The Texas Tribune: Owen Dahlkamphttps://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/owen-dahlkamp/The latest news by Owen Dahlkamp.enThu, 14 Aug 2025 15:19:05 -0500Federal judge appears ready to dismiss 2 of 14 charges in Henry Cuellar’s bribery casehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/14/henry-cuellar-judge-dismisses-2-charges-bribery-delays-trial/The dismissal comes after Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo narrowing the enforcement of laws relating to foreign lobbying and bribery.By Owen DahlkampThu, 14 Aug 2025 15:19:05 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/14/henry-cuellar-judge-dismisses-2-charges-bribery-delays-trial/Texas could lose political clout under Trump’s call for a new census that excludes undocumented immigrantshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/13/texas-trump-census-exclude-undocumented-immigrants/Republicans believe population increases in red states, such as Texas, would offset losses from not counting immigrants who lack legal status.By Owen DahlkampWed, 13 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/13/texas-trump-census-exclude-undocumented-immigrants/A "No Kings" protest against the policies of President Donald Trump in McAllen on June 14, 2025.No Kings Protest against the policies of Pres. Donald Trump in McAllen on June 14, 2025.Ben Lowy for The Texas TribuneGun rights YouTuber Brandon Herrera to challenge U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales again in GOP primaryhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/11/brandon-herrera-tony-gonzales-congress-2026-rematch-gop-primary/Herrera, who came within 400 votes of ousting Gonzales in a 2024 runoff, is once again positioning himself to the right of the incumbent.By Owen DahlkampMon, 11 Aug 2025 11:26:09 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/11/brandon-herrera-tony-gonzales-congress-2026-rematch-gop-primary/Brandon Herrera, Republican candidate for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, speaks at a campaign event at the Angry Elephant, a politically themed bar, in San Antonio on March 14, 2024.San Antonio, Texas - March 14, 2024: Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz and Brandon Herrera, Republican candidate for the US House for Texas’ 23rd congressional district, were seen during a campaign event at the Angry Elephant, a politically themed bar, in San Antonio, Texas on March 14, 2024. Photo: Christopher Lee for Texas TribuneChristopher Lee for The Texas TribuneJohn Cornyn enters critical window to change trajectory of Texas Senate primary against Ken Paxtonhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/08/cornyn-paxton-primary-texas-senate-republican-primary/The annual summer break is a critical window for Texas’ senior senator, whose allies are blitzing the airwaves with ads courting primary voters — and President Donald Trump.By Gabby Birenbaum and Owen DahlkampFri, 08 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/08/cornyn-paxton-primary-texas-senate-republican-primary/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.The Texas TribuneCornyn says FBI will help locate absent Texas Democrats, but scope of feds’ role unclearhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/07/john-cornyn-fbi-texas-democrats-illinois-quorum-break-redistricting/The Republican senator, who is facing a tough primary challenge, previously asked FBI Director Kash Patel for the agency’s help in tracking down the House lawmakers.By Owen DahlkampThu, 07 Aug 2025 09:51:35 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/07/john-cornyn-fbi-texas-democrats-illinois-quorum-break-redistricting/Paxton launches investigation into Beto O’Rourke’s political group for funding Democrats who left statehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/06/ken-paxton-beto-orourke-investigation-democrats-texas/The attorney general is also looking into the George Soros-backed Texas Majority PAC, which is playing a coordinating role to solicit donations from Democratic donors.By Owen DahlkampWed, 06 Aug 2025 14:59:47 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/06/ken-paxton-beto-orourke-investigation-democrats-texas/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Republican Party of Texas Convention in San Antonio on May 23, 2024.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Republican Party of Texas Convention in San Antonio on May 23, 2024..Eli Hartman/The Texas TribuneBeto O’Rourke’s political group is a top funder for Texas Democrats’ exodus to block GOP congressional maphttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/05/texas-democrats-quorum-break-beto-orourke-illinois-funding/The former El Paso congressman also contributed to House Democrats’ 2021 quorum break. A PAC backed by Democratic donor George Soros is also involved in this year’s effort.By Owen DahlkampTue, 05 Aug 2025 13:30:11 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/05/texas-democrats-quorum-break-beto-orourke-illinois-funding/A private plane headed to Chicago sits on the tarmac after loading luggage at Signature Aviation in Austin with Texas Democratic legislators headed to Illinios on a quorum break on August 3, 2025.A private plane headed to Chicago sits on the tarmac after loading luggage at Signature Aviation in Austin with Texas Democratic legislators headed to Illinios on a quorum break on August 3, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas TribuneWesley Hunt tests waters of a Senate bid, setting up possible heavyweight primary with Cornyn and Paxtonhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/05/texas-senate-wesley-hunt-gop-primary-cornyn-paxton-2026/The Houston Republican’s case rests on the notion that Sen. John Cornyn cannot win the primary and his challenger, Attorney General Ken Paxton, could jeopardize the seat in November.By Gabby Birenbaum and Owen DahlkampTue, 05 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/05/texas-senate-wesley-hunt-gop-primary-cornyn-paxton-2026/In draft congressional map, Texas Republicans bet big that gains with Latino voters will persisthttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/03/texas-redistricting-congressional-map-latino-hispanic-voters-gop/The plan increases the share of Hispanic voters in three of the five districts targeted by the GOP, banking that enough will turn out and vote for Republicans without Donald Trump on the ballot.By Owen Dahlkamp, Graphics by Carla AstudilloSun, 03 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/03/texas-redistricting-congressional-map-latino-hispanic-voters-gop/An attendee holds a Trump hat during a prayer at a GOP event in McAllen to motivate Republicans to vote for U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Los Indios, and congressional candidates Monica De La Cruz and Cassy Garcia, on Nov. 6, 2022.An attendee holds a Trump hat during a prayer at a GOP event in McAllen to motivate Republicans to vote for U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Los Indios, running for re-election and congressional candidates Monica De La Cruz, TX-15, and Cassy Garcia, TX-28, on Nov. 6, 2022.