President Donald Trump has offered some encouraging words and advice for graduating students at the University of Alabama.

The race to fill a Texas congressional seat has candidates but no election date more than three weeks after Rep. Sylvester Turner’s death left a vacancy in a stronghold for Democrats, who are eager to cut into Republicans’ narrow U.S. House majority.

The Democratic Party faces existential questions after Donald Trump’s resounding victory.

The Associated Press declared that Republican Sen. Ted Cruz successfully defended his seat against Democratic Rep. Colin Allred based on the incumbent’s competitive showing in the state’s large population centers, bolstered by his overwhelming leads in more conservative rural areas across the state.

Democrats backing Rep. Colin Allred’s bid to defeat Texas Sen. Ted Cruz are investing $5 million in an ad campaign focused on abortion.

Republicans have a stranglehold on every statewide elected office in Texas and control the state Supreme Court, both chambers of the Legislature and both U.S. Senate seats.

Democrats hoping to hold their slim Senate majority after November are looking for wins in two unlikely places that could neutralize potential setbacks elsewhere, Florida and Texas.

Kimberly Mata-Rubio's 10-year-old daughter was one of the 19 children and two teachers killed in the May 24, 2022, shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

Democratic Rep. Colin Allred of Texas says he'll run for the U.S. Senate in 2024, becoming an early challenger to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.

No current or former Texas politician has announced a campaign for the 2024 presidential race.

Stacey Abrams and Beto O’Rourke catapulted to Democratic stardom in 2018 by defying expectations and nearly pulling off upsets in Georgia and Texas.

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has won a third term following one of the most expensive races of the 2022 midterm elections.

Families of some of the 19 children killed in the Uvalde school massacre commemorated the Day of Dead with a rally, procession and decorated altar outside the Texas Capitol on Tuesday night.

The Uvalde school massacre has cast a long shadow in the midterm elections in Texas, intensifying Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaign against Democrat Beto O’Rourke and driving a blitz of television ads.

Presidential aspirants running for reelection while dreaming of the highest office in the land often face an uncomfortable question: Will they commit to serving a full term — should they win one — when their best moment to take a shot at the White House may come sooner than that.

Many of the 39 Native American tribes based in Oklahoma have played a role in state politics for decades, often quietly and behind the scenes.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom's reelection campaign is focused more on his political future and overhauling the Democratic Party's messaging than on his race.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said during a debate against Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke that Texas would send busloads of migrants who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border to more cities.

The stakes are high for Democrat Beto O’Rourke on Friday night in his only debate against Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is calling for an overhaul of Democrats' political strategy.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is pushing back on calls by Uvalde families for new gun control measures in Texas in wake of the Robb Elementary School massacre.

Texas Democratic gubernatorial nominee Beto O'Rourke says he has cleared his campaign schedule after receiving treatment at a San Antonio hospital for an unspecified bacterial infection.

Anticipation has been growing all year for one of the fall’s likeliest bestsellers, Colleen Hoover’s “It Starts With Us.”.

The entire elections staff in a rural Texas county has quit less than three months before November's midterm elections.

Democrat Beto O’Rourke responded to a heckler at a campaign stop with an expletive after the Texas gubernatorial candidate heard a cackled laugh while criticizing the ease in which the Uvalde elementary school gunman obtained an AR-15-style rifle.

Democrat Beto O’Rourke has raised nearly $32 million during the first half of 2022 in his run for Texas governor.

President Joe Biden’s top political advisers are bracing for big election losses in November.

Democratic Texas governor’s race candidate Beto O’Rourke is hoping the Uvalde school shooting can reset the contest in America’s largest red state.

One by one, speakers took the stage at the National Rifle Association’s annual convention in Houston and denounced the massacre of 19 students and two teachers at an elementary school across the state.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke has blamed Republican Gov. Greg Abbott for inaction on gun control.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott will face Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke after voters in Texas opened what could be a lengthy, bruising primary season.

The 2022 midterm election season opens Tuesday in Texas.

