https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/marijke-friedman/The latest news by Marijke Friedman.enSun, 05 Oct 2025 22:14:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/05/greg-abbott-trump-texas-national-guard/The governor posted a photo Monday showing guardsmen deploying but did not mention a destination. Trump called for troops to deploy to Illinois and Oregon, where a judge temporarily blocked their arrival.By Alex Nguyen, Marijke Friedman and Paul CoblerSun, 05 Oct 2025 22:14:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/05/greg-abbott-trump-texas-national-guard/Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a press conference in Houston on Oct. 1, 2025.Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a press conference in Houston on Oct. 1, 2025.Antranik Tavitian for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/02/carlos-de-la-cruz-congress-35th-district-republican-primary-campaign/U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz's brother is the latest to enter a GOP primary field vying for the San Antonio-area district newly gerrymandered to favor Republicans.By Marijke FriedmanThu, 02 Oct 2025 11:00:38 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/02/carlos-de-la-cruz-congress-35th-district-republican-primary-campaign/Carlos De La Cruz, brother of U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, has announced he's running for the newly redrawn, Republican-leaning 35th Congressional District.Carlos de la Cruz, brother of U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, has announced he's running for the newly-redrawn, Republican-leaning 35th congressional district.Campaign handouthttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/01/government-shutdown-texas-congress-benefits-parks-veterans/Many federal employees are required to continue working without pay, though furloughs — or the usual uptick in workers calling in sick — could disrupt some services.By Gabby Birenbaum and Marijke FriedmanWed, 01 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/01/government-shutdown-texas-congress-benefits-parks-veterans/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/29/texas-earmarks-congress-budget-negotiations-shutdown/Texas’ congressional delegation obtained tentative funding for infrastructure improvements, university research and other initiatives, but the nearly 350 earmarks are all in jeopardy.By Marijke FriedmanMon, 29 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/29/texas-earmarks-congress-budget-negotiations-shutdown/Urban sprawl along I-35 in Austin on Oct. 2, 2024.Urban sprawl along I-35 in Austin on Oct. 2, 2024.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/24/john-cornyn-congress-endorsements-gop-senate-primary-paxton/It’s a further sign of how the Washington establishment has consolidated behind the senior Texas senator, who is being backed by the Senate GOP’s campaign arm in his primary.By Marijke FriedmanWed, 24 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/24/john-cornyn-congress-endorsements-gop-senate-primary-paxton/U.S. Sen. John Cornyn takes part in a tour of a well site in Midland on March 18, 2025.U.S. Sen. John Cornyn takes part in a tour of a well site in Midland on March 18, 2025.Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/12/texas-senate-democratic-republican-primaries-poll/The survey found many Texas voters are either undecided or would support candidates who haven’t actually entered the race. It also showed GOP Sen. John Cornyn leading Attorney General Ken Paxton.By Marijke FriedmanFri, 12 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/12/texas-senate-democratic-republican-primaries-poll/Left: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton addresses the crowd during a rally at the Tarrant County Republican Party Headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas on Monday, January 6, 2025. Right: U.S. Sen. John Cornyn speaks with press after taking a tour of Camp East Montana, a new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility that will be housing migrants, at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas on Monday, August 11, 2025.Left: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton addresses the crowd during a rally at the Tarrant County Republican Party Headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas on Monday, January 6, 2025. Right: U.S. Sen. John Cornyn speaks with press after taking a tour of Camp East Montana, a new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility that will be housing migrants, at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas on Monday, August 11, 2025.The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/11/morgan-luttrell-retiring-congress-texas-republican/The Houston-area Republican’s departure continues the drain of tenure from Texas’ GOP delegation, which was already poised to add several freshmen in the midterms.By Marijke FriedmanThu, 11 Sep 2025 12:25:43 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/11/morgan-luttrell-retiring-congress-texas-republican/Retiring U.S. Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Magnolia, at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Sept. 24, 2022.Retiring U.S. Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Magnolia, at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Sept. 24, 2022.Azul Sordo/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/09/texas-redistricting-poll-trump-megabill-thc-senate-race/The statewide survey found that more voters disapprove of the mid-decade redraw than support it, fueled by overwhelming opposition from independent and Democratic voters.By Marijke FriedmanTue, 09 Sep 2025 17:27:44 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/09/texas-redistricting-poll-trump-megabill-thc-senate-race/A map of Tarrant County sits on the desk of state Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, in the Texas House chamber in Austin on August 20, 2025.A map of Tarrnant County sits on State Rep. Chris Turner’s, D-Grand Prairie, desk in the house chamber in Austin on August 20, 2025.Kaylee Greenlee for the Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/05/wesley-hunt-nrsc-texas-senate-john-cornyn-memo/In a memo, the National Republican Senate Committee asked Hunt’s donors to tell him to stop wasting resources and endorse Sen. John Cornyn’s reelection.By Marijke FriedmanFri, 05 Sep 2025 10:53:06 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/05/wesley-hunt-nrsc-texas-senate-john-cornyn-memo/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/05/texas-republicans-congress-town-halls-summer-trump-megabill/Some who did host public events were interrupted by protesters and heckled for their support of President Donald Trump and his signature legislation.By Marijke FriedmanFri, 05 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/05/texas-republicans-congress-town-halls-summer-trump-megabill/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/28/mark-teixeira-congress-texas-21st-district-chip-roy/The former Texas Rangers slugger, who is running as a Republican, launched his campaign after incumbent Rep. Chip Roy announced he was running for attorney general.By Marijke FriedmanThu, 28 Aug 2025 11:00:48 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/28/mark-teixeira-congress-texas-21st-district-chip-roy/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/26/mayra-flores-vicente-gonzalez-congress-2026-south-texas/Flores, who was going to challenge Rep. Henry Cuellar, is returning to her old district after a newly passed map improves Republicans’ chances of ousting Gonzalez.By Marijke FriedmanWed, 27 Aug 2025 09:10:58 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/26/mayra-flores-vicente-gonzalez-congress-2026-south-texas/Mayra Flores, the Republican nominee for the 34th Congressional District, speaks to her supporters during her watch party in Harlingen, Texas on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.Mayra Flores, the Republican candidate for the Congressional District 34, speaks to her supporters during her watch party in Harlingen, Texas on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.Gabriel Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune