The longtime leader of the Texas Democratic Party is stepping down.

Former President Donald Trump’s campaign has begun requesting information from his potential vice presidential candidates, sending vetting paperwork to a list of top contenders in recent weeks.

Former President Donald Trump’s youngest son, Barron Trump, won’t be serving as a Florida delegate to the Republican National Convention after all.

As President Joe Biden and Donald Trump step up their campaigning in swing states, a quieter battle is taking place in the shadows of their White House rematch.

House Republicans went after the IRS when they decided that emergency aid for Israel should be coupled with cuts elsewhere in the budget.

The special counsel overseeing the Hunter Biden investigation is expected to testify before a Congressional committee behind closed doors as a GOP probe into the Justice Department’s handling of the case continues to unfold.

Former President Donald Trump is stepping back from his pointed criticism of Israel.

Republicans were not in agreement about whether they supported suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Political ads using artificial intelligence on Google and YouTube must soon be accompanied by a prominent disclosure if imagery or sounds have been synthetically altered.

A whopping 77% of likely Republican Iowa caucusgoers say they’re more likely to vote for a candidate who supports using the U.S. military to secure the southern border, while an additional 65% say are more likely to back a candidate who fights the “left’s woke agenda.”

Governor Greg Abbott gave several GOP Governors a tour of the Texas border Monday afternoon. The tour comes on the eve of a federal court hearing involving a lawsuit challenging Texas’ authority to deploy nearly a thousand feet of buoys near the Camino Real bridge in Eagle Pass.

Former President Donald Trump has made up his mind not to attend the first GOP debate next week, according to two sources familiar with his thinking, and is seeking a sit-down interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson as a means of counter-programming the event.

White House economists are warning of “severe damage” to the U.S. economy in the event of a debt default.

An appeals court has rejected a bid by the Arizona Republican Party and its lawyers to undo $18,000 in attorneys’ fees that they were ordered to pay for bringing one of the party’s failed lawsuits challenging President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in the state.

Since the drama of Kevin McCarthy's election as House speaker, there's been some movement toward opening the chamber to more public view.

A failed New Mexico state House candidate described by police as an “election denier” was arrested Monday in a string of shootings at the homes of state and local Democratic leaders.

A large contingent of Republican lawmakers from Texas unveiled a border security plan they say will be a priority during the new Congressional session.

House Republicans are promising aggressive oversight of the Biden administration once they assume the majority next year.

IN THIS EPISODE: Alexandra Del Moral Mealer, the GOP Candidate running for Harris County Judge, talks about what led to her jump on the campaign trail with a goal to unseat incumbent candidate Lina Hidalgo.

After 13 terms in Congress representing the 8th Congressional District, U.S. Representative Kevin Brady (R) says this will be his last term but plans to go out with a bang on his House Ways and Means Committee.

A milestone Supreme Court confirmation that endured a flawed process.

The Harris County Republican party is holding a press conference Wednesday to call for an independent elections overseer following the resignation of Harris County Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria.

The Harris County Republican Party announced that it has filed a lawsuit against Harris County Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria during a press conference Monday afternoon.

In this week’s episode, Matthew and Ross break down the GOP primary for attorney general and highlight the other top races that have grabbed their interest.

The Harris County Democrats called for the immediate removal of Harris County GOP Precinct Chair Carla Richburg Monday.

The Legislature is expected to return soon for another special session focused on redrawing the state's political maps.

There were 99 members registered as present Thursday evening, the exact number needed to end the 38-day Democratic quorum break over the GOP’s priority elections bill. But not all of those members were physically on the floor.

This is what the end of Texas' Sen. Carol Alvarado's filibuster looked like

Reynolds is among the Texas House Democrats who fled to Washington, D.C., last month to block a state voting restrictions bill.

The Texas House Republican Caucus will hold a news conference Thursday to discuss the “13th Check” legislation.

On this week's episode, Matthew speaks with James, Patrick and Alexa about the wild end to the legislative session and the future of proposed voting restrictions in Texas.

In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to Land Commissioner George P. Bush about the state of the state and the issues in play as the 2021 session winds down — and about his rumored plans to challenge Ken Paxton in the GOP primary for Texas attorney general.

Fresh off a 2020 election cycle in which they held the line against an ambitious Democratic campaign to capture U.S. House seats in Texas, national Republicans are signaling they’ll go on the offensive here in 2022, with an emphasis on South Texas. The National Republican Congressional Committee, the campaign arm of House Republicans, announced Wednesday that it's targeting five Texas Democrats in the U.S. House as they seek to regain their majority in 2022. The list of targets is three more than the GOP seriously targeted last year and includes three Democrats in South Texas where the party underperformed in November. But Biden underperformed in all three South Texas districts, carrying Cuellar's and Vela's seats by 4 points and González's by 2. And he has said South Texas is a priority as he begins his term as a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Texas GOP Congressman Ron Wright, who battled health challenges including lung cancer and COVID-19, dies at 67AUSTIN – Texas GOP Congressman Ron Wright, who battled health challenges including lung cancer and COVID-19, dies at 67. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday voided rulings from lower courts that upheld a ban on most abortions in Texas early in the coronavirus pandemic. The high court vacated two rulings from the lower U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals that sided with Texas GOP officials arguing that Gov. The executive order ended over the summer, allowing abortions in the state to resume, but Planned Parenthood has said leaving the lower court rulings on the books would set harmful legal precedent for abortion rights advocates. Disclosure: Planned Parenthood has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. Trump supporters gathered in the nation's capital today to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over President Trump in the 2020 election. WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: Protesters supporting U.S. President Donald Trump break into the U.S. Capitol on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. Congress held a joint session today to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. “I will say rather bluntly if Donald Trump remains the face of the Republican Party in Texas, Texas will go Democrat.”More Information:

President Donald Trump is set to present one of the nation's highest civilian honors to Nunes. Scott Applewhite)WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Monday presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to one of his most outspoken congressional allies, California Rep. Devin Nunes, as he looks to reward loyalists with just over two weeks left in his term. Nunes, the former chair of the House Intelligence Committee, has been an ardent backer of Trump's during probes into Russian interference in the 2016 election and the president's 2019 impeachment by the Democratic-led House. In a statement, the White House credited Nunes with uncovering “the greatest scandal in American history," referencing Nunes' efforts to discredit the Russia investigation. U.S. intelligence agencies and multiple congressional committees concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election with the aim of boosting Trump’s candidacy.

HOUSTON – A state appeals court has dismissed the lawsuit filed by the Republican Party of Texas against Harris County aimed at stopping expanded drive-thru voting. The court decided the GOP did not have “standing to seek mandamus relief under Election Code." There are currently 10 drive-thru polling locations in Harris County for the November election. In a news release about the lawsuit, the Republican Party of Texas argues that drive-thru locations are an illegal expansion of curbside voting that should be restricted to only those who are sick or disabled. "... (He) is telling all Harris County residents that they are eligible for curbside voting when he knows that is not the case.

Babin publicly decried the French film as child pornography, and Cruz sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney General asking him to prosecute Netflix. Netflix stands by the film, stating, "Cuties is a social commentary against the sexualization of young children. “After hearing about the movie Cuties and watching it, I knew there was probable cause to believe it was criminal,” Lucas Babin said in the release. According to Rep. Matt Schaefer, the Texas Rangers served Netflix with the summons for the Cuties indictment on Oct. 1. Statement released by Tyler County District Attorney’s Office on #Cuties Netflix indictment: pic.twitter.com/D8uwHravdD — Matt Schaefer (@RepMattSchaefer) October 6, 2020The Texas Tribune contributed to this story.

Cuties on Netflix. A grand jury in a small East Texas county has indicted media giant Netflix for promoting "Cuties," a French film about an 11-year-old Senegalese immigrant who joins a dance group. Babin publicly decried the French film as child pornography, and Cruz sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney General asking him to prosecute Netflix. The indictment, handed down late last month, came out of Tyler County — though the film has no apparent ties to Texas. “After hearing about the movie Cuties and watching it, I knew there was probable cause to believe it was criminal," Lucas Babin said in the release.

President Donald Trump waves to reporters as he departs with first lady Melania Trump for his first presidential debate with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in Cleveland, Ohio, on Sept. 29, 2020. Donald Trump Jr. had been scheduled to appear in McAllen for a "get out the vote" lunch event Friday, alongside Trump adviser Kimberly Guilfoyle. "As many of you know, President Trump has tested for COVID19 and both Kimberly and Donald Trump Jr have been in close proximity to President Trump, our First Lady, Ivanka Trump, and Hope Hicks," the Hidalgo County GOP wrote on Facebook on Friday. "Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump Jr. will be in quarantine for the next couple of days until they test negative for COVID." We will see Donald Trump Jr. in Hidalgo County before Election Day," the party said.

Scott Applewhite)WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has signed a bill to fund the government through Dec. 11, averting the possibility of a government shutdown when the new fiscal year starts Thursday. Trump signed the bill, which was approved by sweeping bipartisan agreement Wednesday, into law early Thursday morning shortly after returning from campaigning in Minnesota. The measure would keep the government running through Dec. 11 and passed by a 84-10 vote. The House passed the bill last week. The legislation — called a continuing resolution, or CR, in Washington-speak — would keep every federal agency running at current funding levels through Dec. 11, which will keep the government afloat past an election that could reshuffle Washington’s balance of power.

(AP) – Former GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul posted a picture of himself in a hospital Friday but said he was OK after video circulated online of him struggling to speak during an interview. The 85-year-old former Texas congressman, who ran for president three times, posted a picture on Facebook showing him smiling in a hospital gown and giving a thumbs-up. The post came after a video took off on social media showing Paul having trouble speaking during an appearance on his livestreamed show “Ron Paul Liberty Report.” The video cuts away to the interviewer as Paul struggles. Paul is the father of Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., whose office did not immediately return a message Friday. He faced an electorate frustrated by a weak economy and two wars, and saw his once outsider views become more mainstream.

AUSTIN, Texas – Former GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul posted a picture of himself in a hospital Friday but said he was OK after video circulated online of him struggling to speak during an interview. The 85-year-old former Texas congressman, who ran for president three times, posted a picture on Facebook showing him smiling in a hospital gown and giving a thumbs-up. The post came after a video took off on social media showing Paul having trouble speaking during an appearance on his livestreamed show “Ron Paul Liberty Report.” The video cuts away to the interviewer as Paul struggles. Paul is the father of Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., whose office did not immediately return a message Friday. He faced an electorate frustrated by a weak economy and two wars, and saw his once outsider views become more mainstream.

HOUSTON Harris County GOP chairman Keith Nielsen officially took office August 3. However, as the party prepares for a contentious election season, there are renewed calls from some party regulars for his resignation. Many urged Nielsen to step down even before he assumed office. I work for my voters, Nielsen told KPRC 2 on June 6. This shouldnt stand. He grabbed his gun and tried to drag me to the back of the room and said you need to leave.Karpiuk said he and 149 other Republican county precinct chairmen have signed an open letter calling for Nielsens resignation.

The meeting was part of a series of events across the country to reach Black voters. Angela Piazza for The Texas TribuneTrump himself has made sporadic attempts to reach out to Black voters. The state party has taken some steps to diversify: Allen West, a Black former congressman from Florida, was recently elected chair of the state party. While he doesnt need to win a lot of Black voters to win reelection, just moving the needle by a few percentage points could be helpful. The effort is there, Smith said of Trumps strides with Black voters.

Nothing feels familiar about back to school this year. This story can help you decide which school supplies to buy now even if youre not sure when your child will need them all. Just like the last stimulus, taxpayers will receive $1200, plus $500 for each dependent they claim on their taxes. This time, it shouldnt matter how old or young your dependents are, you will receive an additional $500 for each of them. Make sure youre familiar with it so you can recognize it if someone tries to trick you or a loved one.