Early voting in the first primary of the 2022 midterm elections are underway in Texas.

President Joe Biden will appear in Pittsburgh on Friday as an opening step in a broader campaign to promote the White House’s achievements in key states before the midterm elections.

President Joe Biden has visited the bridge in Pittsburgh that collapsed just hours before his previously scheduled trip to promote his infrastructure package — a new law that aims to prevent just such disasters.

Money is pouring fast into the Texas governor’s race headlined by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Democrat Beto O’Rourke.

Democrat Beto O’Rourke is running for governor of Texas.

Texas Republicans are trying to shore up their slipping dominance in America’s biggest red state with redrawn voting maps.

Texas Republicans have advanced bills that would make voting harder in a state that already has some of the nation’s toughest restrictions after hundreds spoke against the proposals.

Some Texas Democrats say they're ready to stage a second walkout to again stop one of America’s most restrictive voting measures.

Former Florida Congressman Allen West says he’ll challenge Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for the Republican nomination next year.

Former Texas congressman and presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke is contemplating a new political decision.

The ranks of big corporations now criticizing GOP efforts to restrict voting access are spreading to Texas.

Former Democratic congressman Beto O'Rourke speaks against new proposed voting restrictions at the Texas Capitol on Thursday, March 25, 2021, in Austin, Texas. Proposed legislation before the GOP-led state Senate and House mirrors a nationwide campaign by Republicans that aims to restrict voting even more, with rules Democrats say disenfranchise racial and ethnic minorities. AdAmy Litzinger, of Austin, is among Texans who say the very health issues keeping her from testifying before lawmakers in person will also penalize her if stricter voting legislation becomes law. Brian Kemp drew protests Thursday when he signed into law a sweeping GOP-sponsored overhaul of state elections — and the fights will undoubtedly end up in the courts. AdBack in Austin, Jose Colon Uvalles was back at the Capitol again Friday to advocate against voting restrictions.

Former Democratic congressman Beto O'Rourke speaks against new proposed voting restrictions at the Texas Capitol on Thursday, March 25, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Acacia Coronado)AUSTIN, Texas – A procedural gaffe on Thursday forced the abrupt end of a Texas House hearing on a Republican-backed voting restrictions bill and at least temporarily deprived more than 100 people of the chance to testify about it, including some who said they had driven hundreds of miles to be there. The bungled end to the hearing stunned an overflow room of people who had waited hours to address lawmakers, including some who said they had traveled for hours to speak against the measure known as House Bill 6. That Democrat was state Rep. Nicole Collier, the chairwoman of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus. “Any delay is good," said Emily Eby, an attorney with the Texas Civil Rights Project who had traveled from Houston for the hearing.

As the hour slipped past 2 a.m. on the East Coast, Democrat Raphael Warnock beat Republican Kelly Loeffler. King and MSNBC's Kornacki dominated their networks with headache-inducing number crunching. Warnock and Ossoff jumped to early leads, but as more votes came in, the Republicans swung in front. After midnight, the Times judged both Warnock and Ossoff had a better than 95% chance of winning. Fox News spent less time on raw numbers to showcase their prime-time stars, Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham.

“There is no exaggeration here, the Texas state House is the key to future power in America. Holder's group has given money to 261 state legislative candidates who could influence redistricting in 11 states. Democrats are being countered financially by the Republican State Leadership Committee, which also coordinated the GOP's successful effort a decade ago. But Democrats need to flip just nine seats to take control of the state House for the first time since 2002. “If we flip the Texas House, redistricting is coming up!

Ann Grannan puts a flag on her car before a Ridin' With Biden event Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Plano, Texas. Democrats in Texas are pressing Joe Biden to make a harder run at Texas with less than three weeks until Election Day. (AP Photo/LM Otero)AUSTIN, Texas – The whispers about Texas are picking up again. “They've stuck their toes in the water and they figured out that it's pretty warm,” said Gilberto Hinojosa, the longtime chairman of the Texas Democratic Party. And Texas is just one Sun Belt state where Biden is making an unusual late push.

