Notes on a Runoff

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on July 31, 2012, in Houston addressing the crowd at a watch party following the announcement that he lost the U.S. Senate runoff to Ted Cruz.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on July 31, 2012, in Houston addressing the crowd at a watch party following the announcement that he lost the U.S. Senate runoff to Ted Cruz.

1. Grassroots plus money beats money alone. Ted Cruz out-retailed Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and in a very low turnout election (maybe even in a big one, but that's untested), that retail matters. Cruz connected with voters and Dewhurst didn't. His apparent distance from the electorate was especially dangerous in a year when voters were out to get the establishment. Rick Perry won his last race for governor by overcoming his incumbency and convincing voters he was listening and that Kay Bailey Hutchison was not. (Throw Debra Medina in there, too; she finished third in the race but showed everybody else that there was a rich populist vein in the electorate.) Dewhurst didn't take the lesson, but Cruz — a conservative intellectual and Harvard lawyer who makes for a very unlikely everyman — did. The populist, entrepreneurial candidate beat the patrician organization man.

2. It wasn't about the Tea Party, but grabbed that movement's sensibilities. Dewhurst and Cruz are Exhibit A: Lots of differences on style and approach and the ability to connect. Not much difference on position. Donna Campbell, a bona fide Tea Party candidate, beat Sen. Jeff Wentworth of San Antonio with the unsolicited help of Texans for Lawsuit Reform and San Antonio Republicans who wanted to change horses. Wes Riddle, a Tea Party favorite in CD-25, got beat by former Secretary of State Roger Williams. On a night with mixed messages with voters, it was clear that acting like a member of the ruling class was risky.

3. It doesn't take many people to win a summer runoff. The Republican primary for U.S. Senate drew 1,111,481 voters; 555,741 was enough to win. Democrats drew 235,895 for their top race, which means 117,948 was enough for a ticket to November. There are 13.1 million registered voters in the state, and more than 18 million people of voting age. They invested their power in 673,689 of their fellow citizens.

4. Voters are attracted to a fight, if they know about it. See the Republican vs. Democratic turnout above.

5. Incumbents had a lousy night. Wentworth, Supreme Court Justice David Medina, and state Reps. Chuck Hopson, Jim Landtroop and Sid Miller all got whacked. Railroad Commissioner Barry Smitherman and Rep. J.M. Lozano got out alive.

6. Climbers did a little better. State Reps. Pete Gallego, Marc Veasey and Randy Weber all won nominations for congressional seats. Dewhurst and state Rep. Warren Chisum lost their races for Senate and Railroad Commission.

7. Democrats tapped San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro to deliver the keynote at their national convention, a move that will underscore differences between the parties for the Latino voters they covet. The announcement came on the same day Republicans turned their eyes to Texas, where Cruz was and is getting national attention in the U.S. Senate race. On the state level, Justice David Medina was on the ballot in what some (but not all) see as a test of how Texas Republicans regard Hispanic surnames on their primary ballots. GOP voters presented a good argument and not only in the Senate race, nominating Jason Villalba to a Dallas House seat and advancing Rep. J.M. Lozano of Kingsville to the general election after his switch from the Democrats to the Republicans last year.

8. Looking for competition in November? Both major parties have candidates in the U.S. Senate race, one Railroad Commission race and a couple of statewide judicial races. There are only a couple of competitive congressional races apparent from this distance, only one Senate race, and only about a dozen House races. Most of the table was set in the primaries.

9. As is normal in redistricting years, the turnover is high. So far, it's known that three members of the congressional delegation won't be back, that five senators are gone and that 40 House members either moved on or were moved out by voters. So far.

10. We won't repeat our other work, but you can poke through the details of the election at these links:

Texas Weekly Newsreel: Races to Watch

With the primaries and the runoffs out of the way, it's time to look ahead to the general election. There will be a full ballot in November, of course, but only a relative handful of races remain competive in a state where redistricting made most congressional and legislative districts uncompetitive in the general election.

Inside Intelligence: Runoff Fallout

When the results of the runoff elections were in, we asked the insiders for their interpretations, starting with the effect on the state's top leaders. The verdict? A downer for Gov. Rick Perry, a huge downer for Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, and a wash for Speaker Joe Straus.

Most of the government and political insiders think this was Dewhurst's last run for office, though some think he'll run again, either for reelection or for another office.