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he has canceled segments of the Republican National Convention scheduled for Florida next month, citing a flare-up of the coronavirus. To have a big convention is not the right time," Trump said of Jacksonville. Trump moved parts of the GOP convention to Florida last month amid a dispute with North Carolinas Democratic leaders over holding an event indoors with maskless supporters. But those plans were steadily scaled back as virus cases spiked in Florida and much of the country over the last month. A small subset of GOP delegates will still gather in Charlotte, North Carolina, to formally renominate Trump on Aug. 24.

Republican Party of Texas Chairman James Dickey speaks at the GOP state convention in San Antonio on June 14, 2018. Bob Daemmrich for The Texas TribuneThe Texas Republican Party has postponed its state convention by a day to give itself more time to figure out technical issues that plagued the virtual gathering Thursday. After a nearly four-hour meeting that ended after midnight on Friday, the State Republican Executive Committee voted 51-5 to resume convention business Saturday instead of later Friday. Dickey abruptly announced Thursday evening that the convention would reconvene at noon Friday, citing "extenuating circumstances and technical issues." Now, with the SREC vote, convention business will not begin again until Saturday morning, likely about 8 a.m., Dickey said.

HOUSTON A federal district judge ruled Friday that the Texas Republican Party can host an in-person convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center, according to attorney Jared Woodfill. Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Houston First canceled the contract with the Texas GOP, citing health concerns amid the coronavirus. After much debate, the Texas GOP moved its convention online Thursday. The Texas GOP is currently discussing whether or not to resume plans for an in-person convention in Houston. Upon receiving a written order from the federal judge, the City of Houston and Houston First will appeal.This is a developing story.

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump shook up his campaign staff Wednesday, replacing campaign manager Brad Parscale with veteran GOP operative Bill Stepien. Trump and Parscales relationship had been strained since a Tulsa, Oklahoma, rally that drew a dismal crowd, infuriating the president. Parscale, a political novice, ran Trumps digital advertising in 2016 and was credited with helping bring about his surprise victory. Stepien has been in politics for years, working for former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and serving as Trumps national field director in 2016.

HOUSTON The Texas Supreme Court rejected the first of two lawsuits filed by Republicans over the cancellation of the partys in-person convention that was scheduled to happen in Houston this week. In the decision issued Monday, seven of the nine justices said parts of the lawsuit filed by members of the Republican Party against Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, the city and the Houston First Corporation have merit. However, the justices said the court does not have jurisdiction to force Houston First, which oversees the George R. Brown Convention Center where the partys convention was to be held, to allow the convention to take place. A second lawsuit filed by the Texas Republican Party against the same parties is set to be heard in a Houston courtroom Monday morning. The lawsuits came after Turner ordered Houston First to cancel the convention, citing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

Based on that announcement, the party made plans to hold an Aug. 8 election to pick a new chair, and candidates started lining up. "He announced that he would be taking office on Aug. 3," said Nancy Scott, a precinct chair who was in attendance. Furthermore, to actually relinquish the post, Nielsen would need to formally notify the party's secretary something he has not done yet, according to a party spokesperson, Genevieve Carter. Dan Patrick, who called on Nielsen to "withdraw immediately from any further consideration as county chair." Nielsen was one of several county party leaders who came under fire for social media posts after George Floyd's death in May.

HOUSTON As the city of Houston moves to cancel the states GOP convention, city leaders and health experts are calling it the right move as others are considering it controversial. When youre in an indoor event like a conference, it requires ancillary support. So you are involuntarily including other people in order to facilitate that event, thats the difference, he said. Dr. David Persse with the Houston Health Authority said the risk level is higher for an indoor event. When its an indoor event, its clearly a different environment.

HOUSTON – Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough, a Republican, invited the Republican Party of Texas to hold its in-person convention in the county after Houston officials canceled the event slated for next week at George R. Brown Convention Center. In response, Keough invited the party to hold its convention in Montgomery County in a video he posted on Facebook. “It has just come to my attention that the city of Houston has canceled the Republican Party convention. With Houston cancelling the Republican Party Convention I have offered Montgomery County as an alternative host for the upcoming convention. Jason Millsaps, the Chief of Staff for Montgomery County Judge Mark J. Keough, says the Texas GOP is aware of the county judge’s offer and has been in contact with hotels and venues in Montgomery County.

HOUSTON Texas continues to grapple with worsening conditions during the coronavirus pandemic. What do parents need to know about precautions on campuses and could these plans change before August? Abbott: The most important thing for parents to know about is that were putting public safety first and flexibility second. If the current rules are followed and applied, we will not have to shut Texas back down. Question: We are hearing of mounting pressure on the Texas GOP to cancel next weeks in-person convention in downtown Houston.

HOUSTON Houston leaders continue to push for the Texas GOP to cancel its in-person convention due to the citys coronavirus spread. The cancellation request comes from Mayor Sylvester Turner, the citys top doctor, the Greater Houston Partnership and some Democratic Congressional leaders. Turner sent a letter to the Republican Party of Texas, asking them to move from an in-person convention to a virtual one. Abbott said there will be more hospitalizations in Houston and more deaths and says party leaders will make that determination based on issues and facts. When the governor was asked if he would tell them to move the convention to a virtual convention, he said leaders will take it into consideration.

HOUSTON Houston officials on Wednesday canceled the Texas Republican Partys in-person convention, saying the spread of the coronavirus made it impossible to hold the event as scheduled. Greg Abbott, the states top Republican, had publicly deferred to state party leaders who last week voted by a 2-to-1 margin to go forward with an in-person event. But even Patrick, who is chairman of Trumps reelection campaign in Texas, expressed misgivings about his party pressing forward with the convention. The Texas Medical Center, a consortium of Houston hospitals, has moved into surge capacity for its intensive-care beds. Texas Democrats held an online convention in June, and national Democrats plan to hold an almost entirely virtual convention in August.

Here are things you need to know for Tuesday, July 7:1. The overpayments, first reported by the Houston Chronicle, are estimated to be more than $32 million in total since March. The nurses protested outside Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital as they marched along McKaye Avenue. Metallica donating $50,000 to Lone Star College students who will take part in high-demand programsMetallica is donating $50,000 in scholarship money to Lone Star College students in high-demand programs. This is the second year in a row Metallica has provided scholarships to students attending Lone Star College.

James Dickey, Texas GOP Chairman is seen on a large video screen during the final afternoon of the 2018 Texas GOP Convention in San Antonio. Robin Jerstad for The Texas TribuneThe Republican Party of Texas is moving forward with its controversial in-person convention during the coronavirus pandemic but elected officials including Gov. As the state has seen a surge in coronavirus cases, calls have been growing over the past week for the party to cancel its event. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on Monday asked the State Republican Executive Committee to cancel the gathering and warning that health inspectors would have the authority to shut down the event if certain guidelines are not followed. Shortly before Whatley made the announcement, Abbott was noncommittal in a TV interview when asked if he'd attend the convention in person.

Greg Abbott, had condemned four GOP chairs for proliferating conspiracy theories on Facebook. On Friday afternoon, The Texas Tribune identified similar posts from seven more GOP chairs across the state. GOP county chairs are elected leaders of the Republican Party who help oversee local elections and head up county-level meetings and events. News circulating about the first five chairs posts sparked concern both internal and external about the Texas GOP. Lynne Teinert, the GOP chairperson for Shackelford County, shared on Saturday a picture of Soros with the text, The pandemic isnt working.

Republican leaders in five Texas counties shared racist Facebook posts, some of which also floated conspiracy theories, leading Gov. The Texas Tribune became aware of Nielsen’s post after Abbott called for the resignation of the Bexar County and Nueces County chairs. Similar resignation calls came Thursday afternoon from Texas GOP Chairman James Dickey, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Lt. Gov. Garcia's tweet prompted U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, whose district includes Bexar County, to call for Brehm to step down immediately. State Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, who represents Bexar County as well, also pressured Brehm to resign Thursday afternoon.

President Donald Trump arrives at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston on Oct. 22, 2018. If selected, Dallas would host Trump's acceptance speech the biggest night of the convention and related festivities. The Texas GOP has said it would welcome the national convention in Texas if Charlotte does not work out. The state convention is scheduled to occur in-person from July 16-18 in Houston. Trump himself is heading to Dallas next week as he resumes in-person fundraising for his campaign.