(Bob Daemmrich/Nexstar/KXAN via AP, Pool)WASHINGTON – Buoyed by massive fundraising success, Democratic Senate candidates are mounting a push in Republican states that few would have thought possible just a few months ago, placing continued GOP control of the chamber at risk. MJ Hegar in Texas reported raising over $13 million during the same period for her race against Republican Sen. John Cornyn. In deep-red Kentucky, Amy McGrath has posted strong fundraising numbers against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. In Mississippi, Mike Espy reported raising $4 million in his rematch against Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. O'Rourke was criticized for being too stingy with his cash, only reluctantly aiding other Democrats, though he eventually donated large amounts to the Texas Democratic Party.

For Graham, the Republican Senate majority and Trump himself, the hearings three weeks before Election Day could be a last stand. But they're also a real-time test of whether that's enough to counter a jaw-dropping $57 million fundraising haul by Graham's Democratic opponent in the South Carolina race, Jaime Harrison. He once vowed to oppose any Supreme Court confirmation hearings in presidential election years. But the days leading up to the Barrett hearings were particularly challenging for Graham. Back then, Trump had called Graham a “lightweight” and a “liberal,” and famously made public the senator's cell phone number.

Biden's status as Democratic presidential nominee-in-waiting means the party will choose another man for an office never held by a woman. I understand.”Kate Bedingfield, an adviser the same age as Biden's youngest daughter, was first to propose a direct-to-lens declaration. She joined forces with Anita Dunn, an alumna of President Barack Obama’s West Wing and relative newbie to Biden's orbit. Together with two of Biden's longest-serving confidants – Steve Ricchetti and Mike Donilon – they convinced the almost-candidate it was the right course. Dunn said Jill Biden and Valerie Biden Owens are now elevated as “principals in their own right” — veritable extensions of the candidate.

At the same time, in front of a crowd in northeast Mississippi, Trump was mocking the Democratic Party as "completely insane" -- and mocking several of its candidates. And the candidates each took their turns trying to show Democrats they were the best prepared to take on Trump. "This is a moment where we have to be prepared to fight for the best of our country," Harris said. He complained about the House's impeachment proceedings, saying Democrats were trying to delegitimize his 2016 victory, and spent much of the night airing grievances against Democrats. "The Democrats voted to potentially nullify the votes of 63 million Americans, disgracing themselves and bringing shame upon the House of Representatives," Trump said.

Beto O'Rourke announced Friday that he is ending his 2020 presidential campaign, hours ahead of a marquee dinner in Iowa. Distributed by LAKANA. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Thursday prime-time event in Los Angeles, airing live on the eve of National Coming Out Day, will feature the largest-ever audience for a Democratic presidential town hall devoted to LGBTQ issues. What time is the town hall? The town hall will air from 7:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. Invitations to participate in the town hall were extended to Democratic presidential hopefuls who met the DNC's qualifications for the October 2019 primary debate. How can I watch the town hall?

Copyright 2019 CNN(CNN) - The CNN/New York Times Democratic presidential debate in October will occur on one night, the Democratic National Committee told campaigns Friday. The party's most recent debate in September featured 10 candidates debating on a single night. "Our goal has always been to expand viewership, and we also believe that one night worked well for this last debate," said the official, speaking on background. This is the second DNC-sanctioned debate CNN will broadcast in 2019. The debate will air exclusively on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Espaol, and stream on CNN.com's homepage and NYTimes.com's homepage.

Smith made an initial appearance in Kansas federal court Monday afternoon. He is scheduled to appear again in federal court for a detention hearing on Thursday in Topeka. According to court documents, Smith also mentioned O'Rourke, a former Texas congressman, in a chat with an undercover FBI agent on September 20. Then, about a month ago, Smith started speaking to the FBI's confidential source and an undercover federal agent. Army Lt. Col. Terence Kelley, the director of public affairs for the 1st Infantry Division in Kansas, confirmed Smith is an active duty soldier.

