Federal judge dismisses Wendy Davisโ challenge to Texas abortion ban
Davis, best known for her 13-hour filibuster of a 2013 abortion bill, sought to block the stateโs ban on abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. A federal judge found Davis had not โarticulated a credible, imminent threat.โ
6 years after a landmark victory for Texas abortion providers, the Supreme Court reverses course
In 2016, the Supreme Court blocked onerous regulations that had shuttered half of Texasโ abortion providers. On Friday, the courtโs new conservative majority cited that case in overturning the constitutional protection for abortion.
Wendy Davis and Donna Howard, defenders of abortion access, worry the worst is yet to come after Roe decision
In interviews, the two women expressed a sense of sorrow over the U.S. Supreme Courtโs decision to allow states to ban abortions, adding even more enormous obstacles to what was already an uphill battle to protect reproductive rights in Texas.
Texas Democrats hope threat to Roe v. Wade will energize their voters ahead of the midterm election
Democrats are hopeful that the looming threat of such a stunning political sea change could provide the strongest opportunity yet to energize their voters heading into an election year in which Republicans have been expected to dominate in Texas and beyond.
This historically red Texas county diversified in the last decade. Now, Republicans are trying to divide up its voters of color.
Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, said the maps were drawn โrace-blind.โ But Democratic Sen. Beverly Powell, whose district would be turned into a majority-Republican district, said theyโre an attempt to deny voters of color their voice in elections.
Wendy Davis, others sue law enforcement and Trump supporters over โTrump Trainโ harassing Biden bus in Texas
The plaintiffs argue the Trump supporters engaged in political intimidation when they surrounded the Biden campaign bus in October, in violation of the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, and that police "turned a blind eye to the attack."
Republican lawmakers push to make Texasโ anti-abortion laws among the most restrictive in the nation
Anti-abortion advocates have urged them to challenge the Roe v. Wade decision that established the right to an abortion. AdโI'm not at all surprised to see the the number, the depth and the breadth of the abortion bills that have been filed,โ she said. There are additional Texas abortion laws before the courts, including one that would restrict access to the most common way to end a pregnancy in the second trimester. Circuit Court of Appeals], we have an even better Supreme Court and we need to catch up,โ he said. The 5th Circuit, which hears cases from Texas, is considered one of the most conservative courts in the nation.
Wendy Davis says Trump supporters harassing a Biden bus in Texas should have served as a warning before U.S. Capitol riot
A day after the incident, Trump tweeted a video of the Trump supporters following the Biden bus saying, โI LOVE TEXAS!โ and falsely claimed his supporters were โprotectingโ the bus. All the cars on the road, we love what they did,โ Rubio told Trump supporters. Davisโ campaign had refused to comment at the time as she wrapped up her campaign against U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, which she lost. She said she didnโt want to empower the Trump supporters further. He perpetuated false conspiracy theories in the hours after the insurrection that those who broke into the Capitol were not Trump supporters.
Dan Patrick says people may need to take a coronavirus test 24 hours before testifying during the legislative session
Dan Patrick told members of the Texas Senate this week that people wishing to testify on legislation before a committee may need to register days beforehand and take a coronavirus test ahead of the hearing. Patrick, the Republican head of the upper chamber, mentioned a number of possibilities to the Senate Democrat Caucus during a conference call Friday. Patrick said people may have to register online three days before a committee hearing to testify and take a rapid test for the virus 24 hours beforehand. People have typically been allowed to sign up to speak on a piece of legislation the day of a committee hearing. Patrick said that the National Guard could test between 10 to 12 people at the Capitol in an hour.
Chip Roy and Wendy Davis go down to the wire in a tight TX-21 race that has Texasโ full attention
U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, is in a close contest with Democratic challenger Wendy Davis. That brawl is between two Austin-based political heavyweights, Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Roy and Democratic former state Sen. Wendy Davis. โIโm Chip Roy, and hereโs some Texas common sense: We can reopen safely. โChip Roy is an elected leader, but heโs all over town not wearing a mask in crowded indoor places, dismisses reports about the danger to children and Chip Roy continues to advise an extreme plan to infect two-thirds of the population to stop the virus,โ he said. And Davis re-emerged on the Texas political scene as the face of the Austin's Women's March in 2017, pink hat and all.
How down-ballot candidates could help Democrats flip Texas
And a question that often elicits eyerolls is now a point of serious debate: Can Democrats flip Texas? "We have been through hell and back in the past decade, but all the while focused on building the infrastructure at the Texas Democratic Party necessary to meet this very moment," said Manny Garcia, the executive director of the Texas Democratic Party. Some Democratic candidates are able to spend heavily on TV ads and own get-out-the-vote campaigns. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, who's running for re-election against Democrat MJ Hegar, rang the alarm early about Democrats' Texas efforts ahead of 2020. Cornynโs bid for a fourth term remains the central source of confidence among most Texas Republicans.
TV ad blitz kicks off in high-profile battle between U.S. Rep. Chip Roy and Wendy Davis
U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, is being challenged by Democratic former state Sen. Wendy Davis in Texas' 21st Congressional District. The TV ad campaign is getting a relatively early start in the race for Texas' 21st Congressional District, foretelling a contentious, expensive sprint to November for U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, and his well-known Democratic opponent, Wendy Davis. Davis' campaign is going up with a spot that highlights her biography and the fact that she's a grandmother. Meanwhile, the pro-Roy Club for Growth is starting to air an attack ad against Davis, whom the ad calls a "self-serving politician." Roy's seat is among seven that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is targeting this fall in Texas.
Senator Cruz ends marathon session on Affordable Care Act
HOUSTON โ Senator Ted Cruz says he feels energized after ending a marathon session of standing and speaking on the floor of the U.S. Senate to draw attention to his fight to de-fund the Affordable Care Act. The Texas Republican began speaking Tuesday afternoon and ended his verbal assault on the health care law nearly 22 hours later. "As a middle-aged cancer survivor I want and need health care," said Parks. "I just admire Ted Cruz. Witt says the new health care law will drive up the cost of coverage for her family of five and they are bracing for the financial hit.