By Emma Platoff, Texas Tribune March 13, 2018 Editor’s note: This story has been updated throughout. Gov. Greg Abbott himself was opposed to the controversial “bathroom bill” that dominated debate at the Texas Capitol for much of 2017, according to a state representative involved in keeping the legislation from passing the Texas House. State Rep.…
After Early Voting, Valdez, White in Runoff Territory
By Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune March 6, 2018 Lupe Valdez and Andrew White are on track for a runoff in the Democratic primary for governor, according to early vote returns released Tuesday evening. Valdez, the former Dallas County sheriff, led White, the son of late Gov. Mark White, by 11 percentage points — 42…
In Lawsuit, Texas Couple Claims They Were Illegally Turned Down as Foster Parents Because They Are Lesbians
By Sydney Greene, Texas Tribune This story has been updated to include a comment from the Texas Conference of Catholic Bishops. Two female Texas A&M; University professors who say they were denied a chance to become foster parents for refugee children because they didn’t “mirror the Holy Family” have sued the federal government and a…
“Bathroom Bill” Fizzles as Republican Primary Issue
By Patrick Svitek, February 6, 2018 The “bathroom bill,” once touted as a surefire issue for the 2018 Republican primaries, is barely registering in them with less than a month until Election Day. Last year, state lawmakers waded into an intense, emotional debate over whether the state should restrict which bathrooms transgender Texans could use,…
More LGBTQ Texans than ever are running for office, magazine says
By Rishika Dugyala, The Texas Tribune January 24, 2018 A self-described “gun-toting, truck-driving, true Republican,” Shannon McClendon avidly followed state politics and served as a five-time appointee for various boards under former Texas Gov. Rick Perry. But until now, she never pushed herself to run for elected office. “I’m a Republican who happens to be…
Lupe Valdez, a Democrat, kicks off gubernatorial bid in Dallas
By Cassandra Pollock, The Texas Tribune January 7, 2018 DALLAS — Lupe Valdez, the former Dallas County Sheriff, formally launched her Democratic bid for governor on Sunday, touting a campaign aimed at representing all Texans and listing a broad range of topics she plans to address as election season gets underway. “Together, we need to…
U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Consider Houston Fight Over Same-Sex Marriage Benefits
By Alexa Ura, The Texas Tribune December 4, 2017 Denying the city of Houston’s request, the U.S. Supreme Court will not review a June decision by the Texas Supreme Court, which ruled that the landmark decision legalizing same-sex marriage does not fully address the right to marriage benefits. The high court on Monday announced it…
Despite Reports, Dallas County Sheriff Says She Hasn’t Resigned to Run for Governor
By Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune November 29, 2017 *Editor’s note: This story has been updated throughout. Democratic Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez is still weighing a run for governor, despite reports that she has resigned ahead of a likely a campaign. Multiple local news outlets in North Texas reported her resignation Wednesday evening. At…
Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez Emerges as Potential Challenger to Gov. Greg Abbott
By Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune November 6, 2017 Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez has emerged as potential Democratic challenger to Gov. Greg Abbott in 2018. In an interview Monday, Valdez described herself as “in the exploratory process,” looking at the data for a potential run against the Republican incumbent. “I’ve been approached and I’m…
Rick Perry Ties Fossil Fuel Use to Sexual Assault Prevention
By Claire Allbright, The Texas Tribune November 2, 2017 U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said Thursday fossil fuels can help prevent sexual assault because the “lights are on.” His comments came during an event hosted by NBC News and Axios in Washington, D.C., where Perry was to lay out the administration’s upcoming energy policy…