speaker-first-term/House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, gavels out the 89th Texas Legislature sine die at the Texas Capitol on Monday, June 2, 2025.House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, gavels out the 89th Texas Legislature at the Texas Capitol on Sine Die, Monday, June 2, 2025Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/05/jolanda-jones-sylvester-turner-congress-texas-legislature/Jones, a Democrat elected to the Texas House in 2022 and previously served on the Houston City Council, joins a slate of candidates running to fill the solidly blue seat.By Kayla GuoThu, 05 Jun 2025 11:04:19 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/05/jolanda-jones-sylvester-turner-congress-texas-legislature/State Rep. Jolanda Jones, D-Houston, speaks in favor of Medicaid expansion during the budget debate in the Texas House on April 10, 2025.State Rep. Jolanda Jones, D-Houston, speaks in favor of Medicaid expansion during the budget debate in the Texas House on April 10, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/02/tony-tinderholt-republican-retires-texas-house/Tinderholt attributed his decision to retire to his confidence in a new conservative generation of lawmakers and a desire to spend more time with his family.By Kayla GuoMon, 02 Jun 2025 14:29:50 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/02/tony-tinderholt-republican-retires-texas-house/Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, is overcome with emotion on the final day of the 2025 session as he announces his retirement from the House.Surrounded by colleagues, state Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, is overcome with emotion as he announces his retirement from the House on Sine Die, Monday, June 2, 2025.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/25/bail-undocumented-immigrants-texas-house/Supporters said the proposal, which sought to amend the state constitution, would improve safety. Critics said it would violate due process and unfairly target minority groups.By Kayla GuoWed, 28 May 2025 19:39:47 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/25/bail-undocumented-immigrants-texas-house/The measure failed in the House when critics argued that it would unfairly target migrants and violate due process.An undocumented migrant after being arrested in Kinney County on Nov. 9, 2021.Gabriel V. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune/ProPublicahttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/26/texas-house-bail-repeat-offenders/Democrats declined to support Senate Joint Resolution 87, which sprinted through the Senate and needed 100 votes to clear the lower chamber.By Kayla GuoMon, 26 May 2025 14:35:53 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/26/texas-house-bail-repeat-offenders/Those opposing the bail measure said it would erode due process and they cited examples of Texans who have been wrongfully accused of crimes.Groveton, Texas: Inmates sleep in their cell on June 4, 2024 at the Trinity County Sheriff’s office and jail in Groveton, Texas. Mark Felix/The Texas TribuneMark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/19/texas-bail-overhaul-house-passage/The House passage of the measure asking voters to amend the state Constitution to tighten the state’s bail laws hands a major policy win to Gov. Greg Abbott.By Kayla GuoMon, 19 May 2025 17:24:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/19/texas-bail-overhaul-house-passage/State Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, urged the Texas House to vote for legislation to require judges to deny bail to certain defendants accused of violent offenses.State Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, urges his fellow representatives to vote for his bill regarding bail bonds in Texas on May 19, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/15/texas-house-deadline-winners-losers/Some measures that made it through before midnight dealt with jail bonds, an unconstitutional ban on gay sex, and the liability of vaccine manufacturers.By Kayla Guo and Jasper SchererFri, 16 May 2025 00:27:03 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/15/texas-house-deadline-winners-losers/Lawmakers gather during a point of order on May 15, 2025. House Speaker Rep. Dustin Burrows presided over a busy week in the lower chamber as a key deadline came -- and went -- at the end of Thursday.House Speaker Dustin Burrows speaks at his dais as house members gather during a point of order on May 15, 2025. May 15 was the final day for the House to file bills.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/14/texas-junk-science-bill-house-david-cook/Last year, lawmakers waded into a dramatic feud over the case of death row inmate Robert Roberson, seen as the embodiment of the failures of Texas’ junk science law.By Kayla GuoWed, 14 May 2025 17:18:48 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/14/texas-junk-science-bill-house-david-cook/Former Detective Brian Wharton testifies during a Criminal Jurisprudence hearing on death row inmate Robert Roberson on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024 in Austin. Wharton was an investigator in the case of the death of Nikki Roberson and has expressed his doubts of Roberson's guilt and agrees with stopping his execution. With his scheduled execution drawing closer, a hearing debating the certainty of Roberson's guilt and there is a bipartisan push to stay his execution.Former Detective Brian Wharton testifies during a Criminal Jurisprudence hearing on death row inmate Robert Roberson on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024 in Austin. Wharton was an investigator in the case of the death of Nikki Roberson and has expressed his doubts of Roberson's guilt and agrees with stopping his execution. With his scheduled execution drawing closer, a hearing debating the certainty of Roberson's guilt and there is a bipartisan push to stay his execution. Sergio Flores for The Texas TribuneSergio Flores for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/12/texas-legislature-house-bail-judges/Amending the Texas Constitution to crack down on the state’s bail practices has been an elusive priority of Gov. Greg Abbott’s for three consecutive sessions.By Kayla GuoMon, 12 May 2025 21:32:28 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/12/texas-legislature-house-bail-judges/An Austin Bail Bonds II sign near Interstate 35 on Feb. 5, 2021.An Austin Bail Bonds II sign near Interstate 35 on Feb. 5, 2021.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune