LOCAL/NEWS

03/09/2010

Health care costs open $1.7 billion hole in Texas budget
AUSTIN – Lawmakers have been thinking ahead to a massive shortfall, topping $10 billion, that's probably coming when they write the next budget in 2011. But state officials told them Monday that they'll have to fix a hole in the current budget, too.

03/08/2010

Sen. John Cornyn says Texas only 'marginally' Republican
Sen. John Cornyn called Texas only “marginally” Republican this morning, less than a week after a primary that drew the most GOP voters in at least 30 years.

03/07/2010

What if Hutchison had piped up earlier?
Let's talk for a moment about the importance of speaking up when it might make a difference.

Voter ID among GOP resolutions
AUSTIN – Texas Republicans rallied behind resolutions on voter identification, spending and other issues in their primary last week.

Presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty says 'America is in trouble' at Dallas County GOP dinner
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Saturday urged conservatives gathered in North Dallas to stand up against government's "creeping tyranny" in order to protect personal liberties and the nation's security.

03/06/2010

Online hotel bookers ask Congress to restrict how Texas and its cities collect room taxes
AUSTIN – Online hotel bookers have asked Congress to restrict how Texas cities and the state collect room taxes, a move that already strapped governments call a sneak attack on their wallets.

03/04/2010

Perry urges Hutchison to finish Senate term
Gov. Rick Perry, who spent the past year bashing Kay Bailey Hutchison’s record in the U.S. Senate, said Thursday that he hopes she does not resign and serves out the rest of her term.

Texas primary turnout is highest in 20 years
The high-profile Republican race for governor helped draw the most voters to a Texas primary election in 20 years – and perhaps set a record for a GOP primary.

Primary election results not likely to shift leadership in Texas Legislature
AUSTIN – While voters rejected five House incumbents in Tuesday's primaries, every senator who filed to run for re-election was renominated – even one in Waco who stopped campaigning.

Ron Kirk is not amused by secession talk
WASHINGTON – U.S. Trade Representative and former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk tore into the Texas GOP fringe's flirtation with secession Wednesday, comparing such comments to a return to "the Jim Crow South."

Incumbent Texas Railroad Commission chair blames loss on voter bias
The chairman of the state Railroad Commission is blaming his overwhelming loss to an unknown challenger in Tuesday's Republican primary on GOP voters' bias against his Hispanic surname.

McLeroy loses education post, but his term's not over yet
AUSTIN – Social conservatives on the State Board of Education suffered a setback with the primary loss of former board chairman Don McLeroy, but the group still aims to have its say on setting new curriculum standards.

DISD teacher's victory surprised longtime education board member
AUSTIN – After 26 years of representing her State Board of Education district in the Dallas area, Geraldine Miller was expecting to cruise to another Republican nomination.

Cornyn calls Perry's label for Hutchison 'unfair'
Texas Sen. John Cornyn issued a tough critique Wednesday of Gov. Rick Perry's effort to tar Kay Bailey Hutchison as a creature of Washington, calling that "unfair."

03/03/2010

Primaries are over for Perry, White: Let the barbs begin
The campaign between Bill White and Rick Perry began even before the barbecue hit the plate at the Tuesday night primary parties.

Hutchison's plans after defeat still 'the million-dollar question'
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison lay low on Wednesday after her decisive rejection in the governor's race, taking advice about her future from friends as those waiting for a shot at her job bided their time.

Cornyn: Perry 'unfair' in painting Hutchison as representing Washington

TOM FOX/DMN

Texas Sen. John Cornyn says Gov. Rick Perry unfairly attacked Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison during their race for the GOP governor nomination.

Cornyn also voiced hope that Hutchison stays in the Senate until her term expires in about 20 months.
High turnout clogs Collin polls
Politics blog: GOP incumbent: Hispanic surname caused loss
Photos: Election Day
Videos: Perry wins | Hutchison concedes

U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall bests 5 challengers in bid for 16th term
The North Texas congressional delegation held off challenges in Republican primaries, many beating back Tea Party opponents.

Tea Party activists come up short in Texas Legislature races
For all the recent Tea Party talk, moderate Republicans were on their way toward carrying a number of closely watched contests for the Texas Legislature.

Johnson leads Hodge for Democrats' nod in Texas House District 100 race
Dallas lawyer Eric Johnson took a commanding lead over disgraced lawmaker Terri Hodge on Tuesday evening in the closely watched Democratic primary for the Texas House District 100 seat.