Mike Coppola/Getty Images(CNN) - The Democratic National Committee announced Friday that CNN and The New York Times will co-host the party's fourth presidential debate next month in Westerville, Ohio. CNN anchors Anderson Cooper and Erin Burnett, as well as New York Times National Editor Marc Lacey will serve as the debate moderators. This is the second DNC-sanctioned debate CNN will broadcast in 2019. It has also hosted 37 presidential town halls this year, and is partnering with the Human Rights Campaign Foundation to air a live, multi-candidate Democratic presidential town hall on October 10 in Los Angeles. The debate will air exclusively on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Espaol, and stream on CNN.com's homepage and The New York Times' homepage.

(CNN) - Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke on Friday defended his support for a mandatory gun buyback program of assault-style weapons, saying he believes it's an issue that resonates with voters, including some conservatives. During the presidential debate Thursday night, O'Rourke said that, if elected president, he would issue a mandatory buyback program for assault-style rifles, saying, "Hell, yes, we're going to take your AR-15, your AK-47." "I don't think a majority of the Senate or the country is going to embrace mandatory buybacks," he said. On Friday, O'Rourke also spoke about Republican Texas state Rep. Briscoe Cain's tweet in which he threatened O'Rourke with an AR-15. Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey, to support mandatory buybacks for certain guns.

HOUSTON (CNN) - Presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke reiterated his support for a mandatory gun-buyback program of assault-style rifles on Thursday and said, "Hell, yes, we're going to take your AR-15, your AK-47." Twitter threatRepublican Texas state Rep. Briscoe Cain threatened O'Rourke on Twitter Thursday night in response to the buyback comments, tweeting, "My AR is ready for you Robert Francis." O'Rourke was quick to respond over the same social media platform, and characterized Cain's words as "a death threat." O'Rourke's press secretary Aleigha Cavalier told CNN's Leyla Santiago that the campaign was reporting the tweet to the FBI. O'Rourke told CNN's DJ Judd early Friday that Cain's tweet constituted a threat.

Democrats met for their third debate of the 2020 presidential primary Thursday night in Houston. And he argued it's "the most cost-effective approach to providing health care" to everyone in the country. It was a notable shift in the tenor of a health care debate that had, to this point in the race, largely been dominated by the progressive candidates. And in the second debate, Warren and Sanders stood side-by-side and batted away criticism from candidates who didn't qualify for the third debate. She tried to be a unifying voice during the health care debate.

Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg are shown on television monitors in the press room of the Democratic Presidential Debate at the Fox Theatre July 30, 2019, in Detroit. Thursday will be the first time they'll share a debate stage -- a reality that could offer Democratic voters a stark view of the contrasts in how the two approach politics. This is exactly the debate we want to have," Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir said. And headed into the third debate, Harris' campaign is suggesting the risk isn't worth repeating. But it looks like an 11th, billionaire investor and Democratic activist Tom Steyer, will meet the Democratic National Committee's qualifying threshold for the October round.

(CNN) - Joe Biden leads the Democratic presidential primary but a tight race for second place has formed behind him as Sen. Elizabeth Warren leads Sen. Bernie Sanders by one point, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS. The former vice president is at 24%, Warren at 18% and Sanders at 17% are once again the only candidates to reach double-digit support. Warren (23%) and Biden (21%) are about even among white potential Democratic voters, with Sanders not far behind at 15%. In that poll, 35% of those who favored someone who can beat Trump backed Biden, 15% Warren and 14% Sanders. Now, that group splits almost evenly between Biden (26%) and Warren (21%), with Sanders at 11%.

Democrat Beto O'Rourke became the first candidate to visit our area this campaign season and likely the first candidate to ever visit Bland County. Once inside the main hall, O'Rourke dove right into his topics of gun violence, climate change, health care and more. Before visiting Virginia Tech, O'Rourke spent time in Roanoke County and Wine Gourmet, a locally owned wine store. He likely made history, however, when he started the morning in Bland County as the first presidential candidate to ever visit the county, let alone a democratic presidential candidate. He answered all the questions really well, and it was really nice seeing him here," Virginia Tech freshman Luke Somers said.

