Former astronaut Terry Virts launches Democratic bid for U.S. Senate in Texas
The early announcement tees up what is likely to be a crowded primary field angling for the seat held by Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Full Story
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![International Space Station (ISS) crew member Terry Virts of the U.S. speaks by satellite phone shortly after landing near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, June 11, 2015. Three astronauts landed safely in the steppes of Kazakhstan on Thursday, ending their 199-day mission after an unexpected "bonus month" aboard the International Space Station, NASA Television showed.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Ivan Sekretarev/Pool -
Attorney General Ken Paxton requests new execution date for Robert Roberson
A judge could set a new execution date for no sooner than 90 days from now, though Roberson has a pending appeal. Full Story
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![Robert Roberson photographed through plexiglass at TDCJ Polunsky Unit in Livingston on Dec. 19, 2023. Texas death row prisoners are housed in Livingston but executed at the state prison in Huntsville, about 43 miles away.]()
Credit: Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Innocence Project -
Aaron Reitz, former top DOJ official and Paxton aide, launches bid for Texas attorney general
Reitz, formerly a key cog in Texas’ conservative legal pipeline, once said the AG’s office is at war with “the forces that want to destroy the American order.” Full Story
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![Then-Texas Deputy Attorney General of Legal Strategy Aaron Reitz speaks during a press conference in the William Clements Building in Austin on June 9, 2022.]()
Credit: Kylie Cooper/The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ swift surrender to DOJ on undocumented student tuition raises questions about state-federal collusion
Experts say Wednesday’s action to eliminate the long-standing policy could be a “collusive lawsuit,” where the state and feds worked the courts to get a desired outcome. Full Story
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![The Texas State Capitol on Sept. 24, 2022 in Austin, TX.]()
Credit: Spencer Selvidge for The Texas Tribune -
Texas attorney general won’t get new powers to prosecute election crimes after legislative deadlock
Ken Paxton sought more power for his office to take up election cases. But lawmakers haven’t agreed on a measure that would give it to him. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to the media on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, during a press conference following arguments in the case “Free Speech Coalition, Inc., et al. v. Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas,” at the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, D.C.]()
Credit: Luke Johnson for The Texas Tribune -
Judge places temporary block on rule requiring urban DAs to hand over case data to AG Ken Paxton
Over half of the district attorneys affected by the rule filed lawsuits challenging it, saying it violates state and federal law. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Houston midwife accused of illegal abortions appeals clinic closures
In an appeal filed this week, Maria Rojas’ attorneys accused Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office of a careless investigation. Full Story
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![A close-up of family planning pamphlets at Latinoamericana Medical Clinic in Spring, Texas, on March 27, 2025. The clinic, part of Maria Margarita Rojas' network, remains closed after a Waller County judge granted a temporary injunction prohibiting the facility from providing medical services.]()
Credit: Hope Mora for The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton says Google will pay Texas $1.4 billion to settle privacy suit
The state attorney general sued Google in 2022, alleging it unlawfully tracked and collected users’ private data. Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a press conference in front of the Supreme Court building in Washington on Jan. 15, 2025.]()
Credit: Luke Johnson for The Texas Tribune -
Texas attorney general wins $60 million judgment in pollution lawsuit
A Texas business illegally dumped industrial waste into Skull Creek in Colorado County six years ago, then residents complained to the attorney general’s office. Full Story
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![Earthen dams separate black water (top) from muddy water (bottom) at Inland Environmental & Remediation, Inc., south of Columbus, Texas, on April 14, 2019.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Sen. John Cornyn announces leadership team, including Trump pollster, for 2026 reelection campaign
Cornyn’s move to stockpile his campaign team with seasoned GOP operatives signals he is digging in for a serious fight against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. John Cornyn talks to reporters after Gov. Greg Abbott signs Senate Bill 2, the voucher bill, into law at the Governor's Mansion in Austin on May 3, 2025.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton drops “critical race theory” lawsuit against Coppell ISD
The school district called the undercover videos that led to the accusations “heavily edited,” “manipulated” and “grossly misleading.” Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Republican Party of Texas convention on Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
John Bash, first candidate to enter Texas attorney general’s race, exits
The former federal prosecutor cited shifting priorities after a family health scare for his withdrawal, which comes less than a month after his entry into the race. Full Story
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![U.S. Attorney John Bash and the prosecution team leave the courthouse following Carlos Uresti's sentencing, on June 26, 2018.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Get out the popcorn, it’s Paxton vs. Cornyn
The gang welcomes back an old friend, Patrick Svitek, to preview Texas’ biggest political throwdown in years. Full Story
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![Incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (l.) is being challenged by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The two Republicans will face off in the 2026 primaries.]()
Credit: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call/Sipa USA via REUTERS|Emil T. Lippe for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House approves push to award Attorney General Ken Paxton back pay
The vote instructs lawmakers who are negotiating a budget with the Senate to advocate for awarding Paxton the salary he missed while impeached over corruption allegations. Full Story
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![Ken Paxton stands with attorneys Tony Buzbee and Mitch Little during prayer on the ninth day of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial at the state capitol in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 15, 2023.]()
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Former U.S. Attorney John Bash first to announce run to replace Attorney General Ken Paxton
Bash served as special assistant to President Trump during his first term and is Elon Musk’s lawyer. Full Story
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![John F. Bash, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas resigned from his position.]()
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Texas AG Ken Paxton officially joins U.S. Senate race challenging John Cornyn
The attorney general positions himself as a disruptor against the Republican establishment embodied in the longtime Senate fixture. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at a press conference outside the Supreme Court building in Washington on Jan. 15, 2025.]()
Credit: Luke Johnson for The Texas Tribune -
Attorney General Ken Paxton’s former aides win $6.6 million in whistleblower case
Paxton vowed to appeal the “bogus ruling” that found he improperly fired the four plaintiffs after they reported him to the FBI on allegations of corruption. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Republican Party of Texas Convention in San Antonio on May 23, 2024..]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
San Antonio cannot fund trips for abortion, court rules
Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the city in April after it approved $100,000 to help residents travel out of the state for abortions. Full Story
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![Pedestrians walk by La Antorcha de la Amistad sculpture in downtown San Antonio on Nov. 2, 2021.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
Justice Department declined to prosecute Ken Paxton in final weeks of Biden’s term, AP sources say
The federal investigation had been the most serious inquiry still facing Paxton, who settled a securities fraud case and was acquitted of corruption charges in the Texas Senate in 2023 following a historic impeachment. Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a press conference in front of the Supreme Court building in Washington on Jan. 15, 2025.]()
Credit: Luke Johnson for The Texas Tribune -
Conservatives on the Cy-Fair school board escalate fight over textbooks
The decision to strip chapters from books that had already won the approval of the state’s Republican-controlled board of education represents an escalation in how local school boards run by ideological conservatives influence what children learn. Full Story
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![People are seen from behind as the sit in auditorium chairs and hold up signs, including one that says “Let trans kids grow up.” They are facing a row of eight people at a high table, six of whom are raising a hand.]()
Credit: Danielle Villasana for ProPublica and The Texas Tribune