Texas Supreme Court declines to revive billionaireโs defamation lawsuit against Beto OโRourke
Kelcy Warren, a Dallas pipeline billionaire, sued OโRourke in early 2022, saying the Democrat defamed him with critical comments about his companyโs windfall profits after the Texas energy-grid collapse in February 2021.
In defamation lawsuit against Beto OโRourke, lawyers debate whether Kelcy Warren is a public figure
Warren, a Dallas pipeline tycoon, sued OโRourke in February over accusations he made on the campaign trail that Warren effectively bribed Gov. Greg Abbott with a $1 million campaign contribution following the 2021 power grid collapse.
Texas Democrats admit to faltering on messaging and voter turnout, contributing to resounding midterm losses
Beto OโRourke lost by double-digits on Tuesday night and so did every other statewide Democrat. That has left Democrats in a familiar position: wounded after a disappointing election night while contemplating their strategy and their future.
South Texas, Abbott vs. OโRourke, and Harris County: Here are the biggest things to watch for on election night
While the GOP focuses on the border and economy under President Joe Biden, Democrats are hoping to prove polls and political forecasters wrong by tapping into anger over the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the Uvalde school shooting.
Politcal science expert breaks down new poll showing Gov. Abbott with 11-point lead over OโRourke
According to the poll, more than half of Republican voters agreed that immigration and border security are the most important. Democratsโ priorities are more dispersed between abortion, health care, gun violence and climate change.
Greg Abbott widens lead over Beto OโRourke with likely voters in latest UT poll
The 11-point margin is one of the wider advantages Abbott has registered among likely voters in a public survey yet. Abbott had a smaller 5-point advantage in the last UT poll, which was done in August, though that was among registered voters.
Leading SA: UTSA political science professor Jon Taylor discusses elections and gubernatorial race
Early voting is just around the corner, and there are competitive elections across Texas. Professor Jon Taylor, Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Department of Political Science and Geography at UTSA, joined Leading SA to dive into some election detail.
Beto OโRourke raises $25 million from July through late September
His campaign said the massive amount came at a faster clip than his previous, record-breaking haul. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has not released his latest fundraising figures yet but had a large cash-on-hand advantage over OโRourke at the end of June.
35 family members of Uvalde shooting victims throw their support behind Beto OโRourke ahead of debate
In a news conference ahead of the only gubernatorial debate, 35 family members of Uvalde school shooting victims said they would support OโRourke because of Gov. Greg Abbottโs inaction on gun control measures.
Uvalde parents demand stricter gun laws ahead of Abbott, OโRourke gubernatorial debate
Before the gubernatorial debate between Greg Abbott and Beto OโRourke in the Rio Grande Valley, the parents of Robb Elementary students stepped up to the microphone to voice their opinions on one of the stateโs most divisive topics: gun control.
Voters anticipate Gov. Abbott, OโRourke will discuss abortion during debate
Republican Governor Greg Abbott and Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Beto OโRourke are set to debate Friday in Edinburg. Voters are hoping both gubernatorial candidates address the complexities of abortion to give voters a clear sense of where they stand before election day.
Abbott says raising the age to buy an assault-style rifle is โunconstitutionalโ based on recent court rulings
The gunman in Uvalde bought two AR-15-style rifles days after he turned 18, the legal purchasing age in Texas, and used the weapons to kill 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary.
Beto OโRourke intensifies campaign on abortion rights as trigger law goes into effect
Gov. Greg Abbott signed the โtrigger lawโ last year, ensuring that Texas would automatically outlaw abortion if the U.S. Supreme Court ever overturned Roe v. Wade. That happened in June, mobilizing Democrats nationwide and giving OโRourkeโs campaign a burst of momentum.
Gov. Greg Abbottโs lead over Beto OโRourke narrows to 6 points, poll finds
The Republican incumbentโs lead over his Democratic challenger shrank last month, according to a Texas Politics Project poll. The 6-point gap is smaller than when Republican George W. Bush ousted Democrat Ann Richards in 1994.
โWhat the hell do you need an AR-15 for?โ Spurs coach Popovich, Castro brothers speak at โStand with Uvaldeโ benefit rally
Hundreds of people gathered in Travis Park on Saturday to stand with the town Uvalde, during a call-to-action event in support of the victims and families affected by the mass shooting at Robb Elementary.
After another mass shooting, Texas Democrats again push for gun control measures
The question moving forward is whether Democrats, outnumbered in the Texas Legislature for two decades, will be able to put enough pressure on lawmakers to move on a previously intractable issue in gun-friendly Texas and that Republicans, who support looser gun laws, will fight tooth and nail.
