The latest Texas Democratic Party news from The Texas Tribune.
Monday was the filing deadline for the 2010 elections, and the parties published preliminary lists of the people who want to run the state next year. By our tentative count, 89 members of the House won't have major-party competition, while nine of the 16 senators on the ballot and four members of the state's congressional delegation all apparently drew byes. The full ballots, as they stand now, are in our Election 2010 database. Full Story
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The latest Democrat to enter the race for lieutenant governor makes her filing day speech in English, then Spanish. Full Story
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Former state Sen. Hector Uribe, D-Brownsville, filed for land commissioner today, setting up a primary battle with Bill Burton of Athens. The winner will face Republican incumbent Jerry Patterson in November. Full Story
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The political window is about to close: Today's the last day to become a candidate in the 2010 state elections. What we know so far is that the ballot will have a fireworks show at the top, with contested and well-financed gubernatorial primaries on both sides. A couple of statewide Democratic races will be competitive, but with incumbents seeking reelection on the Republican side, there's little action there. Full Story
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How are San Antonio Democrats reacting to the party's embezzlement scandal? Full Story
It's been a rough few days for Bexar County Democrats: Party officials announced last week that a former official had embezzled more than $200,000 from the party. Just about every elected Democrat in the county held a press conference today to say that the party has a plan to pay it back — and that none of this will affect the March primary — or their candidates' chances in next November's general election. Ben Philpott, who is reporting on the 2010 elections for KUT News and the Tribune, talked with State Senator Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, about the scandal, about her party's prospects, and her own. Full Story
Is retired Travis County D.A. Ronnie Earle — who talked about running for governor and then filed for lieutenant governor — a strong statewide candidate? Full Story
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In every major urban and suburban Texas county, where the vast majority of Texans cast their ballots, the Democratic vote share increased betweeen 2004 and 2008. Montgomery County was the single exception. In Denton, Collin, Fort Bend, and Williamson Counties — four of the five most populous traditionally Republican suburban counties — the Democratic vote rose. Full Story
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Humorist and author Kinky Friedman is setting his sights on a new prize: the agriculture commissioner post. Full Story
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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman could announce this week whether he’ll continue his run or stake his claim to another statewide office. Full Story
In the wake of Bill White’s entry into the Governor’s race, Texas Democrats are understandably — and dangerously — optimistic. Full Story
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It's not an accident that Democrats have been winning races in Republican-held urban and suburban districts, and narrowing statewide Republican margins. That Democrats are attracting A-team candidates like Mayor Bill White is testimony to years of hard work, not coincidental political evolution. Full Story
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Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Farouk Shami is counting on your votes to put him in office, but records show his own voting history is inconsistent. There's no evidence that he's ever voted in a Democratic primary — but he did vote in the Republican primary in 2000. Full Story
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Houston Mayor Bill White has hit the campaign trail after joining the race for governor late last week. One of his first stops was Austin. The Capital city is considered a democratic stronghold. And made for a nice safe place to start his run for governor. Ben Philpott is covering the Texas governor's race for the Texas Tribune and KUT News. Full Story
Candidates from both sides of the spectrum are self-recruited and responsible for their own campaigns. So what's the value of a relationship with the state's political parties? Full Story
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Bill White's expected to announce for governor today. We'll get you caught up to speed on what led to this day, help flesh out what it all means, and take a quick look ahead. Full Story
Well, now it's official: The mayor of San Antonio will save us all. Full Story
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If Bill White runs for governor, what's the effect down the ballot? Full Story
This holiday weekend, Democrats up and down the ballot are giving thanks for the prospect of a Bill White gubernatorial candidacy. Full Story
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It's a Bill White-Tom Schieffer-Kinky Friedman-Farouk Shami-Rick Perry mashup to get you caught up on Monday's developments, if you missed them. Full Story
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