Incumbent Victor Carrillo loses rail panel race to David Porter
Accountant David Porter defeated incumbent Victor Carrillo on Tuesday for the Republican nomination for a seat on the three-member Texas Railroad Commission. Porter will face Democrat Jeff Weems, 51, a Houston lawyer, in the general election.

Election briefs
Election briefs

Gilbert beats Friedman to become Democrats' ag commissioner nominee
East Texas rancher Hank Gilbert roped in the Democratic nomination for agriculture commissioner Tuesday, beating author-musician Kinky Friedman in an unusually lively primary race.

Analysis: Hutchison failed to make compelling case for change

TOM FOX/DMN

Kay Bailey Hutchison concedes at Eddie Deen's Ranch in Dallas Tuesday night.

The senator had many reasons to believe she'd beat Rick Perry for governor. But the anti-Washington wave swept them all away. Late Tuesday, she lost her bid to force Perry into a runoff amid the whipsaw politics of the Tea Party movement.
For Hutchison, an 'abrupt end to dream'
Bill White, Rick Perry win Texas governor nominations
Editorial: Perry, White must hone messages for November

Chavez-Thompson wins Democratic lieutenant governor nomination over Earle
Former labor leader Linda Chavez-Thompson, buoyed by support from labor and Hispanic groups, defeated her two opponents Tuesday in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor.

03/02/2010

Bill White, Rick Perry win Texas governor nominations

AP

Perry said he would unite a fractured Texas Republican Party in the November general election and stressed that Washington politics had no place in the Lone Star state.
Analysis: Hutchison failed to make case for change
For Hutchison, an 'abrupt end to dream'
Perry swears in recruits, goes for a run as votes are cast
Editorial: Perry, White must hone messages for November

Ratliff tops McLeroy in tight Texas ed board race
Mount Pleasant Republican Thomas Ratliff narrowly beat veteran State Board of Education member Don McLeroy in the GOP primary for the board seat that represents Collin County and much of Northeast Texas.

Texas Primary 2010: Winners and losers
A look at how the winners won and the losers lost – and what the results mean.

Rick Perry swears in military recruits, goes for a run as primary votes are cast
Perry capped a long slog for his party's blessing to stay put, to remain in the office he's been in for nine years, with quintessential Perry events Tuesday.

03/03/2010

For Hutchison, an 'abrupt end to dream'
Right to the end, virtually until the polls closed, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison kept a game face as her yearlong quest to oust a sitting governor came to a head.

03/02/2010

Texas' U.S. House members win in primary election
The anti-incumbent sentiment presumably aimed at Congress isn't costing any Texas congressional members their jobs -- for now.

Conservative Christian wins GOP nomination for District 5 State Board of Education seat
Ken Mercer defeated Austin attorney Tim Tuggey on Tuesday night and will face one of four Democrats vying for his District 5 seat in November.

03/01/2010

Texas governor hopefuls make final pitches before primary
The two Republicans, along with Democrat Bill White, wrapped up whirlwind days with trips to Dallas.

Can Republican gubernatorial candidates mend the rift by November?

03/02/2010

Medina supporter arrested for placing campaign sign on municipal property in Watauga
Watauga police said Christopher Howe, a 29-year-old Fort Worth resident, was arrested after he was repeatedly asked to remove a sign that was placed in violation of a city ordinance.

Slater: Verdict in Bob Perry case was a message about court system
AUSTIN — When a jury ruled against Houston homebuilder Bob Perry this week in the long legal battle with a retirement-age Mansfield couple with a defective house, it was more than a judgment.

03/01/2010

Friedman, Gilbert assail proposed Texas cuts in food aid
In their last dash for votes Monday, the Democrats running for Texas agriculture commissioner blasted proposed food aid cuts, saying they would hurt the people who need them most – the disabled and the elderly.

Secretary of State won't forecast Tuesday turnout for Texas primary
Hope Andrade's office said Monday that recent surges in early voting haven't necessarily coincided with huge increases in turnout.
Voter Guide: Compare candidates
Find your Tuesday polling location
DMN Editorial Board recommendations
Election stories recap
Blog: Politics

GOP Sen. Bob Deuell rejects 'liberal' label hurled by primary rival Sharon Russell
AUSTIN – Sen. Bob Deuell, chairman of the chamber's Republican Caucus and one of the more conservative members of the Senate, never expected to be attacked as liberal in his re-election bid this year.

