LOCAL/NEWS

02/25/2010

Obama picks Beaumont judge to be U.S. attorney for Collin, Denton, East Texas
The selection of John B. Stevens Jr. gives hope that a political impasse over judicial nominees in Texas may have been broken.

Roll of dice decides deadlocked Sealy city council race
Texas election law calls for lots to be cast if a runoff election is tied. Dice were used in Sealy, with the winner rolling the highest number.

Agriculture commissioner candidate Hank Gilbert would make people think Texas when they eat beef
It's not so much a question of what's for dinner as where it came from.

Kinky Friedman bringing animal welfare concerns into agriculture commissioner's race
Friedman wants to use his Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch in Medina as a prototype for state-run facilities across Texas.

Keith Olbermann turns down invitation to Saturday's Dallas Tea Party anniversary rally
At least one invited guest will not be coming to Saturday's Dallas Tea Party anniversary rally.

02/24/2010

Perry, Hutchison spar before crowd in Houston

Houston Chronicle

Republican gubernatorial candidates Kay Bailey Hutchison (left), Rick Perry and Debra Medina traded barbs Wednesday night at a Republican Party event in Houston.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison shared a stage with Gov. Rick Perry and made the case that Republicans should think twice before putting him on the ticket again.
Minuteman Project founder endorses Perry
Voter Guide: Compare candidates
Blog: Politics

02/25/2010

Hodge tells backers to stop pushing her candidacy for Texas House
State Rep. Terri Hodge asked supporters Wednesday to stop pushing her candidacy in the District 100 race for the Texas House.

Hutchison, Perry spend more than $14 million in advertising
AUSTIN – Kay Bailey Hutchison and Rick Perry poured more than $14 million into television and radio advertising in the last month as they escalated spending in their GOP primary showdown.

02/24/2010

State District Judge Mark Stoltz faces accusation ahead of primary
State District Judge Mark Stoltz, facing a re-election fight in Tuesday's Democratic primary, was accused of not telling "the whole truth" by another judge while testifying about whether or not he knew the victim of a man on trial for a string of purse snatchings in Stoltz's court.

Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist endorses Rick Perry for Texas governor

COURTNEY PERRY/DMN

Texas Gov. Rick Perry (left) accepts the endorsement of Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist Wednesday at the Crescent Hotel in Dallas.

"I had to come 1,200 miles to find a governor who believes in a simple principle called the rule of law," Gilchrist said Wednesday at the Crescent Hotel in Dallas.
Blog: Trail Blazers
Early voting sites for March 2 primary
Issues Watch: Where the Texas gubernatorial candidates stand
Voter Guide: Compare candidates, build your ballot

Politics blog: Disgraced legislator Terri Hodge urges residents not to vote for her
State Rep. Terri Hodge issued a statement today asking District 100 residents not to vote for her on March 2.

02/23/2010

Poll: More than half of Hispanics identify as conservative

AP File

Gov. Rick Perry draws support in the same poll, but some experts remain skeptical that more than a smattering of Hispanics will cast GOP ballots in next week's primary.
Voter Guide: See races, compare candidates
Blog: Trail Blazers
Find your early voting location

Hutchison says she is the true conservative in Texas governor race
Four more years of the incumbent, she says, will mean more taxes and more out-of-control spending.

02/24/2010

Texas politics briefs
AUSTIN – Hit with accusations of spreading "cronyism" throughout state government, Gov. Rick Perry is hitting back, arguing that the law firm where Kay Bailey Hutchison used to work with her husband, Ray, was found by a federal civil jury to have defrauded investors in a 1990s-era private prison deal.

Issues Watch: The Border
Where the major candidates for governor stand on placing Texas Guard troops on the border with Mexico:

02/23/2010

Texans turning out in big numbers for primaries
AUSTIN – Texans are turning out in big numbers in this year's primaries, buoyed by a high-profile race for governor with candidates crisscrossing the state and spending millions on TV.

