https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/zach-despart/The latest news by Zach Despart.enTue, 28 May 2024 19:58:22 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/24/dade-phelan-david-covey-texas-house-speaker-runoff/Business-minded Republicans spent millions trying to save Phelan, whose far-right opponent had the backing of Donald Trump, Ken Paxton and Dan Patrick. Phelan won by 366 votes, according to unofficial returns.By Zach DespartTue, 28 May 2024 19:58:22 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/24/dade-phelan-david-covey-texas-house-speaker-runoff/House Speaker Dade Phelan celebrates after declaring victory over challenger David Covey on May 28, 2024 at JW’s Patio in Beaumont.House Speaker Dade Phelan celebrates after declaring victory over challenger David Covey on May 28, 2024 at JW’s Patio in Beaumont.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/28/texas-election-primary-runoff/Texans are heading to the polls Tuesday to make their final selections for which Democrats and Republicans will run for various seats in the November election.By Jasper Scherer, Zach Despart and Matthew ChoiTue, 28 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/28/texas-election-primary-runoff/House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, surveys the chamber during a break in the action on May 11, 2023.House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, surveys the chamber during a break in the action on deadline day May 11, 2023.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/21/dade-phelan-texas-house-speaker-runoff-republicans/Phelan’s primary has emerged as a last stand for the Republican Party’s business-minded establishment against an insurgency primarily motivated by social and cultural issues.By Jasper Scherer and Zach DespartTue, 21 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/21/dade-phelan-texas-house-speaker-runoff-republicans/Dade Phelan addresses the floor after being elected for his second term as House speaker on on Jan 10, 2023.Dade Phelan addresses the floor after being elected for his second term as Speaker of the House on the opening day of the 88th legislature on Jan 10, 2023.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/02/jay-hartzell-university-texas-republicans-protest/Hartzell’s protest response has also resulted in condemnations from students and faculty.By Zach Despart and Pooja SalhotraThu, 02 May 2024 11:31:15 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/02/jay-hartzell-university-texas-republicans-protest/The University of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell on April 18, 2022.The University of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell on April 18, 2022.Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/24/greg-abbott-tony-gonzales-brandon-herrera-endorse/Gonzales, 43, faces Brandon Herrera in the May primary runoff election for South Texas District 23.By Zach DespartWed, 24 Apr 2024 11:39:25 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/24/greg-abbott-tony-gonzales-brandon-herrera-endorse/U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, gives an interview in his office at Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. on April 28, 2023. Gonzales is a member of the House Appropriations Committees.U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, gives an interview in his office at Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. on April 28, 2023. Gonzales is a member of the House Appropriations Committees.Eric Lee for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/11/dan-patrick-legislature-texas-priorities-housing-antisemitism/Examining charitable bail organizations and banning Delta 9 were also among Patrick’s priorities in the next legislative session.By Zach Despart and Joshua FechterThu, 11 Apr 2024 13:03:44 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/11/dan-patrick-legislature-texas-priorities-housing-antisemitism/Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick presides over on the Senate floor during the first day of the second special session at the state Capitol in Austin on June 28, 2023.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick presides over on the Senate floor during the first day of the second special session at the state Capitol in Austin on June 28, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/03/club-for-growth-texas-house-legislature/Club for Growth announced it will spend $4 million on a TV ad targeting five anti-school voucher Texas House Republicans.By Zach DespartWed, 03 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/03/club-for-growth-texas-house-legislature/House Speaker Dade Phelan in his office in Beaumont on Jan. 26, 2024.House Speaker Dade Phelan in his office in Beaumont on Jan 26, 2024.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/21/tom-oliverson-dade-phelan-texas-speaker/Oliverson, one of Phelan’s committee chairmen, said the speaker has lost the confidence of the Republican caucus.By Zach Despart and Jasper SchererThu, 21 Mar 2024 10:08:44 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/21/tom-oliverson-dade-phelan-texas-speaker/State Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, announces his candidacy for Texas House Speaker during a press conference on March 21, 2024 in Austin.State Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, announces his candidacy for Texas House speakership during a press conference Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Austin.Maria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/19/greg-abbott-dade-phelan-primary/Abbott has so far been silent as Phelan battles for political survival in a tough primary runoff.By Zach DespartTue, 19 Mar 2024 14:36:15 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/19/greg-abbott-dade-phelan-primary/House Speaker Dade Phelan greets Gov. Greg Abbott before speaking to the Texas House during opening ceremonies as the 2021 Texas Legislature gets down to work in Austin on Jan. 12, 2021.Newly-elected House Speaker Dade Phelan greets Gov. Greg Abbott before speaking to the Texas House during opening ceremonies as the 2021 Texas Legislature gets down to work in Austin on Jan. 12, 2021.Bob Daemmrich/CapitolPressPhoto/Poolhttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/07/dade-phelan-texas-speaker-david-covey-paxton/The May 28 runoff promises to be an expensive, high-profile contest that will help reshape the political dynamics of the Texas House.By Zach DespartThu, 07 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/07/dade-phelan-texas-speaker-david-covey-paxton/House Speaker Dade Phelan gavels out the 88th session Sine Die on May 29, 2023.House Speaker Dade Phelan gavels out the 88th session Sine Die on May 29, 2023.