The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
News reports late Thursday that lieutenant governor candidate Dan Patrick had received treatment for depression and exhaustion in the 1980s threatened to roil further an an already tense runoff contest just days before voters begin casting ballots. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/10/07/PattersonPatrick.jpg)
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/03/18/MerrittMiller.jpg)
Reports of a state senator’s 1980s treatment for depression and exhaustion became an issue in the lieutenant governor’s race late Thursday, when the Quorum Report, a political newsletter, unearthed court papers detailing Dan Patrick’s medical history. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/187bf92828b53c495a6be5c6c3267303/BD%20INC%20Patrick%20015%202013%20)
Gov. Rick Perry's attorney is asking for the ability to get witnesses for his client before a Travis County grand jury without making them appear in public. But in a twist in a case that has already had plenty of them, the only way to circumvent the public entrance is to go through DA Rosemary Lehmberg's office. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1e37526f17deefa4c710d369842b2f6d/DO%20NOT%20USE%20Rosemarry-Perry%202013)
Morgan Meyer and Chart Westcott are battling for an open Dallas County House seat in an urban Republican district where the pockets are deep, the endorsers are famous and the Tea Party is relatively weak. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/05/13/HD108.jpg)
A decade before Tim Dunn became the benefactor behind one of the state’s most aggressive conservative groups, the West Texas oil and gas developer founded a school. The move marked his personal interest in education policy. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/05/13/TexTrib-DUNN-001-School.jpg)
Wichita Falls is catching more than a little flak for its plan to take treated sewer water and use it for drinking water, a plan that got put on the fast track with the current drought. But the wisecracks hide an important fact — wastewater reuse is already common across the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/03/28/GPerez_SAWS044.jpg)
Betsy Madru, state Sen. Kel Seliger's former legislative director, now works for Waste Control Specialists, which runs a low-level radioactive waste site in Seliger's district. She says she understands why some would have questions about her move, but she added there was nothing improper. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Waste-Canisters.jpg)
In the May 27 Democratic runoff for House District 105, two lawyers from Irving are contending for the chance to take on a former Republican former state legislator. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/05/12/MezaMotely-Split.jpg)
Texas' "sriracha delegation" on Monday made its long-awaited visit to California to woo the makers of the popular hot sauce, but it was no clearer at the conclusion of the visit what might come of it. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/01/07/Sriracha2.JPG)
Full video of my 5/12 conversation in San Antonio with U.S. Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, the speaker of the House of Representatives. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/UP9A6218.jpg)
Huy Fong Foods founder David Tran took a self-styled "sriracha delegation" of Texas officials on a tour of his California hot sauce factory on Monday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/05/09/Sriracha-Texas.jpg)
A candidate's record as a lawyer has become an issue in the Republican runoff for attorney general. Something very much like this happened in the GOP runoff for the office in 1998. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/02/12/BranchPaxton.jpg)
Kinky Friedman has injected some star power into the race for agriculture commissioner, but he and his Democratic primary opponent, Jim Hogan, have been largely rejected by state party leaders. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/03/28/Friedman-Hogan.jpg)
The Tribune's Aman Batheja has taken an in-depth look at Midland oilman Tim Dunn, who is best known in the Capitol for his funding of the conservative activist group Empower Texans. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/03/28/MQSEmpowerFiscal.jpg)
A Midland oilman has spent millions over the last decade financing groups focused on moving the Texas Legislature in a more conservative direction. While critics have decried his hardball tactics, Tim Dunn isn't backing down. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/05/09/TexTrib-DUNN-001-Investigates.jpg)
UPDATED: With all of the precincts counted, Brandon Creighton and Steve Toth finished first and second and appear headed for a runoff in the contest to succeed Tommy Williams in the Texas Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/04/28/SD-4-update.jpg)
As Mexican officials contemplate relocating a major railway that connects the state of Chihuahua to Texas, trade experts in El Paso have mixed views on whether the investment is needed immediately. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/05/08/TexTrib-RAILROAD-004.jpg)
Ahead of a possible vote on impeachment on Monday, members of the House select committee investigating UT System Regent Wallace Hall appear split on how to proceed. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/12/05/txtregents-ccr005.jpg)
Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott announced the third plank of his education policy plan on Thursday, calling for millions in increased funding for online learning initiatives. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/04/02/UP9A0166.jpg)