Did the results say anything about Straus' chances at winning another term as speaker? The insiders were divided, with about the same number saying it helped and saying it hurt. One in four didn't choose either option.

We've attached the full verbatim responses, including the answers we got when we asked the insiders to play pundit and give us their analysis of the election results. A sampling follows below:

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How will the election results affect the clout of top state officials?

• "Between his primary/run-off endorsement record and his national performance, RP has seen the luster come off his political shine. DD and JS remain in relatively the same position, even if they've got more conservative members."

• "All will be reacting, directly or indirectly, to the shadow of the Tea Party."

• "There are a lot of people that will try to say that Perry is weaker and that he has less influence. Like Perry always does, he will get a pass on this with the Republican voters. Have the Texas Poll as the favorables of Perry. Straus easily holds he Speakership and will continue to drive Empower Texan crazy/sane."

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• "Rick Perry has no stroke in his own state. If Dewhurst remains in office, he will be neutered and furthered embarrassed by the senators. Straus has his head on a swivel, if not the chopping block."

• "Conventional wisdom says they've been hurt, I know, but all three can be fine, if they're flexible. They each have a lot of residual power."

• "Perry or Dewhurst will be challenged next election. Probably, by Abbott."

• "2012 has proven to be a very bad year for Gov. Perry. His disastrous showing in the presidential race appears to have significantly damaged his standing at home. Dewhurst is, of course, weakened somewhat by his US Senate primary loss, but he wasn't that strong to begin with. Straus appeared to have emerged from the primary with a wash. He lost some lieutenants, but some unfriendlies were eliminated as well. That coupled with a half dozen or so additional Democrats, should solidify his position."

• "Can't be good for either Perry or Dewhurst. I don't have a clue on Straus, though it's a given that the tea party folks will be energized and flexing. My bet is that he is back at the big podium in January."

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Do you think David Dewhurst will run again, either for reelection or for another office?

• "Too old. Already tagged as out of touch with the base/electorate. Some say his heart hasn't been in it the past couple of sessions. Might be time for the cowboy to rope his last calf and retire to the ranch."

• "What's he gonna run for? Gov? He's liberal compare to Perry so he can't run on a Tea party platform, and he sure as hell can't run as a moderate after he tried to sell himself as a conservative. The only thing he has is to stay second in command, but now he's gonna have to really fight for it."

• "Cruz proved he's a paper tiger."

• "Think the "players" on the bench will finally get a chance to move up. Dewhurst hangs up his hat next go round."

.

• "After the voters tell you no, then...."

• "He will never win another race in Texas."

• "Let's just say he shouldn't. Money can't buy you love."

• "He may not know it yet, but he's toast. Burnt toast."

• "No reason to believe Dewhurst could win for Governor and he has lost enormous credibility at the capitol."

• "The party Dewhurst helped create has left the building. He can't relate and doesn't want to relate to those voters who now decide republican primaries."

• "It's time to fire up the Gulfstream and head to the Chateaux."

• "I obviously don't know his plans, but would guess that there will be tremendous pressure for him to step aside from those with higher ambitions."

• "He just ran the worst campaign this side of Rick Perry's presidential campaign, outspent his opponent 3 to 1, and lost badly. He's done."

Have the results so far helped or hurt Joe Straus' chances of another term as Speaker?

• "Last man standing among the big three."

• "He has worked hard to pick up support from new members. He is everywhere."

• "While the results hurt the Speaker's chances, still no candidates who can muster the votes to defeat him."

.

• "No effect."

• "The far right will never be comfortable with Straus... and we just elected a BUNCH of far right guys..."

• "As the incumbent, Strauss stays unless someone pushes him out. Nothing has occurred that is remotely close to pushing him out. Annoying? Yes. A threat to another term? No."

• "Losing chairman like it's going out of style can't be a good thing."

• "Straus suffered marginal damage in the run-off after a substantial loss of lieutenants in the primary. What he leads now is a House even more dominated by anti-government radicals. His time as Speaker - never fun - will be even less-so next year."

• "You want me to chair a committee, of course I'm with you Mr. Speaker..."

You be the pundit: What's your take on the election results?

• "I thought conventional wisdom was that if turn out were higher it would be good for Dewhurst, that Cruz needed low turn out to win. Boy, were we wrong! Looking ahead: what does Abbott decide to do with $12mm in the bank?"

• "Voters hate Washington and do not know the difference between Washington and Austin governments. Sad."

