Ross Ramsey: Texas Democratic candidates find friendly donors in hostile congressional districts

Democratic challengers outraised Republican congressional incumbents in seven races in Texas during the second quarter of the year. But in most of those races - including the statewide contest for U.S. Senate - recent election history favors the Republicans.

I’m sure everything will return to normal, any minute now

If you're looking for tea leaves to read about the upcoming election, 2nd quarter fundraising numbers in Texas offer a plausible source of optimism: There are few bigger warning signs for a member of Congress that their re-election may be in doubt than when a challenger outraises them. In Texas, it just happened to seven incumbents, all Republicans.

The story behind the MJ Hegar video

Mary Jennings "MJ" Hegar, a 42-year-old mother and Republican turned " independent Democrat " running for Congress in Texas, is an Air Force veteran and retired Air National Guard helicopter pilot who didn't let an abusive biological father, knee injuries, and sexual bias, harassment and assault stop her from doing three tours in Afghanistan that climaxed with a rescue mission gone awry in which she strapped herself to the skids of a chopper and fired at the Taliban. Her service earned her a Purple Heart.

Inside the three congressional districts Texas Democrats hope to turn blue in 2018

In the 2016 election cycle, Democrats pinned their hopes of flipping a red Congressional seat in Texas on just one district. With Trump's low approval rating and a surge of energy among voters on the left, Democrats say they have their best shot in years of taking back a few critical seats in Texas.

Trump budget cuts may stir backlash

President Donald Trump's proposals to slash federal aid to the poor, the sick and people living in rural areas reflect conservatives' demands for a smaller federal government but target many of the very people who voted for him last November. In his first detailed budget submission to Congress on Tuesday, Trump requested major reductions to programs that help poor families afford groceries and poor and disabled people get healthcare.

Letters: Protect Cumberland from development

This letter is in reply to Sam Candler's response to your editorial of April 19. His arguments for seeking to develop Cumberland Island are based upon the fact that his family has lived on the north end at Highpoint for many years. Now that his Highpoint property is reverting to the Park Service, he seeks to build private houses on the south of the island, on land that he purchased under the shield of Lumar, LLC in 1998.

Officials question if flurry of political visits really matter

U. S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-TX, talks with the media, along with, left to right, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC, U.S. Representative John Carter, R-TX, U.S. Representative Mike Conaway, R-TX, and U.S Representative David Rouzer, R-NC, before touring the Rio Grande at Anzalduas Park on Feb. 20, 2017 in Mission. photo by Joel Martinez/jmartinez@monitor.com U. S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-TX, talks with the media, along with, left to right, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC, U.S. Representative John Carter, R-TX, U.S. Representative Mike Conaway, R-TX, and U.S Representative David Rouzer, R-NC, before touring the Rio Grande at Anzalduas Park on Feb. 20, 2017 in Mission.

DHS shuts down aerial surveillance on border

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security quietly shut down Operation Phalanx, an aerial surveillance program that intercepts drugs and illegal crossings along the Mexican border. Cuellar, a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Homeland Security Subcommittee, is drafting a letter to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson protesting the shutdown.

Rep. Carter: House GOP ‘Better Way’ Plan Works on Healthcare Reform

The House Republicans' "Better Way" initiative marks the kinds of ideas the United States needs to get itself back on track, especially when it comes to healthcare reform Rep. Buddy Carter said in Saturday's GOP address. "People are frustrated," the Georgia Republican said he learned in a series of town hall meetings he held this past week in his district.