https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-choi/The latest news by Matthew Choi.enThu, 19 Dec 2024 15:45:42 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/19/donald-trump-chip-roy-debt-ceiling/President-elect Donald Trump blasted the Austin Republican for opposing his plans to raise the debt ceiling unless there are restrictions on future spending.By Matthew ChoiThu, 19 Dec 2024 15:45:42 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/19/donald-trump-chip-roy-debt-ceiling/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/18/greg-abbott-500-million-public-safety-grants-texas/The grants will go to private and public sector recipients in Texas for a variety of public safety priorities, including securing the southern border.By Matthew ChoiWed, 18 Dec 2024 20:22:04 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/18/greg-abbott-500-million-public-safety-grants-texas/Gov. Greg Abbott, seen at a Thanksgiving dinner event in Edinburg on Nov. 26, 2024, said in a statement Wednesday that $500 million in grant funding would "continue to build a safer Texas for all."Gov. Abbott speaks to DPS Troopers and National Guard troops at a Thanksgiving dinner event in Edinburg on Nov. 26, 2024.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/18/michael-mccaul-tulsi-gabbard-national-intelligence/The Austin Republican leads the House Foreign Affairs Committee and predicted Gabbard’s nomination would fail in the Senate.By Matthew ChoiWed, 18 Dec 2024 15:50:32 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/18/michael-mccaul-tulsi-gabbard-national-intelligence/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/17/greg-casar-congressional-progressive-caucus-chair/The freshman congressman will lead the influential progressive caucus next year with plans to focus on working class and economic issues instead of culture wars.By Matthew ChoiTue, 17 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/17/greg-casar-congressional-progressive-caucus-chair/U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, discusses goals for his new position as the Congressional Progressive Caucus chair at his Capitol Hill office on Dec. 6, 2024.U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, talks about his goals for his new position as the progressive caucus chair at his office in Longworth House Office Building Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Washington, D.C.Luke Johnson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/04/henry-cuellar-texas-rio-grande-border-buoys-immigration/The congressman said he joined other Democrats in opposition to the use of the floating barriers and razor wire at Texas’ border because of the lack of permits.By Matthew ChoiWed, 04 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/04/henry-cuellar-texas-rio-grande-border-buoys-immigration/U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar told the Texas Tribune that his idea to add buoys to the Rio Grande to deter illegal immigration didn't go anywhere at the time because the International Boundary and Water Commission didn’t give the necessary permits.U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, speaks about the U.S.-Mexico border at the World Trade Bridge at a news conference in Laredo on Feb. 17, 2023.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/27/texas-china-prisoner-mark-swidan-freed/The Texan has been imprisoned in China for 12 years on charges of drug trafficking.By Matthew ChoiWed, 27 Nov 2024 10:27:09 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/27/texas-china-prisoner-mark-swidan-freed/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/27/texas-newly-elected-congress-brandon-gill-julie-johnson-sylvester-turn/Five Texans were newly elected to Congress this year, four of whom are set to serve in January.By Matthew ChoiWed, 27 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/27/texas-newly-elected-congress-brandon-gill-julie-johnson-sylvester-turn/The U.S. Capitol surrounded by cherry blossoms on March 25, 2024 in Washington, D.C.The U.S. Capitol surrounded by cherry blossoms on Monday, March 25, 2024 in Washington, D.C.Maria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/26/texas-vicente-gonzalez-congress-democrats-abortion-transgender/After Democrats underperformed nationally and in Texas, the McAllen Democrat had some sharp commentary for his party and said he won't be taking their advice.By Matthew ChoiTue, 26 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/26/texas-vicente-gonzalez-congress-democrats-abortion-transgender/U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, in his office the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 21, 2024. Gonzalez defeated former Republican Rep. Mayra Flores to secure the seat for Texas' 34th District.U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, in his office the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Gonzalez defeated former Republican Representative Mayra Flores to secure the seat for Texas' 34th District in the U.S. House.Shuran Huang for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/18/tony-gonzales-chip-roy-trump-mass-deportations-feud/Gonzales’ warning that mass removals of undocumented immigrants are unfeasible got pushback from Roy, who said everyone in the country illegally must be deported.By Matthew ChoiMon, 18 Nov 2024 15:14:52 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/18/tony-gonzales-chip-roy-trump-mass-deportations-feud/U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy are at odds over President-elect Donald Trump's plans for the mass deportation of illegal immigrants.From left: U.S. Reps. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, and Chip Roy, R-Austin.The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/13/john-cornyn-senate-majority-leader-vote-ted-cruz/Cornyn has for years signaled he wanted to succeed his close ally GOP leader Mitch McConnell. He lost in a vote decided by the Republican members of the Senate.By Matthew ChoiWed, 13 Nov 2024 08:10:19 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/13/john-cornyn-senate-majority-leader-vote-ted-cruz/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/12/john-cornyn-senate-leader-texas/John Cornyn is running to succeed Mitch McConnell after years waiting in his shadow. But the far-right, in Texas and Washington, are putting up a fight.By Matthew ChoiTue, 12 Nov 2024 14:39:38 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/12/john-cornyn-senate-leader-texas/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/06/texas-democrats-election-night/Tuesday was another electoral blowout in which Democrats underperformed expectations, weakening their case that Texas is a battleground state worthy of investment and attention from the national party.By James Barragán and Matthew ChoiWed, 06 Nov 2024 20:28:18 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/06/texas-democrats-election-night/The Ector County Democratic Headquarters on election night, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Odessa.The Ector County Democratic Headquarters on election night, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Odessa.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/06/henry-cuellar-jay-furman-texas-congressional-district-28/The longtime Laredo congressman fended off Republican challenger Jay Furman despite a federal indictment accusing the incumbent of bribery and money laundering.By Matthew ChoiWed, 06 Nov 2024 01:07:25 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/06/henry-cuellar-jay-furman-texas-congressional-district-28/U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, speaks at a GOTV rally in 2022.U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, speaks at a GOTV rally with former President Bill Clinton for Democratic congressional candidate Michelle Vallejo in Edinburg on Nov. 7, 2022Michael Gonzalez 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/2024/10/25/ted-cruz-colin-allred-texas-senate-ethics-complaint/Cruz alleged that national Democrats illegally exceeded contribution limits when it spent more than $10 million for television ads in Texas benefiting Allred campaign.By Matthew ChoiFri, 25 Oct 2024 12:25:56 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/25/ted-cruz-colin-allred-texas-senate-ethics-complaint/U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during the Texas GOP Convention on May 25 in San Antonio.U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Saturday, May 25, 2024 in San Antonio.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/25/colin-allred-ted-cruz-senate-texas-fundraising/Colin Allred also continues to out raise Ted Cruz bringing in over $11.8 million in the first 16 days of October. Cruz raised $9.9 million in the same period.By Matthew ChoiFri, 25 Oct 2024 09:51:38 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/25/colin-allred-ted-cruz-senate-texas-fundraising/U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, left, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, take part in a debate for the U.S. Senate hosted by WFAA on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Dallas, Texas.U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, left, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, take part in a debate for the U.S. Senate hosted by WFAA on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Dallas, Texas.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune via POOLhttps://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