The Texas Tribune: Owen Dahlkamphttps://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/owen-dahlkamp/The latest news by Owen Dahlkamp.enTue, 29 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500Texas 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/Texas Republicans vote to send GOP’s tax and spending megabill to Trump’s desk after threatening to tank ithttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/03/texas-republicans-pass-trump-megabill-house-vote/Members of the state’s GOP delegation were among the loudest voices critiquing their own party’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” In the end, each of them voted for it.By Owen DahlkampThu, 03 Jul 2025 13:32:34 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/03/texas-republicans-pass-trump-megabill-house-vote/Senate passes GOP’s tax and spending bill with Cornyn, Cruz priorities includedhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/01/senate-reconciliation-bill-texas-cornyn-cruz-border-reimbursement/The package includes $13.5 billion to reimburse states for border spending. It is expected to meet resistance in the House from some Texas Republicans.By Emily Foxhall and Owen DahlkampTue, 01 Jul 2025 11:20:15 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/01/senate-reconciliation-bill-texas-cornyn-cruz-border-reimbursement/The U.S. Capitol in Washington in January 2022.The U.S. Capitol in Washington in January 2022.Shuran Huang for The Texas TribuneSen. John Cornyn looks to overcome Paxton primary challenge by embracing Trumphttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/30/john-cornyn-senate-texas-primary-republicans-trump-paxton/As he faces the toughest electoral challenge of his career, Cornyn has also wielded his powers as a U.S. senator to lean into partisan issues prized by the GOP base.By Owen DahlkampMon, 30 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/30/john-cornyn-senate-texas-primary-republicans-trump-paxton/Ted Cruz wants to stop states from regulating AI. Some of his Republican colleagues aren’t so surehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/ted-cruz-ai-moratorium-reconciliation-republicans-congress-trump/Senate Republicans, Democrats and outside groups are mounting an offensive against Cruz’s push to withhold AI money from states that regulate the technology.By Owen DahlkampFri, 27 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/ted-cruz-ai-moratorium-reconciliation-republicans-congress-trump/Sen. Ted Cruz arrives at a rally for then-GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump at Million Air in Austin, Texas on Oct. 25, 2024.Senator Ted Cruz arrives at the Trump Rally at Million Air in Austin, Texas on Oct. 25, 2024.Lorianne Willett/The Texas TribuProgressive Rep. Greg Casar has a playbook he wants Democrats to use in 2026https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/25/greg-casar-midterms-2026-democrats-economic-populist-message/Casar, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, thinks economic populism and “authentic candidates” can win back recently converted GOP voters.By Owen DahlkampWed, 25 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/25/greg-casar-midterms-2026-democrats-economic-populist-message/U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, sits in his office at the Longworth House Office Building Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Washington, D.C.U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, sits in his soon-to-be old office at Longworth House Office Building Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Washington, D.C. He and his team are currently in the process of moving office spaces to Canon House Office Building.Luke Johnson for The Texas TribuneRep. Jasmine Crockett drops bid for influential post on House oversight panelhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/24/texas-jasmine-crockett-house-oversight-committee-ranking-democrat/The Dallas Democrat had said her party should respond more aggressively to the Trump administration and pitched herself as the best messenger for the job.By Owen DahlkampTue, 24 Jun 2025 08:12:53 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/24/texas-jasmine-crockett-house-oversight-committee-ranking-democrat/Former astronaut Terry Virts launches Democratic bid for U.S. Senate in Texashttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/23/terry-virts-texas-senate-astronaut-campaign-democrat/The early announcement tees up what is likely to be a crowded primary field angling for the seat held by Republican Sen. John Cornyn.By Owen DahlkampMon, 23 Jun 2025 10:40:45 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/23/terry-virts-texas-senate-astronaut-campaign-democrat/As Ted Cruz calls for a regime change in Iran, other Texas Republicans are more cautioushttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/19/ted-cruz-texas-republicans-iran-military-trump/Cruz’s intense interview with Tucker Carlson earlier this week exposed a rift in President Donald Trump’s coalition.By Owen DahlkampThu, 19 Jun 2025 09:54:41 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/19/ted-cruz-texas-republicans-iran-military-trump/American babies may get $1,000 each to invest because of Ted Cruzhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/19/trump-accounts-ted-cruz-investment-1000-dollars/Included in Congress’ major tax and spending bill is Cruz’s proposal to give every American baby $1,000 to invest.By Owen DahlkampThu, 19 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/19/trump-accounts-ted-cruz-investment-1000-dollars/Two Texas congressmembers named on alleged Minnesota assassin’s hit listhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/16/veronica-escobar-named-target-list-minnesota/Reps. Veronica Escobar and Joaquin Castro were among the 45 elected officials placed on a hit list by a man accused of killing a former Minnesota House speaker and her husband.By Owen DahlkampMon, 16 Jun 2025 16:39:47 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/16/veronica-escobar-named-target-list-minnesota/