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• A Shadow Election Before Candidates File for Office

  By Ross Ramsey Oct. 25, 2013

  Candidates haven't officially put their names on the ballot for the 2014 elections, but the first contest — the one for resources needed to win an election — is already claiming victims. Full Story 

• Carter Drops Out of Railroad Commission Race

  By Ross Ramsey Oct. 22, 2013

  State Rep. Stefani Carter, R-Dallas, said Tuesday that she is abandoning her campaign for the Railroad Commission of Texas, opting instead to seek a third term in the Texas House. Full Story 

• Inside Intelligence: About the Senate's Next Leader...

  By Ross Ramsey Oct. 22, 2013

  For this week’s nonscientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we asked about the lieutenant governor’s race, and about what might happen in the state Senate depending on the winner. Full Story 

• The Abbott Versus Davis Race is No Rerun of Claytie and the Lady

  By Ross Ramsey Oct. 21, 2013

  Things are different now. People come to see Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis, for sure, but not as spectacles, not for the same reasons they came to see the candidates who came to be known as Ann and Claytie. Full Story 

• Sheppard Touts Health Care, Schools in Campaign Ad

  By Ross Ramsey Oct. 18, 2013

  In the special election for the open House District 50 seat in Austin, Democrat Jade Chang Sheppard is on TV with an ad promoting her support for affordable health care, money for schools and less high-stakes testing of students. Full Story 

• Sometimes, It's Hard to Make a Good Political Bet

  By Ross Ramsey Oct. 18, 2013

  Political donors, endorsers and activists like to pick the winners, to be the early backers of the candidates who go on to become officeholders. All of the competition this political season is disquieting. Full Story 

• Inside Intelligence: About Those Campaign Finance Limits...

  By Ross Ramsey Oct. 15, 2013

  For this week’s nonscientific survey of insiders in Texas politics and government, we asked about campaign finance — specifically, about limits to contributions in federal and state races. Full Story 

• Running for Office, Campaigning on the Status Quo

  By Ross Ramsey Oct. 14, 2013

  The management is turning over in state government, no matter which party wins. But with a couple of exceptions, Republicans don't want to change the way things operate now. Full Story 

• TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

  By Ross Ramsey Oct. 12, 2013

  Aguilar on the politics of an immigration study, Batheja on damaged roads and gravel and state funding, Grissom reports on the state’s refusal to return execution drugs to the pharmacist who sold them, Hamilton explores public perception and the University of Houston, MacLaggan on efforts to maintain the Wendish culture in Texas, Murphy explores the money behind a water initiative, Root on an issue that divides two groups Republicans want to please, Satija on a lawsuit filed by children and an odd appeal, and M. Smith on lucrative tutoring that hasn’t helped students: The best of our best for the week of Oct. 7-11, 2013. Full Story 

• Cornyn Tries to Make His Own Political Luck

  By Ross Ramsey Oct. 11, 2013

  The state's senior U.S. senator is up for re-election and drawing criticism from the Republican Party's right wing — but John Cornyn might get out of 2014 without serious opposition. Full Story