02/22/2010

Social conservative faces tough battle for state ed board seat
The battle will largely be determined by GOP primary voters in 4 races, including for a seat that represents parts of Collin County and East Texas.
Texans turning out in big numbers for primaries
Voter guide: Compare candidates

Outside money pours into Texas House race in Irving
The race for Texas House District 105 is drawing a lot of green as Republicans fight to keep Irving red and Democrats try to turn it blue.

Bill White refers to GOP rivals for governor as 'forces of darkness'
Former Houston Mayor Bill White on Saturday called on Dallas County Democrats to rally around his candidacy for Texas governor in order to stop the Republican "forces of darkness."

02/20/2010

GOP rivals for Texas governor vie for votes

DMN Staff

By bus, car and plane, three Republican candidates cut swaths through the state, on the path – each hopes – to becoming the next Texas governor. Here's a look at their journeys.
Photos: Kay Bailey Hutchison | Debra Medina | Rick Perry
Video: On the campaign trail
Blog: Politics
50 facts about each candidate
Early voting locations
More election news
Link: Compare candidates

Pilot's decision to crash plane reflects despair of many in U.S., Medina says
AUSTIN – Republican Debra Medina said Friday that the decision of a man fighting the IRS to crash his airplane into a building in Austin reflects "the hopelessness many in our society feel."

02/19/2010

Calls still urge voters to support disgraced Rep. Terri Hodge's defunct campaign
Residents of Texas House District 100 have received automated telephone calls this week urging them to vote for disgraced state Rep. Terri Hodge.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry says he intends to win GOP primary outright
But he says that if he's forced into a runoff with U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison after the March 2 primary, "it's not the end of the world."

Trail Blazers blog: Robo calls pushing felon Terri Hodge in Texas House District 100 race
If the election went to Hodge, who can no longer hold a public office after pleading guilty on a federal tax evasion charge, the district's precinct chairs would pick a Democratic nominee to run in November's general election

02/18/2010

GOP rivals for State House District 65 tangle over budget, immigration issues at forum
Budget-balancing and immigration issues are fueling the campaign in State House District 65, where longtime incumbent Burt Solomons faces a challenge from former congressional candidate Mike Murphy.

Politics blog: Dick Armey calls Obama a self-righteous ideologue at CPAC
Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, the former congressman said Obama is 'the most incompetent president perhaps in our lifetime.'
More politics news

More of Shami's campaign staffers quit, citing 'strategic differences'
AUSTIN – Houston businessman Farouk Shami's bid to be governor saw another day of turmoil Wednesday, with yet another shuffling of campaign staff.

Texas governor Perry won't say if he'd seek 4th term
AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday that he wouldn't address yet whether the four-year term he's seeking would be his last as governor.

Democratic lieutenant governor primary has no clear favorite
The three candidates agree on most issues and on their top priority: beating GOP incumbent David Dewhurst.
Blog: Trail Blazers
Voter Guide: Compare candidates
Complete elections coverage

02/17/2010

Trail Blazers blog: Perry won't rule out surpassing 14 years as governor
In a recent debate with GOP primary opponents, Perry said that he intends to serve out a third full term, voters and God willing. In other words, he doesn't intend to run for president or vice president in 2012.

02/19/2010

50 things you need to know about the candidates for Texas governor
Politicians are people, too. The five leading candidates for Texas governor come from different places and have led rich but distinct lives. Few voters get to meet the candidates in person, so we compiled 50 things you need to know about each as you decide who gets your vote.

50 things you need to know about Kay Bailey Hutchison

50 things you need to know about Debra Medina

50 things you need to know about Rick Perry

50 things you need to know about Farouk Shami

50 things you need to know about Bill White

02/17/2010

Issues Watch: Gubernatorial candidates on the budget shortfall
Where the major candidates for governor stand on the state budget shortfall:

Texas universities identify possible budget cuts
Texas' public universities and colleges have already taken financial hits from declines in endowments and in private giving. Now, they have been asked to identify cuts that make up 5 percent of the state-funded portion of their budgets. Here are some campuses plans.

Clements throws support to Perry despite sponsoring a Hutchison fundraiser
Former Gov. Bill Clements is backing Gov. Rick Perry in the Republican primary, even though he sponsored a fundraiser for Kay Bailey Hutchison last year.