ROANOKE, Va. - Democratic presidential hopeful Beto O'Rourke is returning to Virginia for his fourth visit to the state as a 2020 candidate. His campaign will stop in Roanoke and Blacksburg on Friday and Charlottesville on Saturday. O'Rourke will also be holding a town hall at Hancock Hall auditorium on Virginia Tech's campus Friday. According to the BETO for America campaign, he is coming to visit communities impacted by "Trump's failed leadership." After his visits in Virginia, O'Rourke will travel to Pennsylvania.

Here's a look at some of the stories we'll be following today as they make headlines across the country and Southwest Virginia. Presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke will make a campaign stop in Blacksburg. He will hold a town hall at Hancock Hall Auditorium on the Virginia Tech campus. This is his fourth visit to the Commonwealth as a presidential candidate. There's a grand opening tonight at Highlander Stadium at Glenvar High School.

ROANOKE, Va. - Democratic presidential hopeful Beto O'Rourke is returning to Virginia for his fourth visit to the state as a 2020 candidate. His campaign will stop in Blacksburg on Friday and Charlottesville on Saturday. O'Rourke will be holding a town hall at Hancock Hall auditorium on Virginia Tech's campus Friday. According to the BETO for America campaign, he is coming to visit communities impacted by "Trump's failed leadership." After his visits in Virginia, O'Rourke will travel to Pennsylvania.

In honor of National Dog Day (annually on August 26), meet the canines vying to become America's next First Pup. Elizabeth Warren and BaileyAfter losing her beloved golden retriever Otis in 2012, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren feared she wouldn't be able to love another dog. It seems even when it comes to her dog, she's got a plan for that. Michael Bennet and PepperThe Colorado senator promised his three daughters if he won his first campaign, he'd get them a dog. Vermont senator Bernie Sanders has admitted he does not own a dog, missing an opportunity to name a St. Bernard after himself.

(CNN) - The third round of Democratic primary debates, hosted by ABC and Univision, will take place the second week of September. Presidential candidates have until late August to reach polling and grassroots fundraising thresholds set by the Democratic National Committee. Candidates must receive contributions from at least 130,000 individuals, coming from at least 400 unique donors in 20 or more states. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, billionaire Tom Steyer and author Marianne Williamson have reached the fundraising threshold, but still need to hit their polling minimum to qualify. Steyer has received three of his four necessary polls, Gabbard has two and Williamson has one.

Cell phone video taken by hospital staff in El Paso shows President Donald Trump bragging about his earlier rally there and insulting El Paso native and presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke. Distributed by LAKANA. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

(CNN) - Twenty people were killed and more than two dozen were injured in a mass shooting at an El Paso shopping center on Saturday, according to Texas and local authorities. FBI El Paso Special Agent in Charge Emmerson Buie said more investigative work was needed before determining whether there was a possible hate crime. "Today's shooting in El Paso, Texas was not only tragic, it was an act of cowardice," the President wrote. "We know there is a lot of injury, a lot of suffering in El Paso right now," he said. "But I'll tell you, El Paso is the strongest place in the world," he added.

Police responded Saturday to an active shooter at a sprawling shopping complex in El Paso, Texas. How many victims there areMultiple people have been killed, though there is no concrete number yet, El Paso Mayor Dee Margo and Police Sgt. Thirteen people were taken to the University Medical Center of El Paso, where one later died, medical center spokesman Ryan Mielke said. "Today, the El Paso community was struck by a heinous and senseless act of violence," his statement said. "The state of Texas and the Department of Public Safety are assisting the El Paso Police Department as they conduct their investigation.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) speaks while former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) listen during the Democratic Presidential Debate at the Fox Theatre July 31, 2019, in Detroit. Hide Caption