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Ashley Lopez

Political Correspondent

Ashley Lopez is a political correspondent for NPR based in Austin, Texas. She joined NPR in May 2022. Prior to NPR, Lopez spent more than six years as a health care and politics reporter for KUT, Austin's public radio station. Before that, she was a political reporter for NPR Member stations in Florida and Kentucky. Lopez is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and grew up in Miami, Florida.

Story Archive

Monday

Putting The 'Ex' In Texas? AG Ken Paxton Faces Permanent Removal

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to reporters in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on April 26, 2022. STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

Putting The 'Ex' In Texas? AG Ken Paxton Faces Permanent Removal

Texas' top law enforcement official, Attorney General Ken Paxton, has been removed — at least temporarily — from his post by fellow Republicans, following years of allegations concerning ethical lapses and criminal conduct. A final vote in the state senate will decide his fate.

Putting The 'Ex' In Texas? AG Ken Paxton Faces Permanent Removal

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Tuesday

Thursday

National

In border towns, expected chaos after Title 42 ended hasn't materialized

As the immigration policy known as Title 42 draws to a close, residents of Brownsville, Texas, right along the border, are focused elsewhere.

In border towns, expected chaos after Title 42 ended hasn't materialized

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Tuesday

As immigration debate plays out, border towns want to paint a different picture

Migrants wait at the Gateway International port of entry under U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody in Brownsville, Texas, on May 5, before being sent back to Mexico under then-active Title 42 restrictions. Veronica G. Cardenas/AP hide caption

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Veronica G. Cardenas/AP

Politics

As immigration debate plays out, border towns want to paint a different picture

For the residents of Brownsville, Texas, the national spotlight often accompanies an increase in border crossings. But life goes on here, with or without the media attention.

As immigration debate plays out, border towns want to paint a different picture

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Thursday

Advocates in Florida clamor for a fix for the formerly incarcerated who want to vote

People vote in the midterm elections on Nov. 8, 2022, at a fire station in Hialeah, Fla. Lynne Sladky/AP hide caption

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Lynne Sladky/AP

Elections

Advocates in Florida clamor for a fix for the formerly incarcerated who want to vote

There's no easy way for Floridians returning from prison to figure out what's needed to regain their voting rights. And advocates are critical of language set to be added to voter registration cards.

Advocates in Florida clamor for a fix for the formerly incarcerated who want to vote

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Monday

Who Funds 'No Labels' Push For More 2024 Choices? They Won't Say.

Then-presidential candidate Bill Clinton(R), and President George Bush (L) listen as Independent presidential candidate Ross Perot (C) answers a question 15 October, 1992 at the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia. DAVID AKE/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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DAVID AKE/AFP via Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

Who Funds 'No Labels' Push For More 2024 Choices? They Won't Say.

Roughly half the country believes that neither Joe Biden nor Donald Trump should seek the presidency in 2024 — though both men are. A group called No Labels is laying the groundwork for a potential third party candidate, but they won't say where they're getting their money.

Who Funds 'No Labels' Push For More 2024 Choices? They Won't Say.

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Tuesday

Monday

Politics

Recent abortion policies could help sway women voters in the South

As the Supreme Court weighs in on a lower court decision related to mifepristone, how do suburban voters in Texas - ground zero for restrictions - view the national conversation around abortion?

Recent abortion policies could help sway women voters in the South

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Friday

Roundup: Ron DeSantis Wants GOP Backup; John Fetterman Gives A Mental Health Update

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to a crowd in South Carolina last week. Sean Rayford/Getty Images hide caption

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Sean Rayford/Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

Roundup: Ron DeSantis Wants GOP Backup; John Fetterman Gives A Mental Health Update

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is mulling over a 2024 run for the White House — and he currently stands as the biggest threat to former President Trump in the primary. But the Republican Governor has a tough race ahead of him, and it's unclear he can shore up enough support within the GOP.

Roundup: Ron DeSantis Wants GOP Backup; John Fetterman Gives A Mental Health Update

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Thursday

Fraud Risk? Candidates Pay Signature Gatherers To Get On Ballot

People sign a petition supporting Washington state Initiative 1621 on May 20, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. Karen Ducey/Getty Images hide caption

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Karen Ducey/Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

Fraud Risk? Candidates Pay Signature Gatherers To Get On Ballot

Want to put yourself or your cause on the ballot? Generally, you need to gather signatures first in order to signal support for your message. Last year, five would-be GOP gubernatorial hopefuls in Michigan were disqualified after allegedly fraudulent signatures were discovered on their petition documents. Now, election officials are raising the alarm about the risks associated with paid signature-gathering.

Fraud Risk? Candidates Pay Signature Gatherers To Get On Ballot

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The price of a ballot signature is way up, and experts worry it's encouraging fraud

A resident signs an initiative petition supporting a gun safety ballot measure on June 7, 2022, outside a library in Salem, Ore., as a signature gatherer holds the clipboard. Andrew Selsky/AP hide caption

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Andrew Selsky/AP

Elections

The price of a ballot signature is way up, and experts worry it's encouraging fraud

A scandal affecting Michigan Republicans last year highlighted instances of suspected fraud in the signature-gathering process. Some states are now looking to crack down on bad actors.

The price of a ballot signature is way up, and experts worry it's encouraging fraud

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Monday

Elections

There's a fraud problem with signature-gathering for elections

Signature-gathering for elections can be fraught. This was highlighted last year, when several Michigan Republicans were blocked from the governor's ballot due to thousands of invalid signatures.