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas TribuneNewsom will move to redraw California map if Texas redistricts, teeing up national fighthttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/30/texas-redistricting-california-newsom-retaliatory-congressional-maps/The governor plans to go through the Legislature to usher in a map with more Democratic seats if Texas tilts its map to the right, according to a person with knowledge of Newsom’s thinking.By Owen DahlkampWed, 30 Jul 2025 15:50:45 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/30/texas-redistricting-california-newsom-retaliatory-congressional-maps/Texas Democrats are fundraising to potentially leave the state to block GOP-backed redistrictinghttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/29/texas-democrats-quorum-break-fundraising-fines-redistricting/The money could be used to cover the $500-a-day fines lawmakers would incur under House rules set to discourage members from absconding after Democrats fled the state in 2021.By Owen DahlkampTue, 29 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/29/texas-democrats-quorum-break-fundraising-fines-redistricting/Flanked by members of the Texas Democratic Caucus, state Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, speaks during a press conference at the Capitol in Austin on Monday, July 21, 2025.Flanked by members of the Texas Democratic Caucus, state Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, speaks during a press conference at the Capitol in Austin on Monday, July 21, 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas TribuneCornyn calls for special counsel investigation into Obama’s handling of 2016 Russia probehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/25/cornyn-russia-investigation-special-counsel-obama-collusion/The Texas senator maintains that Russia did meddle in the 2016 election but that there was no collusion between the Kremlin and the Trump campaign.By Gabby Birenbaum and Owen DahlkampFri, 25 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/25/cornyn-russia-investigation-special-counsel-obama-collusion/Texas Republicans, including Gov. Abbott, were reluctant to redraw the state’s congressional maps. Then Trump got involved.https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/22/texas-redistricting-abbott-republicans-resistant-trump/The governor eventually agreed to include redistricting on his special session agenda after discussing the matter with the president on a phone call.By Owen DahlkampTue, 22 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/22/texas-redistricting-abbott-republicans-resistant-trump/Gov. Greg Abbott at the state Capitol in Austin on June 11, 2025.Gov. Greg Abbott at the state Capitol in Austin on June 11, 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas TribuneAs Trump looks to net five GOP seats through Texas redistricting, Democrats grasp for responsehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/15/texas-democrats-redistricting-response-trump-republican-five-seats/President Donald Trump said he thinks Republicans could flip a handful of congressional districts in Texas next year through “​​just a very simple redrawing."By Gabby Birenbaum and Owen DahlkampTue, 15 Jul 2025 13:36:34 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/15/texas-democrats-redistricting-response-trump-republican-five-seats/Trump defends federal government’s response to Hill Country floods during Texas visithttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/11/trump-texas-visit-kerrville-floods-fema-defends-criticism/The president met with state and local officials, who praised the White House response, and lashed out at a question on whether aid and rescue efforts occurred fast enough.By Owen DahlkampFri, 11 Jul 2025 17:32:39 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/11/trump-texas-visit-kerrville-floods-fema-defends-criticism/Sen. John Cornyn outraises AG Ken Paxton by $1 million in first three months of Senate primary matchup — but there’s a catchhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/11/ken-paxton-john-cornyn-texas-senate-fundraising-campaign-finance/Cornyn will need to use his deep coffers to overcome an early polling deficit to Paxton, who is looking to deny the GOP incumbent’s bid for a fifth term.By Owen DahlkampFri, 11 Jul 2025 09:04:42 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/11/ken-paxton-john-cornyn-texas-senate-fundraising-campaign-finance/U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton is challenging Cornyn in the Republican primary.from left: U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton is challenging Cornyn in the Republican primary.The Texas TribuneInside the negotiations on Trump’s GOP megabill, from the Lubbock lawmaker whose name is on the legislationhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/10/jodey-arrington-gop-megabill-trump-budget-chair/The House budget chair and lead sponsor of the GOP tax and spending bill recounts the months of negotiations needed to unite the fractious caucus.By Owen DahlkampThu, 10 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/10/jodey-arrington-gop-megabill-trump-budget-chair/Ted Cruz was vacationing in Greece when the deadly Texas floods broke out. His office says he took the first flight home.https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/07/ted-cruz-texas-floods-athens-greece-trip/Texas’ junior senator was visiting Greece Friday when the Texas flood turned deadly. Cruz, who did not return until Sunday night, communicated with officials from Athens.By Owen Dahlkamp and Gabby BirenbaumMon, 07 Jul 2025 17:11:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/07/ted-cruz-texas-floods-athens-greece-trip/Here’s what’s in Trump’s GOP megabill and how it will affect Texanshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/03/trump-megabill-breakdown-texas-medicaid-snap-border/The wide-ranging bill is the vehicle for much of Trump’s domestic policy agenda, containing key changes that will affect daily life for millions of Texans.By Gabby Birenbaum and Owen DahlkampThu, 03 Jul 2025 19:00:50 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/03/trump-megabill-breakdown-texas-medicaid-snap-border/House Democrats, California leaders weigh tit-for-tat redistricting if Texas Republicans redraw mapshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/03/redistricting-texas-california-democrats-retaliation-trump-newsom/Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s aides have signaled their boss’s willingness to counter Texas redistricting with a similar move to offset GOP gains, lawmakers said.By Owen DahlkampThu, 03 Jul 2025 16:31:22 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/03/redistricting-texas-california-democrats-retaliation-trump-newsom/