Republican Party Of Texas

Just a Few Races Will Tell You How the Wind Blows

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 13, 2014

Nearly 700 people are running for various state offices, but to figure out the direction of Texas politics, you only need to see the results in a few of those contests. Full Story

Credit: Jack Plunkett / Erika Rich
Changing the Characters, but Not Their Parties

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 3, 2014

The legislative changes coming in the 2014 elections mean several current lawmakers will be replaced. But their voters, in almost all instances, are likely to stick with politicians of the same party. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Year in Review: Politics

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 31, 2013

2013 wasn't supposed to be a very political year, but in this very political state, it became one. Full Story
For Democrats, a Habit of Losing Big Elections

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 30, 2013

For Texas Democrats, 2014 marks another run at the statewide offices that have remained out of their reach for two decades. Their challenge: convincing voters that a Democrat can win a statewide race here. Full Story

Credit: Tamir Kalifa
Harold Simmons, GOP Mega-Donor, Dead at 82

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 29, 2013

Harold Simmons, a Dallas businessman and billionaire, philanthropist and Republican mega-donor, died Saturday at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. He was 82. Full Story
Texas Democrats See Judge's Party Switch as Sign of Momentum

By Jay Root Dec. 20, 2013

Democrats say the the decision by Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Lawrence Meyers to leave the Republican Party gives them something to build on for the 2014 elections. But GOP officials see no evidence of a sea change. Full Story

Credit: Rodger Mallison / Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Abbott Urges Reform, Not Repeal, of DREAM Act

By Jay Root Oct. 11, 2013

While other Republicans make noise about repealing the law that lets young undocumented immigrants pay in-state tuition rates, the front-running GOP candidate for governor has been silent on the issue. Aides say he wants to reform the law — not repeal it. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Cornyn Tries to Make His Own Political Luck

By Ross Ramsey Oct. 11, 2013

The state's senior U.S. senator is up for re-election and drawing criticism from the Republican Party's right wing — but John Cornyn might get out of 2014 without serious opposition. Full Story

Credit: Gage Skidmore
Libertarian Kathie Glass Announces Bid for Governor

By David Maly Oct. 2, 2013

Houston lawyer Kathie Glass announced Wednesday that she will again run as a Libertarian candidate for governor, saying Texas voters are frustrated with the two major parties. Full Story
Republicans Invoke an Off-Ballot Candidate

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 27, 2013

No matter what office they are running for in 2014, every Republican in Texas seems to be running against the same opponent: Barack Obama. Full Story

Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune
Pauken Leans In, Against the GOP's Status Quo

By Ross Ramsey July 5, 2013

The former Texas Republican Party chairman is betting his fellow conservatives want a change of direction after a dozen years of Gov. Rick Perry and what he says would be "more of the same" from Attorney General Greg Abbott. Full Story

Credit: Michael Stravato
For Democrats, Abortion Debate and Filibuster Create a Line in the Sand

By Ross Ramsey June 28, 2013

Texas Democrats had a big win on a big stage Tuesday night. Can they keep it going? Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Guest Column: Texas Should Leave Redistricting Alone

By Matt Angle April 30, 2013

Republican leaders in Texas want the Legislature to take up redistricting this session. That's a bad idea, writes Matt Angle, director of the Lone Star Project. Full Story
TribLive: A Conversation With Tony Garza

By Evan Smith April 19, 2013

Full video of my April 18 TribLive conversation with former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza. Full Story
The Polling Center: A Seat for the Tea Party

By Joshua Blank and Jim Henson April 19, 2013

Sentiment for the Tea Party remains strong within the GOP, but what started as an insurgent group is becoming just another — albeit important — part of the Republican Party in Texas. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
TribLive: Garza on Latinos and the GOP

By Evan Smith April 18, 2013

At Thursday's TribLive conversation, former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza talked about the efforts of Republicans — nationally and in Texas — to attract Latino voters. Full Story
Polling Center: Education Wasn't a Silver Bullet for Democrats

By Chris Perkins April 18, 2013

A couple of Democrats won election in 2012 talking about education, but that doesn't mean the issue was a silver bullet for the minority party. Lots of others talked about it and lost, and the two who won were victorious in districts favorable to them. Full Story
Losing a Once-in-a-Lifetime Political Donor

By Ross Ramsey April 16, 2013

With the death this weekend of Houston homebuilder Bob Perry, Texas Republicans lost one of their stalwarts, and one of their biggest and most reliable donors. So did a few Democrats. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Randal Ford / Todd Wiseman
A House Less Susceptible to Political Stampedes

By Ross Ramsey April 5, 2013

In 2011, state lawmakers fresh from a Tea Party election surge were hypersensitive to the opinions of and instructions from conservative activists. But as Thursday's House budget debate showed, this session isn't quite the same. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Guest Column: Minority Voters Aren't Anti-Government

By Mustafa Tameez April 1, 2013

In their quest to woo minority voters, Republican leaders are missing something important: Most of those voters won't buy the party's anti-government message. Full Story

Credit: Ross Ramsey