Cat Parks paves own path as Texas GOP vice chair under bombastic Allen West
Parks has risen quickly in Texas GOP politics since being tapped to run a small county party a few years ago. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3bd01ffbda0352515fcef8791cd50e6d/Cat%20Parks%20TWRW%20MF%20TT%2001.jpg)
-
![Cat Parks, Republican Party of Texas Vice-Chair, stands for the pledge of allegiance before speaking to The Woodlands Republican Women’s Club at Landry’s Seafood in The Woodlands on Feb. 10, 2021.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
Sen. Ted Cruz declares Trumpism among Republicans "ain't goin' anywhere" at Florida conference
Cruz appeared at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, as President Joe Biden headed to Texas to see the state’s recovery from last week’s storm, which left millions of Texans without power and potable water. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9040d6f00db07400a561bb1e4c66df2b/Ted%20Cruz%20CPAC%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida on Feb. 26, 2021.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Joe Skipper -
Gov. Greg Abbott open to reforming his emergency powers after months of criticism from both parties
The Republican governor said his office is "offering up some legislation ourselves" to deal with some intraparty concerns about executive authority that have cropped up during the coronavirus pandemic. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/804d83d5eccbb727685a04104a20d811/Abbott%20April%2017%20Presser%20MG%20TT%2004.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott announces a strike force in charge of laying steps to re-open the Texas economy at a press conference in the Capitol in Austin on April 17, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./POOL via The Texas Tribune -
Analyzing 2020: Some things Texans didn’t expect
We've selected some columns from 2020 on assorted topics. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1fdbd2e7eb9fa238ec4dfdc838c7c042/02%20Ken%20Paxton%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton holds a press conference in front of the Supreme Court on June 9, 2016.]()
Credit: Reuters/Bill Clark -
Allen West takes sharp-elbowed approach as Texas GOP chair, raising intraparty tension ahead of legislative session
West has protested outside the Governor's Mansion and called the likely next speaker of the Texas House a "political traitor." The upcoming legislative session will put his influence within the party to the test. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/90218e84865773573837214cab8db9e0/Allen%20West%20MKC%20TT%2002.jpg)
![The Honorable Allen West gives remarks during TPPR's Policy Orientation on February 9, 2018]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas Republicans and Allen West, their nettlesome party animal
Republican officeholders couldn't have had a better election in Texas this year, but they've still got noisy and loud critics — inside their own political party. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/00044a67a9b759f12a3117fd2b3650b1/Allen%20West%20MKC%20TT%2001.jpg)
![The Honorable Allen West gave remarks during TPPR's Policy Orientation on February 9, 2018.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
“It’s not purple. It’s not blue. It’s conservative.” Watch what happened in the Texas elections
The Republican party dominated races up and down the ballot, dashing Democrats' high hopes. Our analysis sheds light on what happened. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7168088a3114d54a7cb74416b5a5e38d/ATX%20Election%20Day%202020%20MG%20TT%2011.jpg)
![Voters wait in line to cast their ballots at Dan Ruiz Branch Library in Austin on Election Day. Nov. 3, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Harris County Democrats' headquarters vandalized
The local party said its locks were filled with super glue, preventing officials from accessing their office. Also, federal officials are sending election monitors to Harris and Waller counties. And Texas is on pace to set a record for voter turnout Tuesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/23537e8890474e6e478ce70b8e89007e/ATX%20Early%20Voting%20Day%20Two%20MG%20TT%2015.jpg)
![A voting sign at the South Austin Recreation Center polling site on Oct. 14, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Coronavirus splits Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and his own party
Voting in the 2020 general election starts in Texas in less than three weeks. But the governor's responses to the coronavirus have strained Republican unity. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4396cd0e615d1e543f4f3bfc566fedae/Abbott%20presser%20Corpus%20REUTERS%20TT%2003.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott puts on his mask during his press conference after talking to local and county officials about the damage done by Hurricane Hanna in Nueces and Kleberg counties on July 28, 2020.]()
Credit: Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times via REUTERS -
Conservative state Rep. Steve Toth withdraws support for Gov. Greg Abbott over coronavirus response
Toth, a member of the hardline Texas House Freedom Caucus, is the latest from that faction of the GOP to express disapproval of how Abbott has handled coronavirus-related shutdowns. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3d95c71de0ebf678e2547adf3a389d32/Abbott%20El%20Paso%20Presser%20IPA%20TT%2011.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott meets with local El Paso leaders to discuss the coronavirus situation for the city and state on Aug. 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Republicans sue to stop Gov. Greg Abbott's extension of early voting period during the pandemic
State party Chair Allen West, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and members of the Texas Legislature were among those who filed the suit against Abbott. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/aace76ca4c0f8f3a975d6e3ef196d58c/Early%20Voting%20HTX%20MS%20TT.jpg)
![An early voting location in Houston on Feb. 21, 2018.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The 2020 election and Texas’ incremental blues
Democrats have their eyes on winning back the Texas House majority they lost in 2002. That wouldn't give them the power to pass legislation, but it would give them the power to stop legislation they don't like. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9f48e1ba31683297a919a6d3c4464108/Texas%20Democrats%20EG%20TT%2005.jpg)
![Democratic Party signage and logos at the Texas Democratic Party office in Austin on Oct. 8, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
In Texas, Republicans fight voting by mail expansion while encouraging their voters to use it
What was once a lightly used and largely uncontroversial voting option in Texas, one even Republicans relied on, is now the crux of the latest fight over who gets to vote and, equally as crucial in a pandemic, who has access to safe voting. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/777c8461b72deee488eb9129b0a7b034/Mail-in%20Ballot%20Travis%20County%20CP%20TT.jpg)
![Ballot by mail clerk Jim Ragland organized ballot packages at the Travis County Elections Division in Austin in 2014.]()
Credit: Charlie Pearce for The Texas Tribune -
The Texas GOP's new slogan echoes a conspiracy group. Its chair says there's no connection.
The slogan — "We are the storm" — uses language commonly used by QAnon adherents. State GOP Chair Allen West says it's taken from a favorite quote. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a26c0af034b08113660a7dbd8ace805f/Allen%20West%20MKC%20TT.jpg)
![Former U.S. Congressman and retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Allen West gives remarks during TPPR's Policy Orientation on February 9, 2018.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Local GOP officials poised to select Texas' newest member of Congress, replacing John Ratcliffe in atypical election
Ratcliffe was confirmed earlier this summer as director of national intelligence, paving the way for party officials in his deep-red district to replace him on the November ballot. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/867e7d1aa0120c33759ac0f62f19dbb8/John%20Ratcliffe%20REUTERS%20TT%2002.jpg)
![U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Heath, testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee nomination hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. on May 5, 2020.]()
Credit: Gabriella Demczuk/Pool via REUTERS -
Texas Republicans face tough 2020 election after a rocky 12 months
The state's Republicans have had to weather a monthslong series of distractions while preparing for a November election that is now clouded by President Donald Trump's declining poll numbers and the coronavirus pandemic. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b5a85b04c8beb1b875084ded7986b461/Republican%20Party%20Paraphernalia%20EG%20TT%2007.jpg)
![The Republican Party of Texas office in downtown Austin.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: The post-convention state of the Texas GOP and a bleak budget forecast
On this week's TribCast, Alexa talks to Matthew, Cassi and Ross about the Texas GOP's convention chaos and how the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic is affecting the state budget. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/24cfff331bc508f4d6fa932911e8c96d/TribCast%20July%2022.jpg)
![A boutique on East 11th Street in Austin remains closed on July 17, 2020.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
Former Florida congressman Allen West unseats James Dickey to become Texas GOP chairman
West defeated Dickey, who was running for a second full term, early Monday morning at a tumultuous virtual state convention. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/af0bcd863c6e2ebe074c6b8a242a4beb/Allen%20West%20TPPF%20MKC%20TT.jpg)
![Allen West, former Florida congressman and candidate for chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, speaks at the Texas Public Policy Foundation's policy orientation meeting in Austin on Feb. 9, 2018.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas GOP convention chaos prompts delegates to create a second gathering for unfinished business
The original convention still kept going overnight, though, as delegates met to vote on key leadership positions — including the state party chairmanship. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fb06cd0b8fed36d3deac50c28bed7448/Texas%20GOP%20Convention%202014%20BD%20TT.jpg)
![Texas Republican Convention in Fort Worth in 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas GOP will stick with virtual convention, even though federal judge ruled in-person Houston event is an option
The ruling was a striking last-minute development as party officials have struggled to get a virtual gathering underway. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/05/14/Entrance_to_Convention_BD.jpg)
![The entrance to the 2016 Republican Party of Texas convention at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune