Politics

Jay R. Jordan
Feb 21, 2023 - News

What to know about Harris County's election challenges

A close shot of a person wearing a blue and green top sports an "I Voted" sticker

Photo: Callaghan O'Hare/Bloomberg via Getty Images

With furniture mogul Jim McIngvale's new lawsuit targeting public records from Harris County's 2022 election, here's your catch-up-quick on the long list of election challenges the county is facing in response to voting issues, including a paper shortage and late poll openings.

Driving the news: McIngvale, known to many as Gallery Furniture's Mattress Mack, is suing the county over records related to the election.

Shafaq Patel
Feb 2, 2023 - Politics

Houston might lose LGBTQ+ representation in City Hall

Photo of rainbow colors projected on a building.

Houston City Hall lights up in rainbow colors in 2016. Photo: Jay R. Jordan/Axios

Houston is at risk of losing LGBTQ+ representation in elected office.

State of play: Since Annise Parker joined city government in 1998 as a City Council member and went on to serve as mayor from 2010 to 2016, Houston has always had at least one LGBTQ+ leader in elected office.

Shafaq Patel
Jan 24, 2023 - Politics

How to spend our share of the state surplus

Illustration of a pattern of stacks of money.

Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios

It's raining money here in Texas. What could be in it for Houston?

Driving the news: Texas is sitting on an unprecedented $32.7 billion state surplus.

Another push to eliminate Texas' Confederate holiday

Confederate holidays include Robert E. Lee's birthday, Confederate Memorial Day, Confederate Heroes Day (Texas), Nathan Bedford Forrest Day (Tennessee), Jefferson Davis' birthday; Data: State government calendars, Axios research; Cartogram: Shoshana Gordon and Jacque Schrag/Axios Visuals
Confederate holidays include Robert E. Lee's birthday, Confederate Memorial Day, Confederate Heroes Day (Texas), Nathan Bedford Forrest Day (Tennessee), Jefferson Davis' birthday; Data: State government calendars, Axios research; Cartogram: Shoshana Gordon and Jacque Schrag/Axios Visuals

Houston state Rep. Jarvis Johnson is once again trying to abolish Confederate Heroes Day.

Why it matters: In the same week that the country celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.'s racial justice and civil rights legacy, Texas continues to honor the Confederacy with a holiday.

Shafaq Patel
Jan 10, 2023 - Politics

Houston-area legislators to watch in the 2023 session

Photo of a white, bald man with a red tie.

State Sen. John Whitmire. Photo: Sergio Flores/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Houston has some high-profile lawmakers headed to Austin for the session.

  • See who represents you here.
Shafaq Patel
Dec 8, 2022 - Politics

League City creates book challenge process

Illustration of books like dominoes being hit by a gavel.

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

League City approved a plan where books for minors that contain "obscenity or other harmful content" in the public library can be challenged by residents.

Driving the news: City Council members voted 4-3 on Tuesday night to prohibit the city from spending tax dollars on children's books that feature certain topics.

Shafaq Patel
Nov 9, 2022 - Politics

What you could buy with Harris County judge's race spending money

 Data: Campaign finance reports; Chart: Jacque Schrag/Axios
Data: Campaign finance reports; Chart: Jacque Schrag/Axios

This year's Harris County judge's race was expensive.

Driving the news: If you combined all the money Alexandra Mealer and Lina Hidalgo spent on the Harris County judge's race since July 1, you could buy 2.9 million $4 tacos.

Some Texas schools closing for Election Day due to safety concerns

Illustration of an apple with an I Voted sticker.

Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios

Some Texas schools will be closed on Nov. 8 as districts navigate the safety risks that come with being polling sites in the wake of school shootings and threats to poll workers.

Yes, but: That won't include Houston ISD. The largest school district in the state, serving more than 194,000 students, will mostly remain open.

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