Ben Philpott
is a senior reporter for KUT-FM, Austin's National Public Radio affiliate. He has been covering state politics and dozens of other topics for the station since 2002, during which time he has been recognized for outstanding radio journalism by the Radio and Television News Directors Association, Public Radio News Directors Incorporated, the Houston Press Club and the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters. Before moving to Texas, he worked in public radio in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, Ala., and at several television stations in Alabama and Tennessee. Born in New York City and raised in Chattanooga, Tenn., Philpott graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in broadcast journalism.
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photo illustration by: Todd Wiseman / Dennis Bartalon
With less than six weeks before Election Day, candidates are burning through campaign cash in their final push to sway voters. But when the race ends, many will still have money in the bank. So what do they do with it?
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Audrey Abbott, left, joins her father, Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott, to greet (from right) Matthew Tucker, Ellen Tucker, Michael Tucker and Joy Baughman during a block walk on Nov. 9., 2013, in Austin.
When most Texas voters think of traditional political campaigns, they envision blockwalking and yard signs. In many races, however, the modern-day "ground game" has gone digital.
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The Republican battle cry in Texas? Lowering taxes and cutting government costs. But sometimes, belt-tightening at the state level translates into trickle-down costs for local governments.
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photo by: Jennifer Whitney / Michael Stravato
State Sens. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, and Dan Patrick, R-Houston, will face off against each other in the general election for lieutenant governor.
No debates have been scheduled yet between lieutenant governor candidates Dan Patrick and Leticia Van de Putte. But the two spoke in front of the same crowd on Thursday, making a case for their candidacies and promoting their support for business. You can read the full story here.
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Gov. Rick Perry holds his Texas driver's license and his wallet as he heads to a west Austin early voting site on October 30, 2013.
Gov. Rick Perry took a beating on the presidential campaign trail for what some conservatives considered his soft stance on immigration. But now, as he eyes another bid, the same issue is allowing him to appeal to the voters who once rejected him.
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At a House Homeland Security Committee meeting on Tuesday, chairman Michael McCaul, R-Austin, said President Obama's immigration policies were to blame for the flood of children crossing the Texas-Mexico border.
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More than a thousand turned out at the Alamo on Saturday, Oct.19 for a protest over local, state and federal gun restrictions.
Groups pushing to expand the ability to carry firearms openly in Texas will be welcomed at this week's state Republican convention, but the GOP says the guns themselves will have to stay out.
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photo by: Marjorie Kamys Cotera / Mark Graham
A political mailer recently sent to thousands of Texans calls on Republicans to elect "Tea Party champions" in Tuesday's runoffs. Many Tea Party leaders throughout the state, however, have never heard of the group that put out the ad.
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Former state Reps. Tommy Merritt and Sid Miller, Republican candidates in runoff for agriculture commissioner.
In the runoff for the Republican nomination for agriculture commissioner, former state Rep. Sid Miller is touting his conservative credentials, but his opponent, former state Rep. Tommy Merritt, is more focused on experience.
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Jim Hogan, left, and Kinky Friedman are running in the Democratic primary for agriculture commissioner.
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photo by: Ivan Pierre Aguirre / Charlie Pearce
David Alameel (left) and Kesha Rogers
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photo by: Michael Stravato / Callie Richmond
State Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, and state Sen. Ken Paxton, R-McKinney, are in a runoff for attorney general.
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photo by: Courtesy LBJ Library Photo by David Valdez
Mark K. Updegrove, director of the LBJ Library, with, President Jimmy Carter. Updegrove is hosting an April summit featuring four presidents.
Four U.S. presidents — Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter — will visit Austin this week for a three-day summit commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
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Clockwise, the four GOP Candidates for Lt. Gov.: incumbent David Dewhurst, Agricultural Commissioner Todd Staples; Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson; and state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston.
The four Republican candidates for lieutenant governor took on end-of-life issues, border security and, of course, one another in an hour-long debate in Dallas.
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photo by: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Voting precinct at the Parker Lane United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas
Election Day is right around the corner — at least for voters in one Travis County state House district. Democrat Celia Israel and Republican Mike VanDeWalle will face off Jan. 28 in a special election runoff to succeed retiring Rep. Mark Strama.
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