The Evening Brief: Aug. 28, 2012

New in The Texas Tribune:

•   Court: Texas Redistricting Maps Don't Protect Minority Voters: "Texas lawmakers didn’t comply with the Voting Rights Act when they drew new maps for congressional, state Senate and state House districts, a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., ruled Tuesday."

•   Dewhurst Plans to Run for Re-election: "Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, after getting a standing ovation by the Texas Republican delegation in Florida, announced Tuesday that he plans to run for re-election."

•   Dewhurst Declares Support for School Choice Legislation: "Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, throwing some red meat to conservatives after his bruising defeat at the hands of Tea Party darling Ted Cruz, has put private school vouchers and expanded 'parental choice' back on the legislative agenda."

•   Video: Todd Staples Still Eyeing Lt. Gov. Seat: "Texas Agriculture Comissioner Todd Staples says he is looking forward to running for lieutenant governor in 2014 — regardless of who else is on the ticket."

Culled:

•   Over Loud Boos, Romney Supporters Pass New Rules (The New York Times): "Mitt Romney’s supporters passed new rules governing future primaries over the loud boos of Ron Paul supporters and other conservative activists who had objected to what they said was a power grab by the party’s establishment leaders. The House speaker, John A. Boehner, called for a vote on the rules on Tuesday afternoon after Mr. Romney’s advisers said they had reached a compromise with activists on Monday night. When Mr. Boehner called for the 'ayes,' the crowd roared in the affirmative. But when he called for the 'nays,' an even louder 'no' echoed through the convention hall, led by supporters of Mr. Paul."

•   Ron Paul greeted with cheers as he hits convention floor, offers advice on rules fight (The Dallas Morning News): "Rep. Ron Paul, whose supporters have been pushing back against a rule that would give Republican presidential nominees more control over delegate selection, offered his backers simple advice on the coming rules fight: 'Do the right thing.' Paul, R-Lake Jackson, walked the floor of the Tampa Bay Times Forum on Tuesday afternoon, just before the Republican convention got rolling. Soon after he arrived, chants of 'Seat Maine now,' a reference to efforts to get Paul delegates from that state approved, and 'President Paul' echoed through out the arena."

•   U.S. Sen. John Cornyn swats away suggestion that he’s part of GOP establishment: ‘Oh, c’mon’ (The Dallas Morning News): "U.S. Senator John Cornyn acknowledged Tuesday that 'it’s a different time' in Texas politics, after Ted Cruz shook up the state’s GOP establishment last month by dominating Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in the Republican primary for Senate. But Cornyn, who faces re-election in 2014, didn’t appear too concerned at the thought that his more than two decades in statewide elected office might make him vulnerable. 'Oh c’mon,' he said, scoffing at the suggestion that some might say he’s 'established.'"