• "Anti-establishment. Not a good time to be an established incumbent running against an "outsider"."

• "Not a good time to be an incumbent. Tea Party is more organized and effective and has become a bigger player and consideration in politics - Bipartisanship is dead for the time being."

• "Dewhurst wasted his money and his consultants got rich."

• "You reap what you sow, and Texas Rs have encouraged the far right to the point that it came around in the case of Dewhurst and Perry and bit them in the ass. Serves them right but is really bad for the future of our state."

• "The electorate has lost faith in incumbents. I believe that Washington is the culprit for this."

• "People are trying to make Cruz v Dewhurst into something more complicated than it was. It was simply the case of a relentless candidate against an incumbent who had not been in a REAL campaign in a long time."

• "Down-ballot there is no clear narrative. Perry had a terrible runoff, losing Dewhurst, Medina, Hopson, Landtroop & Miller. Straus lost two more chairs. Dewhurst is the biggest loser. 2014 is very unpredictable right now."

• "Leadership should not have played games with redistricting. Otherwise, the primary would have been held on the regular date and the turnout would have prohibited this from happening."

• "Shows how split the rep party is and only time will tell if the ones who have been funding the party will continue to do so. Maybe TLR can get tea party money to take the place of some who are not supporting them any more"

• "The Cruz victory will intimidate Republican candidates and office holders to move further to the crazy right's positions. Long term, it will drive moderates and independents away from the Republican Party."

• "Lame duck in the mansion, lame duck in the Senate and a sitting goose in the House. The uber conservatives are going to drive the show."

• "Perry seen as loyal to his friend. Cruz becomes the new Dan Patrick. It was a bad night for incumbents."

• "I was one of the very small percentage of insiders who said in your survey months ago that Cruz would win. It looks like the majority of us were smoking too much of Inside Austin!"

• "The base in the republican party can elect a Hispanic in the primary."

• "Could not be happier for Texans. The good ole boy network can no longer inflict absolute control with their money."

• "1) This is the first election where the non-Texan groups have dictated the Texas Republican Primary. 2) In 8 years we will look back and identify this cycle as the reason independents shifted to the Ds."

• "All good. Cruz at the top of the ticket helps the GOP in November. Entrenched GOP statewides are on notice to get back in touch. No chance of any Democrat getting any traction -- God is in his heaven and all is right with the world."

• "People are pissed off?"

 Our thanks to this week's participants: Amy Beneski, Adam Haynes, Allen Blakemore, Andrew Biar, Andy Sansom, Anthony Haley, Bee Moorhead, Billy Howe, Bill Stevens, Bradford Shields, Hugh Brady, Brandon Aghamalian, Bill Ratliff, Bryan Mayes, Bruce Gibson, Bruce Scott, Tom Duffy, Cathie Adams, Chris Britton, Charles Bailey, Clyde Alexander, Colin Strother, Craig Murphy, Christopher Shields, Christopher Williston, Dennis Speight, Darren Whitehurst, David Dunn, Deborah Ingersoll, Debra Medina, Denise Davis, Daniel Gonzalez, Doc Arnold, Dominic Giarratani, Donald Lee, Robert Kepple, Elna Christopher, Ed Small, Gene Acuna, Gerard Torres, Gardner Pate, Harold Cook, Hector De Leon, Homero Lucero, Jack Erskine, Jenny Aghamalian, James LeBas, Jim Henson, James Clark, Robert Jara, Jason Johnson, Jay Arnold, Jay Pritchard, Jeff Eller, Pete Laney, John Greytok, Janis Carter, Parker McCollough, John Weaver, Jon Fisher, Jeff Rotkoff, Jim Sartwelle, Jay Thompson, Julie Shields, June Deadrick, Keats Norfleet, Kinnan Golemon, Kim Ross, Keir Murray, Kerry Cammack, Kraege Polan, Keith Strama, Dick Lavine, Lee Woods, Lisa Kaufman, Louis Bacarisse, Larry Soward, Luke Marchant, Luke Legate, Marc Campos, Matt Mackowiak, Mike Barnett, Dan McClung, Mark Jones, Michael Quinn Sullivan, Michael Wilt, Alex Winslow, Nora Del Bosque, Neftali Garcia, Nef Partida, Norman Garza, Mark Sanders, Pat Nugent, Dave Beckwith, Wayne Pierce, Jay Propes, Randy Cubriel, Richard Dyer, Richard Khouri, Rick Cofer, Robert Miller, Bob Strauser, Robert Jones, Royce Poinsett, Russ Tidwell, Ruben Longoria, Seth Winick, Shanna Igo, Sandy Kress, Snapper Carr, Steve Scurlock, Stan Schlueter, Jason Stanford, Steve Bresnen, Sylvia Nugent, sherry sylvester, Tom Banning, Tom Blanton, Thure Cannon, Tom Kleinworth, Ted Melina Raab, Tom Phillips, Trent Townsend, Tris Castaneda, Trey Trainor, Eric Glenn, Victor Alcorta, Corbin Casteel, William Chapman, Wil Galloway, Wayne Hamilton, Ware Wendell, Woody Widrow, Angelo Zottarelli.

