Texas Rep. Gina Hinojosa joins Democratic race to challenge Gov. Greg Abbott
The five-term state lawmaker from Austin has homed in on education issues in the Texas House, becoming a primary foil to Abbott on school vouchers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cc0212bb272eb902d7b2b84ee0b27e35/0519%20House%20LW%2005.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/2025_Kayla_Guo_2x3.jpg)
Kayla Guo covers state politics and government. Before joining the Tribune, she covered Congress for The New York Times as a reporting fellow based in Washington, D.C. Kayla has also covered transportation policy for Politico and local news for The Raleigh News & Observer, and she was a part-time digital producer for The Boston Globe. She graduated from Brown University, where she studied public policy and served as editor-in-chief and president of the independent student newspaper. She was born and raised on Long Island, New York. She is based in Austin.
Latest Contributions
-
![Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, speaks on the phone at her desk on the House floor on May 19, 2025.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Harrison vs. higher ed: How one lawmaker is weaponizing social media to eradicate LGBTQ+ curriculum
State Rep. Brian Harrison has been on a crusade against Texas universities, scouring course catalogs and university websites for examples of “gender ideology” or LGBTQ+ curriculum, and riling up his X followers about “liberal indoctrination” on campuses. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0690b13c8d8aed6059c2c33a0f0da48a/20250929%20Brian%20Harrison%20KG%2003.jpg)
![State Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, in his office at the state Capitol in Austin on Sept. 29, 2025.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune -
In South Texas, Allred and Talarico compete for Latino voters by vowing to fight for working class
The two leading Senate Democratic candidates have made it a point to spend time along the border early in the cycle, a sign of the region’s importance in 2026. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f7477aa3190cea0bad4dd6c85f372b37/20251003%20Allred%20RGV%20MG%2048%20TT.jpg)
![Former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred shakes hands with PSJA North High School students at their homecoming football game in Pharr on Oct. 3, 2025.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
Texas court blocks execution of death row inmate Robert Roberson
Roberson was scheduled to be executed Oct. 16 after being convicted of capital murder in 2003 for the death of his two-year-old daughter Nikki. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/023db18c72c4babd07b797c9793be2bc/Robert%20Roberson%20IPL%20TT%2021.jpg)
![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 -
Talarico outraises Allred with massive fundraising haul to kick off Senate Democratic primary
The Austin state lawmaker took in $6.2 million in the three weeks since he launched his bid, outpacing the $4.1 million Allred raised over the last three months. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2998d9aba4636f061f2e9535f698e5f0/Allred%20and%20Talarico%2001.jpg)
![Former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred and state Rep. James Talarico are Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate seat held by incumbent John Cornyn.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Democratic Rep. Jon Rosenthal will run for Texas Railroad Commission
The day after the four-term Houston lawmaker launched his statewide bid, his former chief of staff, Odus Evbagharu, announced he was running to succeed his former boss in the Texas House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3285072bf6581844cc733d2418e4d73b/0818%20Dems%20Return%20BD%2011.jpg)
![Texas Democrats Jon Rosenthal, D-Houston and Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, l, get off a charter bus from the Austin airport outside the State Archives building on the east side of the Texas Capitol upon their return to Austin following a two-week quorum break. Man at right is unidentified.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democratic Party’s move to Dallas prompts top staff exodus, roils organization ahead of 2026
Party insiders said the way the move was handled undercuts Chair Kendall Scudder’s rhetoric about winning back working class voters, who lurched to the right in 2024. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1d21cb41e7cf7dd11a9932d0cff90ba4/Kendall%20Scudder%20Texas%20Dems%20RGV%20MG%20%20TT%2020.jpg)
![Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder addresses attendees at an event in Brownsville on April 12, 2025.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
Texas death row inmate Robert Roberson will not seek clemency ahead of October execution
Roberson, convicted of capital murder in 2003 for the death of his 2-year-old daughter, will continue to push for a new trial. He has maintained his innocence. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/63d63e2566f2beaf31ad039c6c98e511/0716%20Robert%20Roberson%20Hearing%20JA%2003.jpg)
![Robert Roberson listens as his lawyers plead his case on July 16, 2025. A new execution date of Oct. 16, 2025 was set by presiding Judge Austin Jackson of Smith County at the Anderson County Courthouse in Palestine.]()
Credit: Joel Andrews for the Texas Tribune -
Houston businessman Andrew White launches Democratic challenge to Gov. Greg Abbott
The son of the late former Gov. Mark White vowed to run as an independent in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3038eb138a309bfe758c2da3f06b2ac7/Andrew_White_intvu_3_MS_TT.jpg)
![Then-Democratic candidate for governor Andrew White is interviewed in his home in Houston on Friday, April 20, 2018.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
James Talarico’s progressive take on Christianity made him an online sensation. Will it translate to his Texas Senate bid?
The Austin lawmaker says his faith fuels his vision of a Democratic Party that “fights back” against billionaires. Republican critics say his stances are at odds with Scripture. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a33e4569641c858da91a5c7b6686e5cc/0827%20Talarico%20Portrait%20MS%2009.jpg)
![State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, sits for a portrait in his office on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.]()
Credit: Manoo Sirivelu/The Texas Tribune