Texas Politics Correspondent Joins The Times

Overview

As The Times expands its coverage of a politically consequential state and amid two hotly contested Senate primaries, the newsroom announces Lauren McGaughy as its first Texas politics correspondent. Based in Austin, she will focus on state government and elections, delivering accountability-driven reporting and connecting readers to the power brokers shaping policy.

Profile: Lauren McGaughy

Lauren McGaughy is an accountability-focused journalist joining The Times as its first Texas politics correspondent. She will be based in Austin and cover Texas politics with a focus on state government and elections. With more than twelve years of watchdog reporting, she has built a reputation for digging deep beyond headlines.

Previously, she worked at The Texas Newsroom, a collaboration of public radio stations across the state, where she served as an investigative reporter and editor at KUT News in Austin. Her portfolio includes reporting on Elon Musk’s political influence and other stories that revealed how money and power shape policymaking, as well as investigations into prison conditions and a 2020 project that spurred a crackdown on hypnosis in police procedures. She has also examined LGBTQ issues and their policy implications.

Her career spans newspapers such as The Dallas Morning News and The Houston Chronicle, and earlier reporting from the Louisiana statehouse for The New Orleans Times-Picayune. She began her career covering foreign affairs for The Asahi Shimbun in Washington. Lauren will be based in Austin and will collaborate with colleagues across the National and Politics desks to deliver accountability reporting on the state’s power brokers.

Career milestones

• 12+ years reporting on Texas politics and policy
• Investigative focus on government transparency and accountability
• Coverage of Elon Musk’s political influence and related policy matters
• Reporting on prison conditions and policy changes
• Extensive LGBTQ policy coverage

Her diverse background promises rigorous, long-form coverage that connects local actions to statewide and national implications. Lauren will start in February and will work closely with teams across the newsroom to expand Texas coverage.

What this means for readers

Readers can expect deeper, data-driven reporting on state government and elections. The Times aims to deliver context-rich stories about money in politics, policy outcomes, and the power brokers who influence Texas decisions, helping readers understand not just what happened, but why it matters for their lives.

Welcome and next steps

“Lauren loves reading comic books, hanging with her cats, and photographing historic cemeteries. She frequently returns to New Orleans, where she is a huge fan of costuming, especially during Mardi Gras. Ask her about her wig collection.”

“Lauren will start in February. Please join us in welcoming her.”

— Nestor, Fernando and David