02/28/2010

Gov. Rick Perry's campaign is more text than talk

STEWART F. HOUSE/Special Contributor

Perry is using traditional campaign techniques, but he has turned to social media networks to promote voter turnout.
Hutchison says she can unite Republicans
Twitter election chatter
50 things to know about candidates
Voter guide
Polling locations
Blog: Politics

03/01/2010

Texas elections issue watch: Voter ID
Where the major candidates for governor stand on whether the state should require voters to show photo identification to cast a ballot:

Hutchison says she can unite Republicans
PLANO – With only two days left to change the course of the Republican primary for governor, Kay Bailey Hutchison argued Sunday that the party's other candidates would fare better with her at the top of the ticket than with Rick Perry leading the way.

02/28/2010

Elections will tell us just how potent Tea Party's brew is
In just over a year, the Tea Party movement has spawned campaigns in Texas for governor, the Legislature and Congress. Election returns Tuesday will help gauge how potent that force has become.

Bill White calls for accuracy in census in Dallas
Democratic candidate for governor Bill White urged a complete census count of Texans on Saturday, using the pitch to take a poke at Gov. Rick Perry.

What caused Washington to be a campaign issue in Texas governor's race?
AUSTIN – Rep. Brandon Creighton had an idea, but he needed help.

DISD educator challenges incumbent in ed board's Dallas-Collin-Rockwall district
Longtime State Board of Education member Geraldine Miller of Dallas faces opposition in the Republican primary from a veteran educator in the Dallas school district.

George W. Bush joins Rick Perry, Kay Bailey Hutchison at church benefit but stays neutral
Gov. Rick Perry courted anti-abortion voters Sunday night at a huge church benefit dinner that featured former President George W. Bush. Perry’s rival, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, attended but did not speak.

Hutchison predicts runoff; Perry talks about 'sensible approach' to gun laws
Kay Bailey Hutchison predicted a runoff in the Republican race for governor, telling voters Saturday that "we're going to start all over" and win.

Republicans vying for Texas governor finish with the familiar in TV ads
AUSTIN – TV viewers will see familiar images, not a fresh infusion of new ads with varying messages, in the final three days of campaigning for the Republican primary for governor.

02/27/2010

Why is D.C. an issue in governor's race?
Rick Perry's and Kay Bailey Hutchison's reactions to the anti-Washington feeling that exploded in the Republican Party define the battle that culminates in Tuesday's primary.
Compare the candidates
50 things to know about the candidates
Issues Watch: See where the candidates stand
Polling locations
Blog: Politics

Perry brags about grassroots fundraising, but most money on record day came from a wealthy few
AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry bragged this week about making fundraising history in a Texas governor's race by bringing in $1.3 million in one day from grassroots support.

Hutchison says she's staying in Senate for now to fight health care overhaul
AUSTIN – Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said Friday that she is prepared to stay in the Senate for as long as eight more months if Congress is still debating health care reform.

02/26/2010

Documents show relatively few donors loaded Gov. Rick Perry's campaign 'Money Cannon'
Reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission show that only 43 donors provided the first $1 million, and the total $1.28 million was netted from just 123 givers.
Link: Texas Ethics Commission
Find your Tuesday polling location
Voter Guide: Compare candidates, build your ballot
Issues Watch: See where governor candidates stand
Blog: Trail Blazers

Trail Mix

Democrat Farouk Shami confident as he casts ballot
THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Democrat Farouk Shami voted early Thursday and said he was "100 percent confident" he'd win his party's nomination for governor. The 67-year-old hair-care business founder voted at a community center in the north Houston suburb where he lives.

02/25/2010

With Hodge still on ballot, mail votes could be key in House Democratic primary
The District 100 race features Dallas lawyer Eric Johnson, who is running against a band of activists and politicos pushing voters to choose disgraced state Rep. Terri Hodge.

Campaigning in the Valley, Democrat Bill White blasts Rick Perry's record
Bill White dashed through seven cities in the Rio Grande Valley on Thursday, trying to lock down votes for Tuesday's Democratic primary but already looking ahead to a fall contest against incumbent Gov. Rick Perry.

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.

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.

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