The Brief: March 4, 2014
Another dose of winter weather expected to hit overnight from Austin and San Antonio to Houston is injecting a note of uncertainty into today's party primary elections. Full Story
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![Vote signs outside early voting locations in Austin on Feb. 23, 2014.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Ag Candidates Weigh In on School Lunch Program
One of the Texas agriculture commissioner's biggest jobs is running the federally funded school breakfast and lunch program. Read what the Republican and Democratic candidates for agriculture commissioner have to say about the program. Full Story
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![School children at Cantu Elementary in San Juan, Texas, are shown eating breakfast on April 24, 2013.]()
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Analysis: A Change in the Voter Mix Ahead for GOP
Everybody knows that the Hispanic growth of the state might change Texas politics. Republicans have another demographic trend to consider: Who will replace elderly voters in their constituency? Full Story
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![Vote signs outside of early voting locations in Austin on Feb. 23, 2014.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
The Brief: March 3, 2014
Election Day is tomorrow, and the tenor of some of the campaigns has moved toward "no quarter, bayonet the wounded." Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General and candidate for Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott gives keynote speech during the Texas Rally for Life on January 25th, 2014]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Lubbock Democrat Denies Calling Abbott's Wife a "Prop"
When Democrats blasted Attorney General Greg Abbott after a recent stop in Lubbock, the front-running candidate for governor accused one of them of calling his "Latina wife of 32 years a prop." The Democrat says it never happened. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Inside Texas Politics: Primary Day
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics, I talked with host Jason Whitely and Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter Bud Kennedy about last week's University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll, Rick Perry and more. Full Story
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![Texas Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey on WFAA's "Inside Texas Politics" on March 2, 2014.]()
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Abbott's Wife Now in Political Fray
There is yet another indication that the race for Texas governor will play out increasingly on the volatile terrain of culture and race. This time it involves Abbott's Hispanic wife, Cecilia. Full Story
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![Attorney General Greg Abbott spoke to supporters in Austin on Nov. 9, 2013, after officially filing for the 2014 gubernatorial campaign. He was joined by his daughter, Audrey, and his wife, Cecilia.]()
Credit: Jack Plunkett -
TribuneFest: Changing Populations, Changing Politics
At our 2/27 symposium on demographic change at the University of Texas at El Paso, the Trib's Julián Aguilar talked about the changing political map with state Sen. José Rodríguez, D-El Paso, state Rep. Mary González, D-Clint, former state Rep. Dee Margo, R-El Paso, and George Antuna, co-founder of Hispanic Republicans of Texas. Full Story
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Five Challengers Take On Congress' Oldest Member
The crowded field of candidates campaigning against 90-year-old U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall argues that 17 terms are enough for the Republican lawmaker. Full Story
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![Congressman Ralph Hall waves to the crowd at Frisco 2008 community parade.]()
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Analysis: On Lists of Endorsements, Governor's Name is Rare
Gov. Rick Perry, the state's top elected official, is missing from all but a handful of candidates' endorsements. Uncharacteristically, his is a mostly secret ballot in this year's Republican primaries. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
A Small Subset of Voters Holds a Lot of Sway
With low turnout in statewide primaries and the two-decade dominance of Republicans, a bloc of a relatively few voters determines how Texas will handle long-term public policy challenges. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Polling Center: Strong Undercurrents Still Define Abbott-Davis Race
Reporting of this week’s UT/TT Poll can’t help but present a simple story: Davis is down, Abbott is up. But these latest results reflect factors that are much more deeply rooted than the low-hanging fruit making headlines and feeding campaign emails. Full Story
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![Greg Abbott, then a candidate for governor and now the governor-elect, spoke at a NE Tarrant Tea Party meeting at Concordia Lutheran Church in Bedford on Nov. 12, 2013. State Sen. Wendy Davis, who was also running for governor, spoke to veterans at Luby's in Forest Hill the day before.]()
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Republicans Anticipate Primary Runoff in SD-10
With five Republicans fighting for the open state Senate seat vacated by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis, one thing is almost certain: a May runoff. Full Story
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![The five Republican primary candidates in the SD-10 race include Tony Pompa, a trustee on the Arlington Independent School District board; Colleyville chiropractor Jon Schweitzer; Mark Skinner, who owns a commercial real estate business; Tea Party activist Konni Burton; and former state Rep. Mark Shelton.]()
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In Ag Commissioner Race, Immigration Pits GOP Against Farm Lobby
All of the major Republican candidates for Texas agriculture commissioner strongly oppose any pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants — a position that the agricultural lobby says would cripple the industry in Texas. Full Story
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![Republican candidates for Agriculture Commission (l-r): Tommy Merritt, J Allen Carnes, Eric Opiela and Sid Miller.]()
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Immigration Reform Groups Urge Obama to Act Without Congress
As Republican lawmakers seek to rein in the president's executive authority, proponents of immigration reform are urging the president to keep using it to push through immigration changes. Full Story
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![President Obama speaks to a crowd at the Austin Music Hall on July 17, 2012.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Brief: Feb. 27, 2014
Texans are much more optimistic about the direction of the state than the nation as a whole, according to the final installment of findings from the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Hegar Amends Filing to Include Wife's Income
State Sen. Glenn Hegar, a candidate for comptroller, amended his personal financial forms this week to include more information about his wife's income and investments. Full Story
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State Files Notice of Appeal on Gay Marriage Ruling
UPDATED: The state of Texas on Thursday filed a notice that it intends to appeal a federal judge's ruling Wednesday that Texas' ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Full Story
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Analysis: In Abbott World, Nugent Flap is Much Ado About Nothing
The way Democrats see it, Greg Abbott hurt himself by campaigning with caustic rocker Ted Nugent. In the Abbott camp, though, the Nuge blowback theory is another fiction spun by the liberal elites. Full Story
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![Republican candidate for governor Greg Abbott and rock musician Ted Nugent.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Brief: Feb. 26, 2014
The times they are a-changin' on Texans' attitudes toward marijuana, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
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