https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-choi/The latest news by Matthew Choi.enFri, 16 Jun 2023 13:31:30 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/15/sylvia-garcia-office-union/Employees for the Houston Democrat become the first congressional office from Texas trying to unionize under rules adopted last year.Matthew ChoiFri, 16 Jun 2023 13:31:30 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/15/sylvia-garcia-office-union/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/13/kay-granger-congress-spending-cuts/The chair of the House Appropriations Committee vows to hold spending bills to 2022 levels to counter “years of out-of-control spending.”Matthew ChoiTue, 13 Jun 2023 11:51:15 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/13/kay-granger-congress-spending-cuts/U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, speaks to supporters at the Blue Mesa restaurant in Fort Worth during the 2020 primary election on March 3, 2020.Incumbent U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, speaks to supporters at the Blue Mesa restaurant in Fort Worth during the 2020 primary election on March 3, 2020.Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/09/donald-trump-indicted-texas-republicans/GOP lawmakers dismiss the charges over classified documents as a partisan attack, but Democrats say the matter proves nobody is above the law.Matthew Choi and Olivia AlafrizFri, 09 Jun 2023 16:04:32 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/09/donald-trump-indicted-texas-republicans/Former President Donald Trump's presidential campaign rally drew crowds to Waco on March 25, 2023.Hundreds of people gathered to attend former President Donald Trump's first 2024 presidential campaign rally in Waco on March 25, 2023.Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/30/debt-ceiling-texas-republicans/Joined in opposition by four Texas Democrats, the “no” votes weren’t enough to sink the proposal, which next heads to the U.S. Senate.Matthew ChoiTue, 30 May 2023 17:18:11 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/30/debt-ceiling-texas-republicans/US Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, speaks during a news conference alongside other members of the House Freedom Caucus on Tuesday in Washington, D.C.US Representative Chip Roy, a Republican from Texas, speaks during a press conference alongside other members of the House Freedom Caucus outside of the US Capitol building on May 30, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Congress begins to examine the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 which would eliminate the debt limit for two years alongside other stipulations that Speaker McCarthy and President Biden have reached an agreement on.Samuel Corum/Sipa USA via Reuters Connecthttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/26/texas-congress-debt-ceiling/The high-stakes confrontation could have an impact on retirements accounts, corporations and much more.Matthew ChoiFri, 26 May 2023 11:16:50 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/26/texas-congress-debt-ceiling/The U.S. Capitol as seen through a food truck window on April 14, 2022.The U.S. Capitol is seen through a food truck window on April 14, 2022.Shuran Huang for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/23/veronica-escobar-congress-bipartisan-immigration-bill/U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar’s legislation, dubbed the Dignity Act in partnership with a Florida Republican, also seeks to change asylum processes.Matthew ChoiTue, 23 May 2023 10:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/23/veronica-escobar-congress-bipartisan-immigration-bill/U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, introduces the “Dignity Act” outside the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday during a news conference on immigration policy.U.S. Reps. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, and Maria Salazar, R-Florida, introduce the "Dignity Act" outside the Capitol during a news conference on immigration policy, Tuesday, May 23, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Julia Nikhinson for The Texas Tribune)Julia Nikhinson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/16/michelle-vallejo-congress-monica-de-la-cruz/Despite a 9-point defeat in 2022, Vallejo hopes to attract national support to her race for the South Texas district.Matthew Choi and Patrick SvitekTue, 16 May 2023 08:09:42 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/16/michelle-vallejo-congress-monica-de-la-cruz/Democrat Michelle Vallejo, shown speaking at an August 2022 campaign event, will seek to unseat U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, in 2024. De La Cruz defeated Vallejo in 2022.Michelle Vallejo, Democratic nominee for Congressional District 15, speaks at the HERStory meet and greet in McAllen, on Aug. 19th, 2022.Jason Garza for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/12/dan-crenshaw-drug-cartels-house/The Houston Republican has alarmed Mexico and Democrats with previous calls for a military response to the criminal organizations.Matthew ChoiFri, 12 May 2023 14:58:21 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/12/dan-crenshaw-drug-cartels-house/U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, joins other members of the GOP at a news conference after touring the border in El Paso on Nov. 22, 2022.Rep. Dan Crenshaw and other members of the GOP give a press conferences outside the CBP station after touring the facility and the border on Nov. 22, 2022, in El Paso.Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/11/congress-texas-republicans-border-bill/The Secure the Border Act would resume construction of the border wall, limit asylum eligibility and require asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico. It faces tough going in the Senate.Matthew ChoiThu, 11 May 2023 18:02:51 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/11/congress-texas-republicans-border-bill/Migrants are escorted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents near the Paso del Norte International Bridge in El Paso on June 15, 2019.A group of migrants are escorted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents near the Paso del Norte International Bridge in El Paso on June 15, 2019.Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/11/colin-allred-ted-cruz-election/The Dallas native, former NFL linebacker and civil rights lawyer has not traveled a typical path to Congress.Matthew ChoiThu, 11 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/11/colin-allred-ted-cruz-election/U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, arrives at a subcommittee hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb. 9.U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, arrives before a House Judiciary Select Subcommittee hearing on the weaponization of the federal government, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023.Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via REUTERShttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/08/tony-gonzales-congress-republican-bridges/The two-term Republican, criticized by his own party for breaking with the GOP on key votes, is not inclined to change his ways.Matthew ChoiMon, 08 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/08/tony-gonzales-congress-republican-bridges/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.U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican representing the Texas’ 23rd district, talks during 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 Tribune)Eric Lee for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/06/allen-shooting-outlet-mall/The shooter was also killed by a police officer after he opened fire in Allen. Gov. Greg Abbott called the shooting “an unspeakable tragedy.”Matthew ChoiSat, 06 May 2023 19:10:32 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/06/allen-shooting-outlet-mall/Police officers block off the entrance to the parking lot of the Allen Premium Outlets after a shooting on Saturday.Police officers block off the entrance to the parking lot of the Allen Premium Outlets after a shooting on May 6, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/03/ted-cruz-colin-allred-2024/Allred was first elected to Congress in 2018 and quickly became a rising Democratic star. Cruz is Texas’ junior senator and unsuccessfully sought the GOP presidential nomination in 2016.Patrick Svitek and Matthew ChoiWed, 03 May 2023 07:52:29 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/03/ted-cruz-colin-allred-2024/U.S. Rep. Colin Allred speaks during a House subcommittee meeting in February. The Dallas Democrat on Wednesday officially announced his 2024 challenge to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, speaking at a hearing at the U.S. Capitol of the House Judiciary Committee Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government on Feb. 9, 2023.Michael Brochstein/Sipa USA via REUTERShttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/14/irma-ramirez-judge-nomination-5th-circuit/Both of Texas’ Republican senators voice support for Irma Carrillo Ramirez’s nomination to the conservative 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.Matthew ChoiFri, 14 Apr 2023 14:03:19 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/14/irma-ramirez-judge-nomination-5th-circuit/U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez.U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez gives opening remarks during a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on Sept. 7th, 2016.US Senate Committee on the Judiciaryhttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/11/michael-mccaul-texas-tiktok-legislature-china/U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul has warned members of the Texas Legislature to keep their China-countering legislation focused on espionage and not to target Chinese immigrants.Matthew ChoiTue, 11 Apr 2023 18:20:34 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/11/michael-mccaul-texas-tiktok-legislature-china/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/03/monica-de-la-cruz-dccc/The U.S. House Democratic campaign arm will target the 15th Congressional District in next year’s elections, hoping to reclaim the seat from Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz, the first Republican ever to represent the district.Matthew ChoiMon, 03 Apr 2023 07:30:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/03/monica-de-la-cruz-dccc/U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg.Monica De La Cruz, U.S. Representative District 15 Republican Candidate, poses for a photo after a Futuro RGV candidate forum in McAllen on Jan. 20, 2022.Verónica G. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/30/ted-cruz-colin-allred-beto-orourke-senate-2024/U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz will be up for reelection next year, now a seasoned senator and established conservative leader. But Democrats are still holding out hope they can repeat the sensation of Beto-mania.Matthew ChoiThu, 30 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/30/ted-cruz-colin-allred-beto-orourke-senate-2024/U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, gives closing arguments to a crowd at the Redneck Country Club in Stafford on Nov. 5, 2018.U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, gives closing arguments to a crowd at the Redneck Country Club in Stafford on Nov. 5, 2018.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/28/texas-democrats-vicente-gonzalez-henry-cuellar-climate/Gonzalez and Cuellar both represent oil and gas workers in South Texas and expressed misgivings about the Inflation Reduction Act, their party’s climate package last year.Matthew ChoiWed, 29 Mar 2023 09:21:56 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/28/texas-democrats-vicente-gonzalez-henry-cuellar-climate/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/13/vicente-gonzalez-republican-target-nrcc/Congressional Republicans’ campaign arm will make another effort to unseat the South Texas Democrat who ran in one of the state’s most competitive races last year.Matthew ChoiMon, 13 Mar 2023 07:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/13/vicente-gonzalez-republican-target-nrcc/U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, at his 2022 election night watch party in Brownsville.U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, at his election night watch party in Brownsville on Nov. 8, 2022.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/09/chip-roy-biden-border-detain-asylum/The Austin Republican’s tacit approval only adds fuel to the fire for Texas Democrats recoiling at the report that the Biden administration could detain asylum-seekers.Matthew ChoiThu, 09 Mar 2023 10:57:42 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/09/chip-roy-biden-border-detain-asylum/Migrants walk onto a bus after crossing the border in Roma on Aug. 16, 2021.Migrants walk onto a bus after crossing the border in Roma on Aug. 16, 2021.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune