Paying Off Toll Roads Could Top $30 Billion
If Texas decided to pay off construction debt on nearly all of its toll roads tomorrow, the price tag would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $30 billion, according to a preliminary report. Full Story
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![The Sam Houston Parkway, along with the Sam Houston Tollway, in Houston.]()
Credit: Ken Lund -
Analysis: Low Voter Turnout in Texas Gets Obama's Attention
Perhaps it’s not in the best interests of the people now in office in Texas — whatever their party labels — to change the electoral setup that put them in office. Full Story
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![President Obama talked about civic engagement in a digital age during an interview with The Texas Tribune's Evan Smith at the South by Southwest Interactive festival on March 11, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich / Pool -
Analysis: Politics Wasn't at Play With Tax Hearing, Bettencourt Says
After questions about a special Senate committee hearing in San Antonio, and the appearance there of a challenger to House Speaker Joe Straus, state Sen. Paul Bettencourt makes a fairly strong case that there’s nothing to see here. Full Story
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![Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: Endorsements, Loyalties — and Getting Things Done
Endorsements seem harmless enough, but several state senators will have to eat some crow to get their legislation passed next year. They endorsed challengers to fellow legislators — and lost. Full Story
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![The three senators who sent the fewest bills to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk this session: Bob Hall, R-Edgwood (left), Konni Burton, R-Colleyville (middle) and Don Huffines, R-Dallas (right).]()
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How Much Texas Politicians Spent per Vote in 2016 Primaries
House Speaker Joe Straus spent $307 for every vote he got in Tuesday's primary election, leading the pack of state candidates. Here's a table detailing how much money selected state candidates spent for each vote they got. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Stuart Seeger -
Analysis: A Good Election Night to Be an Incumbent
For all of the talk and bluster about replacing the people in government with new folks, Texas voters on Tuesday were remarkably gentle with incumbents, giving nearly all of them a ticket to the general election in November. Full Story
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![Supporters wait for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz to take the stage at the Redneck Country Club in Stafford, Texas on the evening of the Texas primary on Mar. 1, 2016.]()
Credit: Eric Kayne -
Straus, and Most of His House Allies, Survive Challenges From Right
House Speaker Joe Straus sailed to victory in his re-election bid and he avoided a significant net loss in fights between hard right conservatives and his lieutenants elsewhere in the state. Full Story
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![The House of Representatives on May 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Liveblog: 2016 Texas Primary Results
Throughout the night, Tribune reporters will keep you updated on the results of Texas' Republican and Democratic primary battles, from the first early voting totals through the last ballots counted. Full Story
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![Travis County voters cast ballots at Travis County Tax Office on Feb. 25, 2016.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles -
Open Legislative Races Draw More than 70 Candidates
A slew of open seats in the Legislature means there will be at least 18 freshman lawmakers in the Capitol come January. Two thirds of the open seats are currently held by a Republican. Full Story
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![The March 1 primary ballot will feature 18 open seats in the Texas Legislature – two in the Senate and 16 in the House.]()
Credit: Steve Laugh -
UT/TT Poll: Foreign Terrorists the Greatest Threat to U.S., Texans Say
Foreign terrorist groups and illegal immigration are the greatest threats to the United States, according to voters surveyed for the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Emily Albracht -
Open Senate Seat Sparks Four-Way Race
With longtime state Sen. Kevin Eltife's retirement, four GOP candidates in Senate District 1 are racing to define themselves as conservative outsiders, including state Reps. Bryan Hughes and David Simpson. Full Story
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![Top Row: David Simpson and Bryan Hughes
Bottom Row: Major General James K. "Red" Brown Jr. and Mike Lee]()
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In Central Texas House Race, Candidates Disagree on Speaker
While state Rep. Marsha Farney and challenger Terry Wilson share conservative views on abortion and immigration, they differ on whether to support House Speaker Joe Straus. Full Story
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![State Rep. Marshey Farney, left, and Terry Wilson, right.]()
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Analysis: Is a Move From the Texas House to the Senate a Clear Promotion?
Moving from the Texas House to the Texas Senate makes sense, but not for every politician: One current candidate for Senate — and a potential future one — each has more clout in the House than he or she would have in the Senate. Full Story
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![State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, and state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio.]()
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Analysis: Primaries Could Hush Reps. Stickland, Martinez Fischer
Republican Jonathan Stickland and Democrat Trey Martinez Fischer, the noisiest pot-stirrers in the Texas House, are in tough March 1 primary contests. Each man is his own best argument, and his worst one. Full Story
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![State Reps. Jonathan Stickland (left), R-Bedford, and Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, are seen as gadflies by many of their colleagues in the Texas House. Both are locked in tough 2016 primary battles.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera/Shelby Knowles -
In Re-Election Bid, Straus Faces Familiar Attacks
House Speaker Joe Straus finds himself in a familiar position, fending off Tea Party primary challenges to hold his San Antonio seat and, presumably, his grip on the gavel. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, campaigns for re-election at The Barn Door restaurant in San Antonio on Jan. 21, 2016.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
GOP Brags, Democrats Wince as HD 118 Goes Red
A day after a Republican unexpectedly snatched away a long-held Democratic statehouse seat in San Antonio, state GOP leaders were crowing while Democrats swore the low-turnout special election was a non-repeatable fluke. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
State Rep. Ruth McClendon Submits Letter of Resignation
State Rep. Ruth McClendon, D-San Antonio, has submitted a letter of resignation to Gov. Greg Abbott, effective Jan 31, the governor's office confirmed Tuesday. Full Story
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![Sen. Rodney Ellis and State Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio, celebrate Gov. Abbott's signing of HB48 that establishes the Timothy Cole Exoneration Review Commission. In background is Cole's brother, Cory Session.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: The Future of the Texas House Could Be Seen in Eight Races
Will bragging rights in the Republican primaries for Texas House seats go to the management now in place or to those opposed to the current leaders? Watching these races involving incumbents will provide some answers. Full Story
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![Clockwise, from top left: Republican state Reps. Tony Tinderholt of Arlington, John Frullo of Lubbock, Byron Cook of Corsicana and Matt Rinaldi of Irving.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: For Politicians, There's No Statute of Limitations on Comments
All of us have to watch our mouths — particularly politicians. State Rep. Jonathan Stickland is under political fire for past online comments. He's apologized, but time is the enemy here for the Bedford Republican, who's facing a primary challenge. Full Story
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![State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, is shown during a legislative debate on gun legislation on April 17, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Women Still Underrepresented in Legislative Races
It remains a daunting political reality in Texas. While women make up more than half the state, they are underrepresented in the halls of power, and it appears the 2016 elections will do little to change that. Full Story
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![State senators take the oath of office on the first day of the Texas Legislature on Jan. 13, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich