Betty King, Longtime Secretary of Texas Senate, Dies
Betty King, the beloved former secretary of the Texas Senate, died Monday after a long illness, according to her family. She was 89. Full Story
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Odds Favor Kolkhorst in Race for Hegar's Seat
Less than a month after Election Day, some Texans are already headed back to the polls to fill the state Senate seat given up by Glenn Hegar after he was elected Comptroller of Public Accounts. Full Story
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![Rep. Lois Kolkhorst R-Brenham on House floor May 24th, 2011]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: In the House, a Dose of Moderation
As the numbers mount in favor of House Speaker Joe Straus' reelection, the establishment wing of the Republican Party in Texas appears to be prevailing over activists who insist the state is more conservative than its Legislature. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus (l) faces a challenge from Frisco state Rep. Scott Turner]()
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Hegar Resigns Senate Seat; Dec. 6 Special Election Set
State Sen. Glenn Hegar sent a letter to Gov. Rick Perry Friday resigning his Senate seat as of Dec. 5. The Katy Republican will be sworn in as comptroller in January. A Dec. 6 special election for his seat was announced later Friday. Full Story
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![Glenn Hegar, who was elected state comptroller in November 2014, is shown at the State Republican Convention on June 6, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
On First Day Allowed for Filing, Legislators Submit More Than 350 Bills
Two months ahead of the first day of the 84th legislative session, eager lawmakers on Monday filed bills addressing issues including guns, texting while driving, health, transportation and much more. Full Story
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Credit: Anneke Paterson -
In Legislature, Even Fewer White Democrats
After the winners of Tuesday’s elections are sworn in, there will be only seven white Democrats left in the Texas Legislature. Full Story
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![Rep. Donna Howard (D-48) on the floor of the Texas House, February 15, 2011.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: Blue Hopes Drowned by a Sea of Red
Texas voters reasserted themselves in the face of ballyhooed Democratic voter turnout efforts: This remains — emphatically — a Republican state. Full Story
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![Attorney General Greg Abbott, who was elected Texas governor, waves to supporters after his victory speech in Austin on Nov. 4, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Patrick Wins Big in Bid for Lieutenant Governor
Republican state Sen. Dan Patrick cruised to a landslide victory Tuesday night in the race for lieutenant governor, easily defeating Democratic opponent, Leticia Van de Putte. For more election results, see our Election Scoreboard. Full Story
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![State Sen. Dan Patrick celebrates his election as the next lieutenant governor of Texas in Houston on November 4th, 2014.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Liveblog: 2014 General Election Results
Throughout the night, our liveblog will keep you updated on the results of general election battles statewide, from the first early voting totals through the last ballots counted, from local legislative races to the governor's race. Full Story
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![Travis County residents line up to vote at Austin's Highland Mall on Nov. 4, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Van de Putte's Statewide Bus Tour Ventures off Democrats' Beaten Path
State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, is reaching out to voters in conservative hotbeds in North and East Texas — a nod to Democrats’ dependence on increasing voter turnout in statewide races. Full Story
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![State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte waves to the delegates at the 2014 Texas Democratic Convention held at the Dallas Convention Center on June 27, 2014.]()
Credit: Alyssa Banata -
Perry Wins Special Election for Senate Seat
State Rep. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, has won Tuesday's special election for Senate District 28, avoiding a runoff in the six-candidate race. He will take the seat vacated by Robert Duncan, who is now the chancellor of the Texas Tech University System. Full Story
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For Van de Putte, Questions About Private Work, Public Role
As Sen. Leticia Van de Putte reaches for one of the most powerful jobs in Texas, the blurred lines between her private work and public role are giving rise to familiar questions in a part-time Legislature. Full Story
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![Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio (center) on the House floor on Feb. 8, 2011.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: A Lot of Races, But Not as Much Drama
With fewer than 10 weeks remaining until Election Day, almost all of the Texas races for Congress and the Legislature are all but over. Just a handful of competitive races remain. Full Story
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![A voting precinct at the Parker Lane United Methodist Church in Austin is shown in November 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Education Commissioner: "The System Needs to Catch Up"
UPDATED: Asked why the state had delayed a transition away from lower passing standards on state exams, Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams told state lawmakers Tuesday that classroom instruction had failed to meet the rigor demanded by the new tests. Full Story
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![Education Commissioner Michael Williams, a former railroad commissioner, is shown at a TribLive event on Jan. 27, 2011.]()
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Senators Debate Funding, Merits of National Guard Deployment
At a state Senate Finance Committee hearing Tuesday, senators debated the merits and tactical strategies of Gov. Rick Perry’s decision to send Texas National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. Full Story
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![Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, during a Health and Human Services committee hearing on Feb. 19, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Creighton Easily Wins Special State Senate Race
State Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, has defeated state Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, in a special election runoff for a vacant Houston-area state Senate seat. Full Story
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![State Reps. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, and Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, faced off for the vacant Senate District 4 seat in a special election runoff Tuesday.]()
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Analysis: A Pressing Conundrum for Texas Capitol Gatekeepers
Pretty soon, Texas lawmakers will have to decide who is a reporter — and who isn't. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst speaks to reporters on June 3rd, 2011]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Schwertner to Lead Senate Health and Human Services Committee
After appointing Sen. Jane Nelson to chair the Senate Finance Committee, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has picked Sen. Charles Schwertner to replace her as the head of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Full Story
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![Sen. Charles Schwertner R-Georgetown, at a February Texas Tribune event.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: A Speaker Who May Have Less of a Say
House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, enters the next legislative session as a clear favorite for re-election, but the issues raised in the conservative wave in this year's elections could dominate the Legislature's calendar. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Creighton, Toth Bound for Senate Runoff
UPDATED: With all of the precincts counted, Brandon Creighton and Steve Toth finished first and second and appear headed for a runoff in the contest to succeed Tommy Williams in the Texas Senate. Full Story
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![State Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, insurance company president Gordy Bunch, former state Sen. Michael Galloway and state Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, were the four initial candidates in a May 10 special election for Senate District 4. Creighton and Toth are heading to a runoff Tuesday.]()
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