The Texas Weekly Hotlist, General Election 2014
In which we rank the races by risk to the incumbents and/or the level of drama for candidates and voters in the state's congressional and legislative races.
Full StoryIn which we rank the races by risk to the incumbents and/or the level of drama for candidates and voters in the state's congressional and legislative races.
Full StoryWith the early voting period for the upcoming midterm elections almost halfway done, the urge to read sustainable trends in the numbers collected so far is almost irresistible.
Full StoryThis week in the Newsreel: The UT/TT polls are out ahead of the general election, Ebola swirls with politics and a longtime Dewhurst aide pleads guilty to embezzlement of campaign funds.
Full StoryFor this week’s nonscientific survey of our insiders in politics and government, we asked about the statewide contests in the general election.
Full StoryKey meetings and events for the coming week.
Full StoryActually, the reason why you're uncertain about it is because I didn't answer the question. And I can't go back and answer some hypothetical question like that.
GOP nominee for governor Greg Abbott, choosing not to answer a question from the San Antonio Express-News' Peggy Fikac on whether he would have defended a ban on interracial marriage
When people are concerned about catching a potentially deadly disease, that's going to trump all.
University of Houston political science professor Jason Casellas on concerns about the Ebola virus pushing state politics off the front burner on the eve of the start of early voting
You all seem to be mesmerized by: How do I even have a chance anymore after what I did?
Louisiana U.S. Rep. Vance McAllister, aka the "kissing congressman," on testing the electorate's limits for forgiveness as he runs for re-election
That’s what’s transforming politics. Everything has to be pithy, everything has to be short, everything has to be succinct. That’s what I’m here to do.
GOP ad man Vincent Harris on the tough task of holding on to eyeballs given how little time the average user spends on a website on mobile devices
The finger-pointing continued after the infection of two health care workers with the Ebola virus in Dallas. But questions were also raised as to whether state leaders used all the tools at their disposal to contain those who might have been exposed. And the state's task force on Ebola met, where it was emphasized that the state must be better prepared for future outbreaks of infectious disease.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's former adviser Kenneth "Buddy" Barfield pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges of wire fraud, making a false tax return and embezzlement of funds contributed to a federal candidate. As part of the plea, Barfield admitted to taking $1.8 million from two Dewhurst campaign accounts from 2008 to 2012.
House Speaker Joe Straus took a position contrary to the increasingly popular stance in his party that the job-creating incentive Texas Enterprise Fund should be shut down. Straus, in remarks on Thursday at the annual meeting of the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, said the program should be reformed but not necessarily eliminated.
Tonight's debate between Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Democratic challenger David Alameel will be seen in English after all. The Univision affiliate in Dallas planned to broadcast the debate dubbed into Spanish on Saturday. But The Texas Tribune will livestream the encounter, as will KUVN 23 Univision.
Disclosure: Univision is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.
Roberto Dominguez of Elsa was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the board of the Office of Violent Sex Offender Management for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2016.
Elizabeth “Christy” Jack of Fort Worth was reappointed by Perry to the board of the Office of Violent Sex Offender Management for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2016.
Maggie Jaramillo of Richmond was appointed by Perry as judge of the 400th Judicial District Court in Fort Bend County for a term to expire at the 2016 general election.
Jeff Meador of Austin was appointed by Perry to the Texas Lottery Commission for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2015.
GOP nominee for lieutenant governor Dan Patrick won the endorsement of the Texas Right to Life Political Action Committee.
GOP nominee for railroad commissioner Ryan Sitton won the endorsement of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
Democratic nominee for HD-94 Cole Ballweg won the endorsement of the Texas Municipal Police Association and the Texas RN/APRN PAC.