JOE STRAUS

Readers sometimes ask us if the outcomes in governing are predetermined and whether civic engagement makes a difference. There are plenty of examples of Texans influencing lawmakers’ decisions.

Ten years ago, the Texas Republican Party used its platform to oppose teaching critical thinking in schools.

It is so important that we vote men and women into office who recognize the importance of private property rights and the value ranchers and landowners provide to the public. The winners of these primaries will go on to run in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 6. When considering who to support, I ask you to consider using the eminent domain issue as one of your deciding factors. Take advantage of this valuable opportunity to ensure our property rights and our way of life are protected for future generations. I urge everyone to make your vote count, both in the primaries and again in the November general election.

The former five-term speaker of the Texas House says he remains interested in public service but has not announced plans to run in 2022.

In a new court filing, the attorney general's office said the governor properly used his veto power when he nixed funding for the Legislature in response to House Democrats walkout over a Republican priority bill on elections.

Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune. Dan Patrick and the far-right wing of the Texas GOP over issues including a bill that sought to regulate which bathrooms transgender Texans could use. AdIn Tuesday’s podcast, he continued his vocal opposition to “culture war” issues that have dominated political discourse in recent years. “For the moment, I’m a stay-and-fight Republican,” Straus said. This story about Tribune CEO Evan Smith's interview with Joe Straus was written by Shawn Mulcahy.

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)HOUSTON – A federal judge on Monday rejected another last-ditch Republican effort to invalidate nearly 127,000 votes in Houston because the ballots were cast at drive-thru polling centers established during the pandemic. Another 20,000 or more voters had been expected to use drive-thru polling locations Tuesday, Hollins said earlier Monday. “I cannot in good faith encourage voters to cast their votes in tents if that puts their votes at risk,” he said. Harris County offered 10 drive-thru locations as an option for its nearly 5 million residents amid worries of spreading the coronavirus. More than 40% of Harris County residents are Latino, and about one in five residents are Black.