At A Glance: State agencies' proposed cuts
State agencies offered potential budget cuts of 5 percent Tuesday, at the request of state leaders who are worried about a big budget shortfall when lawmakers convene in January. Here are some highlights:

02/16/2010

Politicians cast ballots as early voting for March primaries begins
As usual, politicians were among the first in line as gubernatorial candidate Kay Bailey Hutchison cast her ballot in North Dallas and Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price voted downtown.

Missions differ for Texas governor hopefuls

The main contenders for governor head into the final two-week sprint.
Voter guide: Compare candidates
Early voting starts today | Where to vote
Hutchison calls for 'Independence Day' from Perry, who pounds Washington
Blog: Politics

Hutchison calls for 'Independence Day' from Perry, who pounds Washington

AP

While campaigning in the Dallas area Monday, Kay Bailey Hutchison (above) called on Texans to liberate themselves from Rick Perry, and Perry continuing to pound Washington and, by association, Hutchison.

The leading contenders in the Republican governor's race campaigned in North Texas on Monday.
Missions differ for Texas governor hopefuls
Voter guide: Compare candidates
Early voting starts Tuesday
Blog: Politics

02/15/2010

Rick Perry to trim his office's budget to 'lead by example'
A 7 percent reduction will come through a $20 million cut to the Texas Enterprise Fund, and 4 percent more from 'returned budget authority.'
Download: See a summary of cuts
Voter guide: Compare candidates
Early voting starts Tuesday
Blog: Politics

Early voting for March primaries starts today
The early voting period ends on Feb. 26

Poll: Texas voters favor cutting highway funds first

With up to a $16 billion budget shortfall facing the state next year, 41 percent of Texans said in a new poll they would slice highway spending. The answer could be a minor setback to Gov. Rick Perry.
Voter Guide: Compare candidates
Early voting starts Tuesday
Blog: Politics
Poll: Perry leads Hutchison

02/14/2010

Memorial attendees remember Charlie Wilson with laughter
Former Rep. Charlie Wilson was remembered Sunday as a man who helped change history in Afghanistan after the Soviet Union invaded but at the same time didn't take himself too seriously. The memorial service brought dignitaries from around the state to Angelina College for a service that celebrated the one-of-a-kind congressman.

Environment, agriculture get larger campaign play
Environmentalists' favorite buzz words – green energy, biofuels, sustainable development – are fast becoming the jargon of agriculture workers and the politicians who support them.

Democratic candidates for Irving seat in Texas House highlight credentials of different types
The two Democratic candidates for the Texas House District 105 seat, which covers most of Irving, highlight experience as their strong suits. It's just different kinds of experience that they're stressing.

Perry leads in poll, has shot at avoiding GOP primary runoff
Rick Perry's anti-Washington message has mired Kay Bailey Hutchison for the Republican primary race for governor, according to a new Dallas Morning News poll.
Poll results: Texas political matchups
Perry leads Democrat White in poll, but not by a lot
Graphic: Issues Watch
Graphic: Inside the poll

Poll results: Respondents' answers to questions about Texas political matchups
Here's how respondents to a poll conducted for The Dallas Morning News and other major Texas newspapers answered questions about political matchups:

02/13/2010

Perry leads Democrat White in poll, but not by a lot
While Gov. Rick Perry is leading in the polls, some potential storm clouds lie ahead in the fall general election if he's the Republican nominee.

Shami says whites unwilling to take on jobs in factories
Democratic candidate for governor Farouk Shami said Friday that white people are not willing to work in factories and as a result, Hispanic labor is essential to the Texas economy.

02/12/2010

Democratic candidate for governor Farouk Shami says white people not willing to work in factories
Democratic candidate for governor Farouk Shami said Friday that white people are not willing to work in factories and as a result, Hispanic labor is essential to the Texas economy.

GOP gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina doing damage control after 9/11 remarks
She continues to backpedal from remarks that she has questions whether the U.S. government was involved in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Politics blog: Something Perry, Hutchison agree on
More politics news

FIND IT

MOST POPULAR