Activist confronts Ted Cruz at Houston restaurant hours after giving speech at NRA convention
What initially looked like a photo opportunity soon escalated after an activist at the National Rifle Association Convention in Houston confronted US Sen. Ted Cruz, pushing him to take action on gun control laws.
Beto OโRourke carefully threads needle on border policy as Democrats grapple with the issue
For Democrats, especially in Texas, tackling border issues is difficult on the campaign trail as the party is not in agreement about various policies. OโRourke has had to distance himself from President Joe Bidenโs border policies, while going after Gov. Greg Abbottโs.
Partiesโ activist wings see mixed results in Texas as Abbott advances, progressives fall short of goals
Gov. Greg Abbott and most other statewide elected officials won their primaries Tuesday night. But Attorney General Ken Paxton was forced into a runoff, and progressive Democrats fell short of their congressional goals.
Ex-ERCOT chief testifies that Gov. Abbottโs order led to energy price hike during storm: report
While testifying in a bankruptcy trial for a Texas electric co-op, the stateโs former grid manager said Gov. Greg Abbottโs directive led them to keep power price points high during last yearโs winter storm, according to a Houston Chronicle report.
Republican incumbents hold big leads in statewide March primary races, UT poll says
The poll shows Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have a significant advantage over their primary opponents. Democratic respondents heavily support Beto OโRourke for governor but donโt know enough about the partyโs candidates in other races.
Abbott, OโRourke focus on business, state power grid during simultaneous events in San Antonio
The two men vying to be the next governor of Texas, and widely expected to face each other in the general election in November, made appearances on the same day and within minutes of each other Wednesday in San Antonio.
Beto OโRourke targets Gov. Greg Abbott for vetoing bill to improve internet access in rural Texas
Abbott vetoed legislation in June that would have helped shore up the Universal Service Fund, which supports telecommunications in rural Texas. He said it would have โimposed a new fee on millions of Texans.โ
Texas Democrats see focusing on power grid failure as a winning campaign strategy heading into 2022
Republican leaders defend their record on the power grid, pointing to more than a dozen laws passed during this yearโs legislative session to address the gridโs reliability. Gov. Greg Abbott has staked his reputation on a promise that the lights won't go out this winter.
Texas Democrats rely on voters of color to be competitive. So why are their top statewide candidates mostly white?
The GOP slate for statewide office includes two high-profile Latinos and two Black candidates who have previously held state or federal office. Republicans are making a play to be more competitive with voters of color as the stateโs electorate grows more diverse.
Analysis: Different year, different race, different Beto
Sneaking up on a bruised Ted Cruz and almost winning the 2018 U.S. Senate race made Beto OโRourke a big political name. But after that loss and a poor showing in the 2020 Democratic primary for president, the El Pasoanโs challenge to Gov. Greg Abbott is a different kind of contest.
Beto OโRourke talks priorities, criticizes Greg Abbott in 1st San Antonio stop since announcing run for governor
Beto OโRourke punched out his priorities as a contender for Texas governor and slammed Gov. Greg Abbott during a speech in San Antonio, his first public event since he announced his run.
Analysis: Early signs point to another Republican-dominated election cycle in Texas
Republican incumbents enter their reelection campaigns well ahead of their Republican challengers and with most voters unacquainted with the Democratic challengers in the field, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.
Invoking the spirit of Selma, Texas activists begin 27-mile march demanding federal action on voting rights
The marchers will travel south from Georgetown to Austin over four days, hoping to build pressure on Congress to act on federal legislation to boost or safeguard access to voting. They will end with a Saturday morning rally at the Capitol.
Greg Abbott and Beto OโRourke spar in what could be a preview of the 2022 governorโs race
Greg Abbott, left, and former U.S. Rep. Beto OโRourke, D-El Paso. The two traded criticisms Thursday as speculation mounts over whether OโRourke will challenge Abbott in 2022. Greg Abbott and Beto O'Rourke butted heads Thursday after the Democratic former El Paso congressman said he would consider challenging the Republican incumbent for Texas' top elected post in 2022. "Heck yes, heโs for open borders. Heck yes, heโs for killing the energy sector and fossil fuels in the state of Texas.
Kamala Harris to visit Rio Grande Valley, Fort Worth and Houston during Texas campaign swing Friday
Kamala Harrisโ trip to Texas on Friday will include three stops across the state, including in the Rio Grande Valley, according to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Bidenโs campaign. Bidenโs running mate is set to visit to Fort Worth, Houston and McAllen. Fort Worthโs Tarrant County was the stateโs most populous county that Republican President Donald Trump won in 2016. Further details on her stops were not immediately available, but they are expected to mirror events she has done recently in other states to mobilize early voters. Harrisโ visit is not the only notable activity by the Biden campaign this week in Texas.