News
Texas Supreme Court Upholds School Finance System
The high court effectively ruled that the finance system, despite deep budget cuts and inequity, is not problematic enough to be deemed unconstitutional....Read More
LGBT Republicans Brave Hostile Convention Firestorm
Members of the first-ever LGBT Republican group to sponsor a booth at the convention said Thursday they were receiving a relatively warm welcome. ...Read More
Church and State Stay Cozy at Texas GOP Convention
A Founding Fathers quote you won't find at the #RPT16: religion and government "will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together."...Read More
Proposed GOP Platform Calls for Trans Bathroom Ban, Constitutional Convention
A secession plank didn't make it into the document, but could make a reappearance on the floor Friday.
The GOP's running with Gov. Greg Abbott's call for a constitutional convention, and has doubled down on anti-LGBTQ planks in this year's proposed platform....Read More
Can the Even-Further-Right Stage a Trump-Style Takeover of the Texas GOP Leadership?
The presidential race is the marquee contest at the Republican Party of Texas convention this year, but another race really says more about where Texas Republic...Read More
Guns, ‘Bortions and Bathrooms: 2016 GOP Convention Check-In
Greg Abbott railed against Hillary and championed open carry, while Dan Patrick vowed close our borders by supporting Donald Trump and his wall....Read More
Dan Patrick Karaoke, Cruz’s Return and Everything Else You Missed at #RPT16
Three days of mourning Ted Cruz's presidential bid and hollering about bathrooms.
The Texas Observer staff is live on the ground in Dallas for the 2016 Texas Republican convention, gathering news and views on Trump, Cruz and more....Read More
GOP Panel Retools, but Doesn’t Remove, ‘Ex-Gay’ Therapy from State Platform
State convention delegates will vote later on whether to approve the change.
Delegates at the state convention must still vote to approve the language concerning therapy that attempts to change sexual orientation....Read More
Loon Star State: The Donald Gets Dressed
In this month's edition of Ben Sargent's award-winning cartoon, Loon Star State, Donald Trump finds a selection of non-sartorial brown shirts....Read More