The Observer’s Best Longform Stories of 2020
We rounded up some of our hardest hitting longform stories from this unprecedented year.
2020
Local Organizers Explain the Republican Surge in South Texas
Democrats have long taken Latino voters for granted, while Republicans have worked to fill that organizing void.
Eye on Texas: A House Divided
Rogelio Chavira is for Biden. Dolores Chacon is for Trump. The border fence passes through the couple’s backyard.
Texas Democrats Thought 2020 Would Be a Banner Year. Instead, It Was a Catastrophe.
Republicans will now lock in their majority for years to come.
Millennials and Gen Zers are Breaking Voter Turnout Records in Texas
By the end of early voting, 1 million voters under the age of 30 had cast their ballot. Will they turn Texas blue?
José Garza Redefines ‘Progressive Prosecutor’
José Garza represents a new wave of reform-minded DAs who want to end the war on drugs and prosecute police officers who kill.
What Will A Texas-Sized Turnout Mean for Trump and Cornyn?
With record voter turnout in early voting, Texas is a presidential toss-up. John Cornyn is getting worried.
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Why is Michael Bloomberg Giving $2.6 Million to Elect a Railroad Commissioner in Texas?
Hint: It's not about trains. “The most important climate election in the nation” may be at stake.
The Latino Vote And Its Legacy
For Latinos, casting a ballot means overcoming a history of struggle against exclusion and voter suppression.
If Not Now, When? Dems’ Fight for the House Will Shape Texas Politics for Years
Democrats hope to end nearly 20 years of GOP dominance in the state government.