Articles tagged: 2020
Voting Begins in a Month. Here’s What Is at Stake in Texas.
In an election that will chart the state’s political future for a generation, Democrats are waging an unprecedented offensive against embattled Republicans.
In late November 2018, just weeks after U.S. Senator Ted Cruz eked out a win against Democratic phenom Beto O’Rourke, Texas’ senior U.S. Senator John Cornyn...Read More
Historic Runoff Turnout Sets Stage for Texas Democrats in 2020’s ‘Biggest Battleground’
MJ Hegar won a contested Senate runoff and Democrats broke their record for runoff turnout as nearly 1 million voters cast ballots.
The Texas primaries in March feel like a lifetime ago. Soon after Super Tuesday, the coronavirus pandemic spread across the country and ground political campaig...Read More
‘Trust Me’ Tackles Politics, Power, and Perception
Austin author Richard Z. Santos’ debut thriller takes readers behind the scenes of corruption and scandal.
Never become the story. This is the cardinal rule for political campaign staffers, at least according to Charles O’Connell, the protagonist in Richard Z. Sant...Read More
Texas Democratic and Republican Parties Spar Over How to Hold Elections During a Pandemic
With primary runoffs two months from now, Dems want universal mail-in voting; Republicans want delayed elections; and local elections officials just want some guidance.
The coronavirus outbreak in the United States presents a seemingly endless number of systemic challenges. One big one: How do you hold elections in a pandemic? ...Read More
An ‘Election Meltdown’ in Texas
How voter suppression, poor planning, incendiary rhetoric, and fear of coronavirus could erode public confidence in elections.
Primary voters in some parts of Texas waited in punishingly long lines to cast a ballot last Tuesday. A surge in Democratic voter turnout overwhelmed many polli...Read More
Loon Star: About Those Elections…
To see more political cartoons from Ben Sargent, visit our Loon Star State section, or find Observer political reporting here. Read more from the Observer:...Read More
Henry Cuellar Prevailed Against Progressive Insurgency, But He Didn’t Go Unscathed
The resilient Blue Dog Democrat held on to his South Texas seat, but it was a much closer call than expected.
This article was produced in partnership with The Nation. A few hours after Jessica Cisneros voted at her local polling station—a Pep Boys auto shop near Lare...Read More
Upset: Incumbent Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton Ousted by Newcomer
A South Texas businessman and political newcomer, Wright has criticized commissioners for accepting donations from the same industry they regulate.
In a startling upset, first-time candidate Jim Wright defeated incumbent Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton in last night’s Republican primary. Sitto...Read More
A Democratic Socialist Damn Near Won the Texas Primary
It took a small army of politicians and pundits to stave Bernie Sanders off.
Let’s take a step back. Despite all the talk and portents of a Democratic Spring, Texas remains a red state. Just ask anyone who’s run statewide since For...Read More