https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/renzo-downey/The latest news by Renzo Downey.enTue, 29 Jul 2025 08:30:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/29/texas-house-democrats-new-mexico-redistricting/With a quorum break on the table for the minority party as a way to thwart a GOP bid for more congressional seats, members travel out-of-state for a third time.By Renzo DowneyTue, 29 Jul 2025 08:30:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/29/texas-house-democrats-new-mexico-redistricting/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/25/giovanni-capriglione-affair-texas-house-republican/A conservative news site published an interview with a woman who alleges a 17-year affair with the Southlake representative, who said this week he wouldn’t seek reelection.By Eleanor Klibanoff and Renzo DowneyFri, 25 Jul 2025 11:53:07 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/25/giovanni-capriglione-affair-texas-house-republican/State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, on the House floor at lawmakers debate bills at the Texas Capitol on Monday, May 26, 2025.State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, on the House floor at lawmakers debate bills at the Texas Capitol on Monday, May 26, 2025.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-credible-threats-lawmakers/The agency said there was no additional active threat, as Austin demonstrators took aim at the Trump administration.By Renzo Downey and Ayden RunnelsSat, 14 Jun 2025 14:19:58 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-credible-threats-lawmakers/Texas Department of Public Safety vehicles outside of the state Capitol on Aug. 11, 2021.Texas Department of Public Safety vehicles outside of the state Capitol on Aug. 11, 2021.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/12/texas-tony-gonzales-gop-primary-challenge-susan-storey-rubio/In a launch video, Storey Rubio attacked Gonzales’ border security record and said it’s “time to round up the career politicians and deport them out of Washington.”By Renzo DowneyThu, 12 Jun 2025 18:00:45 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/12/texas-tony-gonzales-gop-primary-challenge-susan-storey-rubio/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-house-senate-public-school-finance-deal/The deal appears to strike a face-saving compromise for both chambers over how to increase funds for the state’s public schools, with money earmarked for teacher pay and overhead costs.By Jasper Scherer, Renzo Downey and Jaden EdisonWed, 21 May 2025 15:13:08 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-house-senate-public-school-finance-deal/Texas House and Senate lawmakers on Wednesday were nearing a deal on an $8.5 billion package to provide new funding for the state's public schools.Bonham Elementary School in San Antonio on May 9, 2018.Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/05/texas-school-board-races/Issues about control of book purchases and how curriculums teach race and gender have led to change on many boards, including Keller, Katy and Mansfield ISDs.By Jasper Scherer and Renzo DowneyMon, 05 May 2025 19:07:41 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/05/texas-school-board-races/The school board election in the Keller ISD saw voters reject conservative candidates.A Keller ISD school board meeting in Keller, TX on April 25, 2022.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/25/republicans-texas-house-calendar-democrats/After Republicans and Democrats fight over the budget and constitutional amendments, GOP members stake out a new battlefield.By Kate McGee and Renzo DowneyFri, 25 Apr 2025 15:14:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/25/republicans-texas-house-calendar-democrats/In the Texas House of Representatives, Democrats have maneuvered to frustrate elements of the Republican agenda. Republicans pushed back by blocking a series of Democratic measures that usually attract little opposition.Members of the Texas House of Representatives on the House floor on April 10, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/15/texas-legislature-democrats-school-vouchers-constitutional-amendments/More than 50 House Democrats have signed on to a plan to spike all constitutional amendments unless the House allows voters to decide whether school vouchers will be legalized.By Renzo DowneyTue, 15 Apr 2025 12:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/15/texas-legislature-democrats-school-vouchers-constitutional-amendments/State Rep. John Bucy III, D-Austin, is surrounded by Democrats on the Texas House floor while he advocates for Medicaid expansion during the budget debate in the Texas House on April 10, 2025.State Rep. John Bucy III, D-Austin, is surrounded by Democrats on the Texas House floor while he advocates for Medicaid expansion during the budget debate in the Texas House on April 10, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/29/texas-democrats-party-chair/Scudder takes over after a difficult 2024 election for the party.By Kayla Guo and Renzo DowneySat, 29 Mar 2025 12:12:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/29/texas-democrats-party-chair/Newly elected party chair Kendall Scudder addresses Texas Democratic Party members during an election in Austin on March 29, 2025.Newly elected party chair Kendall Scudder addresses Texas Democratic Party members during an election in Austin, Texas on Saturday, March 29, 2025.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/28/texas-democrats-vote-new-chair/The State Democratic Executive Committee will meet on Saturday to elect the successor to party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa.By Renzo Downey and Kayla GuoFri, 28 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/28/texas-democrats-vote-new-chair/The first day of the Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso, Texas on June 6, 2024.The first day of the Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso, Texas on June 6, 2024.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/19/amanda-edwards-sylvester-turner-congress/Edwards unsuccessfully ran for the seat twice last year. She faced off against U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in the 2024 Democratic primary. Jackson Lee won the primary but died before the general election, opening the party’s nomination anewBy Matthew Choi and Renzo DowneyWed, 19 Mar 2025 10:09:45 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/19/amanda-edwards-sylvester-turner-congress/Houston City Councilwoman and U.S. Senate candidate Amanda Edwards outside of 919 Congress Avenue in Austin on Feb. 7, 2020. (Houston City Councilwoman and U.S. Senate candidate Amanda Edwards outside of 919 Congress Avenue in Austin on Feb. 7, 2020. Angela Piazza for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/dustin-burrows-david-cook-texas-house-speaker-vote/Burrows defeated Rep. David Cook with a coalition of Republican and Democratic votes.By James Barragán, Jasper Scherer, Renzo Downey and Robert DownenTue, 14 Jan 2025 14:46:54 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/dustin-burrows-david-cook-texas-house-speaker-vote/State Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) shakes hands with Rep. Jeff Leach, R- Plano, during opening day ceremonies on the House floor on Tuesday, Jan. 14th, 2025.State Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) shakes hands with Rep. Jeff Leach, R- Plano, during opening day ceremonies on the House floor on Tuesday, Jan. 14th, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/texas-legislature-2025-speaker-race-live-updates/The Texas House kicked off the 2025 session by electing an establishment Republican to lead the chamber, drawing criticism from within the GOP.By James Barragán, Renzo Downey, Jasper Scherer, Pooja Salhotra and Robert DownenTue, 14 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/texas-legislature-2025-speaker-race-live-updates/Republican Party of Texas Chair Abraham George, right, speaks to the press on the steps of the state Capitol following the vote for House speaker on Jan. 14, 2025. Looking on are Republican freshman state Reps. Wes Virdell, David Lowe, Andy Hopper and Brent Money.Republican Party of Texas Chair Abraham George speaks to the press on the steps of the state Capitol following the vote for House speaker on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Looking on are Republican freshman state Reps. Wes Virdell, David Lowe, Andy Hopper and Brent Money.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/11/texas-greg-abbott-republicans-house-speaker-race/Days after the Texas House GOP caucus backed Cook, Abbott made clear that he expects Republican representatives to do the same.By Juan Salinas II and Renzo DowneyWed, 11 Dec 2024 19:57:42 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/11/texas-greg-abbott-republicans-house-speaker-race/In a social media post Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott, seen on Nov. 26, said the Texas House needs a "Texas House Speaker chosen by a majority of Republicans in accordance with the Republican Caucus Rules."Gov. Greg 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/2024/12/07/texas-house-speaker-david-cook-dustin-burrows/Burrows claims the support of a coalition of Republicans and Democrats, while Cook has the endorsement of the GOP caucus.By James Barragán, Renzo Downey and Jasper SchererSat, 07 Dec 2024 17:14:18 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/07/texas-house-speaker-david-cook-dustin-burrows/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/06/texas-house-speaker-david-cook-dustin-burrows-dade-phelan/With Speaker Dade Phelan out of the race, Republican state Reps. David Cook and Dustin Burrows will now face off.By Jasper Scherer, Renzo Downey and James BarragánFri, 06 Dec 2024 12:45:09 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/06/texas-house-speaker-david-cook-dustin-burrows-dade-phelan/The Texas House floor on Aug. 31, 2021.The Texas House floor on Aug. 31, 2021.Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/05/texas-house-speaker-dade-phelan/Phelan, a Beaumont Republican, had previously insisted he had enough votes to thwart a challenge from the right led by state Rep. David Cook of Mansfield.By Jasper Scherer, James Barragán and Renzo DowneyFri, 06 Dec 2024 08:08:31 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/05/texas-house-speaker-dade-phelan/Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan before gavelling in the House for the third-called special session on Oct. 9, 2023.Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan before gavelling in the House for the third-called special session on Oct. 9, 2023.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/05/texas-house-democrats-gene-wu-houston/Wu defeated incumbent Trey Martinez Fischer on Thursday to become the next chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus.By Renzo DowneyThu, 05 Dec 2024 10:44:30 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/05/texas-house-democrats-gene-wu-houston/Texas Rep. Gene Wu looks on during a press conference in opposition to Senate Bill 147 outside of City Hall on January 23, 2023, in downtown Houston, Texas.Texas Rep. Gene Wu looks on during a press conference in opposition to Senate Bill 147 outside of City Hall on January 23, 2023, in downtown Houston, Texas.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/27/david-cook-dade-phelan-texas-house-speaker/The two-term Republican caught many Capitol observers off guard when he emerged as the standard-bearer for a coalition that wants to depose Phelan and reshape how the House operates.By James Barragán, Jasper Scherer and Renzo DowneyWed, 27 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/27/david-cook-dade-phelan-texas-house-speaker/State Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, takes the oath of office with his hand on a bible on the first day of the 88th Texas legislative session on Jan 10, 2023.State Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, takes the oath of office with his hand on a bible on the first day of the 88th Texas legislative session on Jan 10, 2023.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/22/scott-turner-nomination-housing-urban-development/Turner served in the Texas House for four years and was also executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council in the first Trump administration.By Juan Salinas II and Renzo DowneyFri, 22 Nov 2024 21:28:30 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/22/scott-turner-nomination-housing-urban-development/Scott Turner, who has been nominated to lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, represented the 33rd district in the Texas House from 2013 to 2017.State Rep. Scott Turner, R-Frisco, gives a personal speech on the House floor in Austin in January 2015 after losing the speaker's race to Joe Straus, R-San Antonio.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune