Far From Abbott’s Promised ‘Dark Red,’ Harris County Drives Democrats to Victory Up and Down Ballot
Texas’ largest county cemented its status as a staunchly blue stronghold.
Sam Russek
Sam Russek is a writer from Houston. He’s currently a reporter-researcher at the New Republic.
Articles by Sam Russek
The Last Mayor of Houston
As the strong mayor of Texas' largest city, the former dean of the Texas Senate should be able to get his way in Houston. But he faces a shrinking ability to do so without vindictive state Republicans or other regional actors intervening.
Christian Menefee’s Win Foreshadows Fights to Come Across the South
Al Green was a fighter past his prime, and Houstonians finally chose a new direction. But a post-Voting Rights Act world means that intraparty fights over Black representation are just beginning.
A New Age for Houston Politics?
The Dem primary for the 18th Congressional District pits two generations of politicians—represented by Christian Menefee and Al Green—against each other.
Lina Hidalgo Had a Vision. Harris County Won’t See It.
Her anti-climactic exit from office caps a saga of waning power and growing discord. But what her rise once promised is worth remembering.
Inside the Rift Between Texas Dems and a Soros-Backed PAC
The Texas Majority PAC is the latest deep-pocketed initiative meant to turn Texas blue. But have its dollars just brought more discord?
When the Prophetic City Fails
The unexpected fate of Houston’s Northside holds lessons that the city’s boosters may not wish to hear.
Houston Is Hailed as a National Success for Fighting Homelessness. But the Reality Isn’t Quite as Rosy.
Simple overall stats don’t show the truth of the housing crisis.
‘You See People With Mushrooms Growing Out of Their Carpets’: Tenants With Mold in Their Homes Have Little Recourse
Incidences of mold in Texas homes exploded after the mid-February storm, which burst pipes and allowed moisture to seep into buildings’ foundations at a rapid rate.
“No Justice, No Rent:” After Winter Storm Uri, Tenants Go on Strike
Tenants at Villas Del Paseo were without water for weeks after February’s winter storm. Now, they’re organizing to demand better conditions at their complex.