Organizers Push El Paso for Climate Charter
On Monday, organizers with Ground Game Texas and Sunrise Movement El Paso announced they had secured enough signatures to launch a ballot initiative for a climate charter in the city of El Paso. The ballot initiative would see the creation of a city-wide climate...
Justice Department Launches Environmental Justice Investigation in Houston
On Friday, the U.S. Justice Department announced it opened an environmental justice investigation into the City of Houston’s operations relating to illegal dumping. The Civil Rights Division of the department will investigate whether the city discriminated against...
Austin City Council Passes Resolution To Decriminalize Abortion
In a 10-0 vote, Austin City Council passed a resolution to decriminalize abortion in the state capital. The resolution also asks law enforcement to make prosecuting abortion seekers and abortion providers their lowest priority. And stops agencies from...
Rep. Sylvia Garcia Introduces Paid Rest Break Bill for Construction Workers
On Wednesday, Houston Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia introduced a bill requiring employers to offer a paid rest break for construction workers. The legislation would guarantee construction workers at least one 15-minute paid rest break every four hours of work,...
Rochelle Garza’s Campaign to Bring Dignity Back to Austin
In a recent conversation, The Signal spoke with Democratic nominee Rochelle Garza about her run for attorney general, including how she will restore dignity to the office long-held by the indicted Ken Paxton and use the powers of the office to protect everyday Texans...
Texas Non-Profits Launch Statewide Voter Access Campaign
The Democracy from the Ground Up Coalition launched its campaign on Wednesday to pass 15 voting reforms in 15 counties across the state to increase voter access amidst the November midterm elections. According to the coalition, which includes Move Texas, Common...
Just One Texas Republican Votes To Protect Gay Marriage
Yesterday, the U.S. Congress took a major step forward in preserving the rights of same-sex couples by passing the Respect For Marriage Act, which would codify gay marriage into law. While all House Democrats voted for the bill, only 47 Republicans voted for the...
Beto O’Rourke Launches 49-Day Texas Tour
On Tuesday, gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke kicked off a 49-day tour of Texas. Speaking to a crowd in his hometown of El Paso where the tour set off, O’Rourke blasted Gov. Greg Abbott for prohibiting abortion in the state, failing to stop mass shootings, and...
Becca Moyer DeFelice Knows the Stakes in November
When it comes to running for office, some candidates need massive amounts of persuasion. For Becca Moyer DeFelice, running against a Republican state representative in a tight swing district, the extremism of the Texas GOP was enough. Under Republican leadership,...
Sheila Jackson Lee Joins Democrats Calling To Expand Supreme Court
Houston Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee joined several House Democrats on Monday calling to expand the Supreme Court through legislation. “This is not court-packing. This is a constitutional privilege that we have because there’s no debate that under...
Texas Candidates Reflect on “The Fight of Our Lives”
Throughout the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention, candidates up and down the ballot had a chance to reconnect with the activists and volunteers that fuel the party. Now, with the convention in the rear-view, candidates are making the mad dash to November, touting the...
A Federal Plan To Restore Abortion Access In Texas
Today at a press conference at the Texas Democratic Convention, lawmakers and abortion rights advocates announced a five-point plan for the Biden administration to follow that will restore access to abortion care in Texas. The letter outlines five strategies for the...
Democrats Call For Unity On Convention Day Two
“It sure does feel damn good to see a room full of Democrats,” said Convention co-chair State Rep. Jessica González as she welcomed attendees into the General Session last night. The program featured a number of speakers, capping off with the statewide candidates...
Will Houston’s First Openly Gay Mayor Support an Anti-LGBTQ Republican?
Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker made waves in Harris County politics this week when she found herself at the center of the increasingly dramatic feud between Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and District Attorney Kim Ogg. Parker, a longtime supporter of Ogg who has...
Beto Outraises Abbott As the Race Tightens
On Friday, Texas’ two gubernatorial candidates, Democrat Beto O’Rourke and incumbent Republican Greg Abbott, announced their fundraising hauls for the Feb. 20 and June 30 reporting period. O’Rourke raised $27.6 million in contributions while Abbott raised $24.9...