There's a fraud problem with signature-gathering for elections

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Friday

What Does Biden Care About Most? Look At His Budget Proposal

President Joe Biden speaks about his proposed Federal budget for the fiscal year 2024 at the Finishing Trades Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 9, 2023. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

What Does Biden Care About Most? Look At His Budget Proposal

President Biden wants to raise income taxes on households earning more than $400,000 a year to shore up the social safety net, make community college and childcare less expensive, and boost investment in strategic industries in order to counter China. But, like all presidents' budgets, it is more a statement of principles than a concrete plan to be taken up by Congress.

What Does Biden Care About Most? Look At His Budget Proposal

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Wednesday

Wednesday

Christian Nationalism's Foothold In American Politics

US President Donald Trump holds up a Bible outside of St John's Episcopal church across Lafayette Park in Washington, DC on June 1, 2020. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

Christian Nationalism's Foothold In American Politics

A survey conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institution found that found more than half of Republicans believe the US should be a strictly Christian nation, adhering to the ideals of Christian nationalism or sympathizing with those views. While this remains a minority opinion nationwide, the study also found correlations between people who hold Christian nationalist views and Anti-Black, anti-immigrant, anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, and patriarchal views.

Christian Nationalism's Foothold In American Politics

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Tuesday

More than half of Republicans support Christian nationalism, according to a new survey

Voters mark their ballots for the midterm election Nov. 8, 2022, at Lawrenceville Road United Methodist Church in Tucker, Ga. Ben Gray/AP hide caption

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Ben Gray/AP

Politics

More than half of Republicans support Christian nationalism, according to a new survey

Christian nationalism has been seen as outside the mainstream. But new data from the Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institute indicates it's more common than many think.

More than half of Republicans support Christian nationalism, according to a new survey

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Tuesday

Florida Election Workers Warn Chaos Is Coming Without Reform

Bins labelled Ballots rejected as illegal and Ballots accepted as legal sit at the Miami Dade County Elections Department in Miami, Florida, on November 8, 2022. EVA MARIE UZCATEGUI/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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EVA MARIE UZCATEGUI/AFP via Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

Florida Election Workers Warn Chaos Is Coming Without Reform

Recent changes to Florida's election laws institute new requirements that, as designed, could cause huge numbers of ballots to be rejected in the state — a key presidential battleground. Election workers are warning that, without reforms, ballot counting could be extremely slow and voters in the state could be unexpectedly disenfranchised.

Florida Election Workers Warn Chaos Is Coming Without Reform

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Friday

Local election officials in Florida call for scrapping new ID rules for mail voting

Miami-Dade County elections workers begin counting Florida mail ballots on Nov. 8, 2022. Saul Martinez/Getty Images hide caption

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Saul Martinez/Getty Images

Elections

Local election officials in Florida call for scrapping new ID rules for mail voting

County election supervisors say the new restrictions will create significant election reporting delays and a slew of costs for local election offices, and could disenfranchise large numbers of voters.

Local election officials in Florida call for scrapping new ID rules for mail voting

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Friday

Wednesday

Elections

Encore: Prosecution against 20 people in Florida for voter fraud hits roadblocks

In 2022 Florida officials announced charges against 20 people for voter fraud, but the prosecution of these cases has hit some roadblocks.

Encore: Prosecution against 20 people in Florida for voter fraud hits roadblocks

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Wednesday

Florida's effort to charge 20 people with voter fraud has hit some roadblocks

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during an Aug. 18 news conference to announce that the state's new Office of Election Crimes and Security was in the process of arresting 20 individuals across the state for voter fraud. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption

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Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Elections

Florida's effort to charge 20 people with voter fraud has hit some roadblocks

Months after the controversial arrests, one case ended with a plea deal and at least three have been dismissed. And attorneys say Florida's cases face a tough road — even if they make it to trial.

Florida's effort to charge 20 people with voter fraud has hit some roadblocks

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Monday

The NPR Politics Podcast

Jan. 6 "Ringleader": Lawmakers Advise Criminal Charges For Trump

Lawmakers investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack advised four criminal charges be filed against former President Donald Trump over his role in the riot. One member noted that the U.S. does not have "a system of justice where foot soldiers go to jail and the masterminds and ringleaders get a free pass." The Department of Justice, entirely independent from Congress, may or may not choose to follow through on the group's referrals.

Jan. 6 "Ringleader": Lawmakers Advise Criminal Charges For Trump

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Thursday

An election probe heightens the tension between Texas leaders and the Houston area

In this 2020 file photo, an election poll worker stands among voting machines in Houston. Texas state Republican leaders are accusing officials in Houston's Harris County of "election improprieties" that marred Election Day last month. David J. Phillip/AP hide caption

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David J. Phillip/AP

Elections

An election probe heightens the tension between Texas leaders and the Houston area

After a series of issues in Democratic-leaning Harris County on Election Day, Republican state leaders in Texas have suggested criminal charges may be warranted.

An election probe heightens the tension between Texas leaders and the Houston area

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Monday

Rural Voters, Latino Voters Defy Easy Narratives in Midterms

Campaign signs for competing Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidates Doug Mastriano and Josh Shapiro sit in Mannheim, Pennsylvania on November 7, 2022. BRANDEN EASTWOOD/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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BRANDEN EASTWOOD/AFP via Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

Rural Voters, Latino Voters Defy Easy Narratives in Midterms

In Pennsylvania, Democratic candidates managed to turnout their rural supporters while many rural Republicans stayed home. And long-term under-investment in Latino voter engagement by Democrats continues to stymie the party's statewide hopes in places like Florida and Texas.

Rural Voters, Latino Voters Defy Easy Narratives in Midterms

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