Who's Legally Liable in State's Dental Drama?

The state's sweeping Medicaid fraud investigation into dentists and orthodontists accused of giving unnecessary treatments to poor children has left Texas attorneys with lots of questions. 

Who’s accountable for the Texas orthodontic patients abandoned mid-treatment when the state pulled the plug on their doctors? Could the state be held legally liable for giving doctors permission to perform medically unnecessary dental procedures in the first place? And ultimately, does the state’s method of cracking down on providers — halting funding the moment an investigation is opened — grant sufficient due process to the accused, or could the government be counter-sued for destroying the businesses of providers later found innocent?

Looking for ways to curb the state's budget woes, lawmakers have directed health investigators to amp up their pursuit of fraud and to oust providers who purposefully filed medically unnecessary or fraudulent Medicaid claims. Many of the accused providers have their funding frozen, and can't treat Medicaid patients in the meantime. In the words of Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, “using patients to game the system – and then abandoning those patients when you get caught – is shameful abuse.”

Medicaid fraud lawyers say they still aren’t sure whether dental providers could be held legally accountable for cutting off patient care, either because they're under investigation, or because they're reacting to the state's crackdown on dental and orthodontic care. 

Some Medicaid dental providers, even those not accused of any wrongdoing, argue that it takes two to tango, and abuse of the system escalated because the state was not doing a good job weeding out medically unnecessary claims. They argue the state should take responsibility for the complicit role it played in approving medically unnecessary treatments in the first place.

That brings us to a key term: “medical necessity.” Medicaid is intended to cover only that dental care for children deemed medically necessary. Preventive and dental decay treatments qualify, but straightening crooked teeth shouldn't — unless a cleft palate, birth defect or disease has rendered the child incapable of eating, breathing or swallowing without corrective orthodontic care.

Despite this definition of medical necessity, it was common knowledge among Texas dental providers that the company contracted by the state to administer Medicaid dental claims, Texas Medicaid and Health Partnership, and its subcontractor, ACS Xerox, rubber-stamped most claims to put braces on children. The federal and state governments are currently auditing that since-replaced orthodontic authorization process, but state officials have already fired the dental director of TMHP and admitted they’ve found problems in the prior authorization process. Lawyers say it’s possible the state could pursue fraud charges against those contractors for approving medically unnecessary claims, but it seems unlikely, particularly because it would mean acknowledging mismanagement of the program.

The state may also have dodged a bullet by announcing in July that managed care dental plans would facilitate the transfer of abandoned orthodontic patients to new providers, and put less stringent diagnostic requirements on doctors and dentists who could finish a patient’s treatment within six months. Technically, it’s possible patients could still argue that the state denied them access to care by making them wait months to have their braces adjusted, fixed or checked while Texas sorted out the Medicaid reimbursement scandal. 

Dental providers also argue the problem of abandoned patients was compounded by the state’s actions. The state has begun relying heavily on a new rule in federal health reform that allows them to freeze Medicaid payments almost instantly while they investigate allegations of fraud. The new rule is controversial. The accused providers put on payment holds believe they’re being denied due process. While they wait for the results of months-long investigations, they say, they are often forced out of Medicaid and sometimes, out of business, amplifying the problem of abandoned patients. 

Dr. Robert Anderton, a lawyer and former dentist working with some of the accused dental clinics, said providers are required to exhaust all administrative appeals options before they can go to court. Because of provisions in the legal contracts they signed with the state in order to become Medicaid providers, he said, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to counter-sue over how the state’s actions adversely affected their business. 

Ubiquitous Aggies

Newly appointed Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp answers a question from the audience at TribLive on September 29, 2011.
Newly appointed Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp answers a question from the audience at TribLive on September 29, 2011.

Last October, then-new Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp tacked a couple of questions onto a statewide poll.

He wanted to see how many people were aware that the system he had recently taken over ran — in addition to 11 universities and a health science center — a total of seven state agencies, including the Texas Forest Service and the Texas Transportation Institute.

Sharp said the results revealed that only seven percent of the registered voters knew that the Forest Service, the best known of the agencies, had anything to do with A&M.

That's about to change. The A&M System regents are expected to approve a resolution that will add “Texas A&M” to the name of each agency. The change is part of a massive rebranding effort, which is just one of many changes Sharp has announced as he approaches his one-year anniversary on the job.

“I’m not very political anymore, so if I think something needs to be done, I just do it — unless somebody can convince me otherwise" said Sharp, a former legislator, railroad commissioner and comptroller. "I’m not hindered by having to make everybody happy."

Other major items on the docket for the A&M regents include granting Sharp the authority to move the Texas A&M University Health Science Center under the umbrella of Texas A&M University; it's currently under the system umbrella. The move is expected to foster collaboration between the two institutions, as well as provide a significant boost to the university’s research statistics.

Sharp also wants permission to enter into negotiations with Baylor University to change the name of the Baylor College of Dentistry — which is actually a component of A&M’s Health Science Center — to something more A&M-centric that retains the name “Baylor.” However, if those negotiations are unsuccessful, Sharp will go ahead and change the name to the “Texas A&M College of Dentistry.”

“I think it’s in the interest of A&M to have people know where all these good works are coming from,” he said.

So far this year, the A&M System chancellor has announced — in no particular order — the creation of the state’s first $10,000 degree, plans to buy Texas Wesleyan University’s law school, the landing of a huge federal bio-security contract, his intent to earmark a significant chunk of the system’s Available University Fund money, and the outsourcing of support services at Texas A&M University.

Some of the moves have been more popular than others. That outsourcing at A&M, has particularly upset some staff workers, who are unhappy about no longer being state employees, and local food providers who still don’t know what it means for their business with the university.

Sharp said all the changes are geared toward three things: faculty, researchers, and students. “We’re not here because of dining, or landscaping, or the chancellor, or the president,” he said. “Once you change that thinking so you don’t have a sense of entitlement just because this is the way it’s been run, your job is to enhance those three things and do it the absolute best way you can.”

And he said there is more change on the horizon. “The best description I’ve heard is that we’re like a gangly teenager who hasn’t even begun to reach our full potential yet.”

The Calendar

Wednesday, Aug. 8:

  • Texas Public Policy Foundation "Policy Primer" on EPA rules; Austin (11:30 a.m.)

Friday, Aug. 10:

  • Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas' 2012 Bernard & Audre Rapoport State Conference; Austin
 

The Week in the Rearview Mirror

San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro was tapped to give the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention in September. In a video announcement, the 37-year-old outlined his assessment of the Obama presidency and encouraged viewers to participate in the upcoming convention and campaign. Castro is fresh off the state Democratic Party’s convention, where he also delivered the keynote speech. Hispanic voters, widely considered a key demographic in a handful of battleground states, are a focus of both parties. 

Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart faced a firestorm of criticism from candidates, poll workers and voters for a series of mishaps in the runoff election. Confusion over polling locations led to long lines in an election with traditionally low turnout. Results on the county’s website were posted late, and in some cases incorrectly. Stanart blamed the mistakes on a contractor’s phone lines, saying that the merging and transfer of data was compromised by the poor quality of the lines.

Glenn Beck’s three-day Arlington event, Restoring Love, drew thousands to Cowboys Stadium in Dallas. Beck spoke Saturday night during a two-hour event of prayer, music and speeches. Religious leaders held a rally the night before emphasizing their support for Beck and criticism of Barack Obama.

Four former El Paso principals who refused to participate in a cheating scheme came forward this week to detail how they were harassed and driven from their jobs. As the investigation continues into the superintendent’s alleged plan to meet federal accountability standards by inflating test scores, the principals also detailed their attempts to blow the whistle on tactics used. Until now, they had maintained their silence, but when a school board member blamed disgruntled former employees for concocting the scheme, they felt compelled to speak out.

