TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

The Shale Life: How an explosion in oil and gas production is changing lives and fortunes across Texas.

In his second race after switching to the GOP, incumbent state Rep. J.M. Lozano thinks HD-43 voters are more comfortable with his party choice. But Democratic challenger Kim Gonzalez isn't going to let it go.

For the first time in 20 years, Texas House District 23 will have a new representative. And in the race to succeed state Rep. Craig Eiland, Republican Wayne Faircloth and Democrat Susan Criss have zeroed in on the issue of insurance.

The legendary oilman reflects on plunging oil prices, cranky folks in Denton and silly congressmen.

 The 8-day reports — the final look at candidate campaign finance totals before Election Day — are in. We have compiled data for all statewide, State Board of Education, Texas Senate and Texas House candidates who filed electronically with the Texas Ethics Commission.

Green Party candidate Emily Sanchez has few resources in her bid for U.S. Senate. What she does have is a nickname, SpicyBrown, that voters will see on the ballot.

Democrat Wendy Davis, trying to energize young voters on the University of Texas campus in Austin Monday, said she’s seeing hopeful turnout trends despite a torrent of polls that show she’s losing the governor’s race to Attorney General Greg Abbott by double digits.

Attorney General Greg Abbott voted for himself in Austin on Thursday, then confidently predicted he would reach his goal of a strong finish in heavily Latino South Texas. 

The once-obscure General Land Office has gained national attention now that George P. Bush, nephew of former president George W. Bush, wants to run it.

In two legislative contests in Tarrant County — House District 94 and Senate District 10 — Democrats are pinning their hopes on Republican voters soured by the most conservative elements of their party.

Democrats are hoping to take advantage of the shifting demographics in Irving to flip Texas House District 105, which has been held by a Republican for more than a decade.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker announced Wednesday that the city will withdraw its subpoenas of five pastors who opposed a rule banning discrimination against gays and lesbians.