One distinguishing feature of primary night is the absence of straight-ticket voting, which is why certain races that seem winnable now simply aren't in the fall. Take Collin County, where straight-ticket ballots favored R's over D's on Election Day 2008 at a rate of 66 to 33 percent. A Democrat “has literally got to be Jesus Christ running against Judas or he loses,” an analyst says. Full Story
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While the director of the Department of Public Safety and some state senators argue that X-ray machines and metal detectors are critical in the wake of a shooting at the Capitol, the Governor and others in the Legislature worry that a gamut of security hurdles would make the place unwelcoming to the public. Full Story
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If you believe the pollsters, the outcomes of today's Democratic and Republican gubernatorial primaries are all but set, as Rick Perry and Bill White have big leads in their respective races. It's not exactly the photo finish that pundits were expecting — especially from the GOP side. Ben Philpott, covering the 2010 elections for KUT News and the Tribune, filed this report. Full Story
Will gubernatorial contests that have already cost more than $51 million last another six weeks? Will there be runoffs in judicial, legislative, or other down-ballot races? Will Texas voters go for the smart ones, the rich ones, the kooks, the old pros, the kids, or the insurgents? We'll soon know the answers to these and other pressing primary questions. Full Story
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Even though most of the focus for the last couple of months has been on the outcome of contested primaries, nearly half of the next Legislature has already been chosen. Full Story
With all precincts reporting, State Board of Education incumbent Don McLeroy has lost to challenger Thomas Ratliff in the race for District 9 by a razor thin margin — less than 1,000 votes. Full Story
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National Journal says she's more conservative than Alexander, Hatch, Murkowski, and a few others but less conservative than the vast majority of her colleagues. Full Story
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Just in time for election day comes the release of a Farouk Shami-themed hip-hop song from the official campaign. This is not a parody. Full Story
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In a midnight move before tomorrow’s election, 10th Court of Appeals Justice Felipe Reyna fired the opening salvos of a defamation lawsuit against a Longview doctor and two political action committees supporting his GOP primary opponent, Al Scoggins. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry issued a posthumous pardon today for Tim Cole, who died in prison after he was wrongly convicted of rape. Full Story
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An election that initially favored Sen. Hutchison has settled into a contest where Sen. Hutchison’s support is in the high 20’s while Gov. Perry’s is in the mid-40’s. Full Story
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Early voting totals in Texas' largest counties nearly doubled, with the GOP race leading the charge. Full Story
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Your afternoon reading. Full Story
Be our eyes and ears on election day. Start sending in your photos, updates and other ephemera from throughout election day to MEDIA@TEXASTRIBUNE.ORG. Full Story
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Too busy to read? Then just watch. Our quick video featurettes give each major Texas gubernatorial candidate a chance to sum up why he or she wants your vote. Full Story
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'Twas the day before the election, when all through the state/ The candidates were stirring, preparing for the big date/ The polls had been done by the pollsters with care/ But hopes remained that some wiggle room still would be there… Full Story
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“Things are going great. I feel good, and I’m going to campaign to the end,” she told a TV reporter shortly before Houston's Downtown Rodeo Parade. “I don’t think the polls are right.” Full Story
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“I’m a positive thinker. If I wasn’t sure of winning, I would not have put my foot in,” he said in his signature bullhorn tone, pressing his BlackBerry against his ear. “Hello? Hello? You’re speaking to the governor here.” Full Story
"My job is to communicate to as many people as I can about where I'd like to go in the future of this state," he said in Austin last week, "and to hope that people want a better future for this state and are willing to support somebody who will work for the people." Full Story
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“I treat every campaign seriously,” he says. “Nobody’s gonna outwork me. Nobody can put in more hours and go more places and do more things than I do.” Full Story