The latest Dan Patrick news from The Texas Tribune.
Comptroller Susan Combs endorsed Rick Santorum in the 2012 GOP primary for president today, telling the Tribune the former Pennsylvania senator is "the only real conservative left in the race." Full Story
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Now that he's back from his presidential run, Gov. Rick Perry has some relationships to repair in Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dcbcd967226543087f562826485141a3/BD%20INC%20Caucus%20Shadow%20353%202012)
Half of all GOP voters haven't decided who should be their nominee for the U.S. Senate, according to the new University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll. Full Story
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The easiest way to win an election is to have the votes. The next easiest way is to change the rules of the election. Some political folks, inside and outside the Texas Senate, are looking at the rules. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/aa53ca7949c4c403316412c0699c618e/BD%20INC%20Perry%20Dewhurst%202011)
The possibility of five or more new Republican senators in 2013 opens a tactical door for conservatives who'd like to gain control of the Legislature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c533fd06257cfe8dae52cf270de71dd4/BD%20INC%20Patrick%202011)
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, is still in the maybe column in the race to replace U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. But Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, says he won't run for that federal job; he might be looking instead at the lieutenant governor's post in 2014. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0a0bd19a9e59fbf74c09220c1897e2e2/BD%20INC%20Patrick%2001%20CMS%202011)
State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, officially announced today that he will not run for the seat currently occupied by outgoing U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, but that he is mulling a run for lieutenant governor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7b04eaeae1c0f3138a9e5d061a7bc7cd/BD%20INC%20Patrick%2002%202011)
Gov. Rick Perry is scoring some endorsements from GOP activists and officeholders, but support for Perry among his fellow Texas Republicans isn't unanimous. The Democrats, as you might expect, are vociferously in opposition. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6082e03bf5d35edccc32b6b41ee5790b/BD%20INC%20Perry%20Pray%2002%202011)
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst dribbled out his U.S. Senate announcement Tuesday, letting a preview for a relatively small group of supporters and activists slip into wide circulation on the internet before his campaign geared up for a big public show later in the week. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8db563c8565449344af9203b2824d0c7/BD%20INC%20Dew%20Press%202011)
Promising an "unapologetically conservative" campaign, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst today jumped into the Republican primary race to succeed Kay Bailey Hutchison in the U.S. Senate. Among other promises he made in a video sent to supporters, he pledged to support the controversial "Cut, Cap and Balance" budget plan under discussion in Congress. Full Story
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David Dewhurst might be the safest bet for the U.S. Senate since former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist. But nothing is guaranteed in politics. Just ask Crist. Full Story
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This week on the TribCast, Evan, Ross, Reeve, and Ben talk about the beginning of campaign season and which races to watch. Full Story
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Candidates are dropping out of the U.S. Senate race in Texas faster than teenagers drop out of Texas high schools. It’s been a month of un-declaration in the Republican race to replace Kay Bailey Hutchison. Full Story
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The Senate has adjourned Sine Die, leaving the burden of the TSA "anti-groping" bill in the House's lap. Full Story
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A Senate committee approved a new version of the TSA "anti-groping" bill today, which substitutes the language "probable cause" for "reasonable suspicion." Full Story
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State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, would be hard to beat in a bid for U.S. Senate, according to a poll released today by ... state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston. Full Story
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If you wanted to know where the governor, the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the House would stand at the end of the legislative session, you could have seen it all months ago. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9a35300edf588ad8e790dd0d2f4043e3/BD%20INC%20Trio%2002%202011)
The “anti-groping” bill may not be dead just yet. State Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, who authored the original bill, is renewing his quest to uphold the Fourth Amendment in the special session. Full Story
Former Railroad Commissioner Michael Wiliams, who announced his intention back in January to seek the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Kay Bailey Hutchison, is likely to drop out of that race and instead run for a newly created congressional seat, multiple sources tell the Tribune. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8617d0a602938cae4464ee6731989081/BD%20INC%20Williams%2021%202011)
The Trib's multimedia team highlights some of the most memorable — and surprising — moments from the 82nd Legislative Session. Our lawmakers sure do love to make a statement, complete with finger pointing, yelling and props. (Some video courtesy the Texas House, the Texas Senate and legetv.org.) Full Story
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