An Environmental Protection Agency rule requiring that some portion of corn crops be diverted to make ethanol is drawing fire from ranching groups in Texas. Severe drought, combined with increased demand, has caused the price of corn to skyrocket, up 61 percent since June 15. Ranchers who are feeling the pinch are asking that the rule be suspended for 12 months.

Wind turbines proposed for the South Padre area are triggering a debate between conservation groups and proponents of energy generation. Austin-based Baryonyx Corp. presented the plan for 300 turbines that could generate electricity for millions of customers. But the project still has to be green-lighted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and must be evaluated in light of protests that the structures and transmissions lines would be a blight on the landscape and cause environmental trouble, restrict fishing and interfere with migratory birds.

An investigation into the legal status of its employees led Sushi Zushi, a restaurant chain based in San Antonio with eight outlets across the state, to temporarily close its doors. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency is conducting an audit of the company to check eligibility of its employees to work in the U.S. The company expects to issue an update on the audit and its operations later in the week.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is soliciting corporate donations to shore up its operations after losing more than 17 percent of its funding to legislative budget cuts. Partnerships between the agency and the companies it’s tapping include a list of options that would allow businesses to use the parks department brand. Public-private partnerships are gaining traction across the country as a spectrum of agencies face budget shortfalls. Parks and Wildlife hopes to net at least $1 million.

Political People and their Moves

Gov. Rick Perry appointed Dr. Kyle Janek of Austin to the position of executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Janek, a former legislator, is director of anesthesia services at Lakeway Regional Medical Center. Chris Traylor of Austin will serve as chief deputy commissioner of HHSC. Since 2010, Traylor has been commissioner of the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services.

Jesse Ancira will be House Speaker Joe Straus' chief of staff, a position he has held on an interim basis since the departure of Denise Davis earlier this year. Patricia Shipton is joining the speaker as strategic legislative advisor. Shipton, a former legislative advisor to Gov. Rick Perry, has been a lobbyist for the last several years.

Straus also hired Dan Madru and Shakira Pumphrey, who'll work in his policy office. Madru has worked as staff director of two Senate committees; Pumphrey is returning to the speaker's office after working in state government in Arkansas.

Patricia Vojack, who was chief of staff to then-Sen. Kyle Janek before a stint at the Comptroller's office, will serve as the inaugural compliance officer for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.

C.B. Rathburn III, president and CEO of Texas A&M University-Texarkana since 2008, has resigned. Keith McFarland, former president and faculty member of Texas A&M University Commerce, will serve as acting president.

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston announced that Dr. Danny Jacobs, currently the David C. Sabiston Jr. Professor and chair of surgery at Duke University Medical Center, has been selected to serve as the new executive vice president and provost, and dean of the School of Medicine. His first day will be Oct. 1.

Joshua Treviño will continue to consult at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, but will give up his gig as communications guru there to take a job at Texas Monthly, where he'll be a political columnist. 

Cyrus Reed, the conservation director at the Lone Star chapter of the Sierra Club, was named acting director after the retirement of Ken Kramer, who has been at the top of that organization for years. 

The governor appointed Robert Franco Jr., an Austin banker, to the Texas Economic Development Corp.

Deaths: Chad Foster, chairman of the Texas Border Coalition and former mayor of Eagle Pass, of stomach cancer. He was 63.

Quotes of the Week

Mr. Cruz’s success shows that the center of the state party has moved decisively to the right. The Republicans are in much more treacherous terrain, not because of threats from Democrats, but threats from within the party.

Jim Henson, a government professor at the University of Texas at Austin and Tribune pollster, to The New York Times 

This was a primary runoff in a different environment and one which we haven't seen before.

Pollster Mike Baselice, on why his numbers in the Dewhurst-Cruz race were so far off the result

A few people were not happy about it, but none of them volunteered to step in and be Republican Party chair for this next time. Unfortunately when I asked, they would back out the door.

Sterling County Clerk Susan Wyatt, after both parties failed to hold runoffs in her county

I would bet $100 that he will be the first Latino governor of Texas.

Wayne Slater, the Dallas Morning News senior political writer, talking about San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro on Current TV

It sends a very dangerous message to the people of the Legislature:  If you don't vote with us all the time and answer "How high?" when we say "Jump!" we will simply buy your seat in the next election.

Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, on the meaning of his runoff loss

I enjoyed it quite a bit, tremendously. You never know how elections are going to go. Sometimes they go the way you think they’re going to go and sometimes they don’t.

Democratic candidate Grady Yarbrough, at the end of the election