First byline Texas Tribune !!

Another member of Congress who had family members at Camp Mystic Read more from Colleen DeGuzman on the history of the camp, an institution in Texas: texastribune.org/2025/07/05/cam…

NEW: Sen. Ted Cruz was in Greece on vacation when the Texas floods turned deadly on July 4. He returned to Texas on a July 6 flight. w/ Gabby Birenbaum for Texas Tribune: texastribune.org/2025/07/07/ted…

Ted Cruz was in Greece vacationing when the Texas floods hit, and was spotted at the Parthenon with his family on Saturday. He left Sunday - the soonest he could, according to his office. via Owen Dahlkamp Gabby Birenbaum texastribune.org/2025/07/07/ted…

We've been digging into the timeline on when the NWS issued alerts as the flooding along the Guadalupe became more clear. We found their warnings gave officials time to act, but it's not clear whether they saw them or responded in any meaningful way. texastribune.org/2025/07/08/tex…

Redistricting, flood preparedness and recovery, STAAR test and taxpayer funded lobbying among other new items added to the special session agenda. Also anti-abortion and anti-trans items. #txlege gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/…

On the agenda for the TX special session: congressional redistricting

FWIW: Tony Fabrizio, Trump’s ‘24 pollster, is working for Cornyn this cycle, among other Trump alums

Texas state Sen. Angela Paxton has filed for divorce from her husband, Attorney General Ken Paxton, in the middle of his contentious primary for U.S. Senate. She cited “recent discoveries” texastribune.org/2025/07/10/ang…

NRSC spox Joanna Rodriguez on Paxton divorce: "What Ken Paxton has put his family through is truly repulsive and disgusting. No one should have to endure what Angela Paxton has, and we pray for her as she chooses to stand up for herself and her family during this difficult time"

.Attorney General Ken Paxton announces a $2.9 million haul for his Senate campaign in the second quarter of the year. He launched on April 8, about a week into the fundraising period. #txsen

ICYMI: Abbott’s agenda item on redistricting referenced a DOJ letter calling on TX to redraw maps in light of new precedent on coalition districts. One issue: the state has consistently said it’s never considered race in map-drawing W Eleanor Klibanoff texastribune.org/2025/07/11/tex…

No new testimony in Texas’ redistricting case, judges rule They also raise an eyebrow at #txlege’s goal of drawing new maps “given the complexity of redistricting, the sheer number of items on the legislative agenda and the fact that the special session can’t exceed 30 days”

News: GOP Rep Wesley Hunt will report raising $1.1M in Q2 and had more than $3M in the bank Hunt is on air with a 6-figure cable buy in Dallas, Houston & San Antonio as he considers a possible #TXSEN bid

New: U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz filed legislation Monday that would revamp a temporary worker program to help ease farm labor shortages largely provoked by the Trump administration’s ramped-up immigration raids targeting undocumented workers. bit.ly/4lQOUum

New: State Rep. Steve Toth, a Conroe Republican aligned with the rightmost faction of the Texas Legislature, announced a primary challenge to U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw on Tuesday. bit.ly/4lT4hCF

In the latest episode of intra-party sparring among Texas Republicans, State Rep. Steve Toth is primarying Rep. Dan Crenshaw. Toth is the highest-profile primary challenger Crenshaw has faced. Latest for ⁦Texas Tribune⁩ texastribune.org/2025/07/15/ste…

We’d been hearing that potential maps ranged from 2-5 pickups. This is about the max of what’s been discussed.

Texas Dems gathered today to caution Republicans that an aggressive gerrymander could end up backfiring on them in a midterm year. With limited other options and locked out of power, that may be their best bet to combat it. W Owen Dahlkamp texastribune.org/2025/07/15/tex…

.Dan Crenshaw raised $452K during the second quarter of the year, per his newly filed FEC report. Spent $332K and has $624K cash on hand. #TX02