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/shawn-thierry-houston-democrat-primary-legislature-simmons/Thierry angered fellow Democrats because of a speech she gave on the House floor in support of banning gender-transitioning care for minors.By Zach DespartWed, 06 Mar 2024 11:42:52 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/shawn-thierry-houston-democrat-primary-legislature-simmons/Shawn Thierry and Lauren Ashley Simmons.Shawn Thierry and Lauren Ashley Simmons.Thomas Meredith for The Texas Tribune and Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/greg-abbott-ken-paxton-texas-house-incumbents-lose/The two state leaders and other prominent Republicans, like Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and former president Donald Trump, endorsed challengers in dozens of races citing the incumbents’ disloyalty to the party.By Zach Despart and Renzo DowneyWed, 06 Mar 2024 01:27:17 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/greg-abbott-ken-paxton-texas-house-incumbents-lose/The House voting board in the Texas Capitol in Austin on May 29, 2023.The House voting board in the Texas Capitol in Austin on May 29, 2023.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/dade-phelan-david-covey-texas-house-speaker-primary/Phelan was neck and neck with GOP challenger David Covey with votes still being counted.By Zach DespartTue, 05 Mar 2024 20:33:06 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/dade-phelan-david-covey-texas-house-speaker-primary/Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Dade Phelan poses for a portrait at his office in Beaumont on Friday, Jan 26, 2024Beaumont, Texas: Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Dade Phelan poses for a portrait at his office in Beaumont on Friday, Jan 26, 2024.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/texas-primary-elections-biden-trump-abbott-cruz-paxton/Divisions among Republicans are in stark display, some of Texas’ most senior members of Congress are retiring and Democrats are hoping to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz.By Zach Despart and Matthew ChoiTue, 05 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/texas-primary-elections-biden-trump-abbott-cruz-paxton/Election signs line the perimeter of the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center in Houston on March 5, 2024.Election signs on March 5, 2024, outside of the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center in Houston, Texas.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/29/texas-border-eagle-pass-brownsville-trump-biden/When the two presidents used the Texas-Mexico boundary as a backdrop for the national immigration fight, residents felt they were left out of the conversation.By Zach Despart and William MelhadoThu, 29 Feb 2024 21:03:59 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/29/texas-border-eagle-pass-brownsville-trump-biden/Pedestrians walk through downtown Brownsville early Feb. 29, 2024. President Joe Biden visited the border city on Thursday and former President Donald Trump made an appearance in Eagle Pass, another Texas town on the border with Mexico.Pedestrians walk through downtown Brownsville early Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. President Joe Biden visited Brownsville on Thursday, receiving briefings from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, USCIS, and ICE along the border before giving remarks at the Brownsville Border Patrol Station.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/22/stan-lambert-texas-house-abbott-paxton-primary/District 71 is one of three-dozen Texas House races where statewide Republicans are trying to oust incumbents from their own party. Lambert says he knows his constituents better than they do.By Zach DespartThu, 22 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/22/stan-lambert-texas-house-abbott-paxton-primary/State Rep. Stan Lambert, R-Abilene, at Monk’s Coffee shop in Abilene on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024.Texas House District 71 Rep. Stan Lambert gestures during an interview at Monk’s Coffee shop in Abilene Thursday Feb. 8, 2024.Ronald W. Erdrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/15/shawn-thierry-houston-democratic-primary-lgbtq-vote/The Houston Democrat voted for three anti-LGBTQ bills last year, which could make her more vulnerable as she fights for reelection.By Zach DespartThu, 15 Feb 2024 15:18:53 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/15/shawn-thierry-houston-democratic-primary-lgbtq-vote/State Rep. Shawn Thierry, D-Houston, speaks to a group of her constituents on Feb. 15, 2024, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Houston.State Rep. Shawn Thierry, D-Houston, speaks to a group of her constituents on Feb. 15, 2024, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Houston.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/05/dade-phelan-primary-david-covey-paxton/Attorney General Ken Paxton, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and former President Donald Trump are accusing Phelan of being a “RINO,” even as Phelan has overseen the passage of some of the most conservative bills in recent history.By Zach DespartMon, 05 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/05/dade-phelan-primary-david-covey-paxton/Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan at his office in Beaumont. Deep fissures within the Republican Party have placed Phelan as the No. 1 enemy of Texas’ far-right conservatives.Beaumont, Texas: Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Dade Phelan poses for a portrait at his office in Beaumont on Friday, Jan 26, 2024. Mark Felix/The Texas TribuneMark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/30/donald-trump-texas-house-dade-phelan-2024/Phelan’s reelection campaign has become a referendum on the power of the far-right faction of the state Republican Party.By Zach DespartTue, 30 Jan 2024 13:55:44 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/30/donald-trump-texas-house-dade-phelan-2024/Former President Donald Trump speaks at an event at the South Texas International Airport in Edinburg, on Nov. 19, 2023.President Donald Trump speaks at an event at the South Texas International Airport in Edinburg, on Nov. 19, 2023, after Gov. Greg Abbott announced his endorsement of President Trump. “We need Donald J. Trump back as our president of the United States of America,” the governor proclaimed.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/18/gunter-city-council-resignations-railyard/In December, all five members of the city council quit. A fight over a railroad development spiraled into political mudslinging, broken trust and conspiracy.By Zach DespartThu, 18 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/18/gunter-city-council-resignations-railyard/A railroad runs through the heart of Gunter, a small town north of Dallas, on Jan. 11, 2024.A railroad runs through the heart of Gunter, TX on January 11, 2024.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune