Experts in the News

Fellow Mark Jones joins Houston Matters to break down the latest political stories, including the end of the government shutdown and the Texas District 145 race

“By and large, [Beto O’Rourke is] a Democratic centrist; he’s not part of the party’s left wing,” fellow Mark Jones tells Mother Jones.

Fellow Mark Jones talks to the Texas Standard about President Trump’s recent visit to McAllen, Texas, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s offer for Texas to build the border wall. "This seems to be more Dan Patrick freelancing without any real conception of what he would actually be doing except providing a nice sound bite for the president."

Lina Hidalgo, who won a surprise victory over incumbent Ed Emmett last November, again demonstrated her political savvy when she announced last week she wouldn’t accept campaign contributions from county contractors. "It was a brilliant political move since it has won her support from across the political spectrum from voters and leaders who have long decried the endemic cronyism and pay-to-play politics in Harris County, the City of Houston and [the Houston Independent School District]," said political science fellow Mark Jones.

Political science fellow Mark P. Jones appeared on Houston Matters to discuss the new Democratic-controlled House's approach to resolving the government shutdown.