In one of the most competitive Texas House races this fall, Republican Cindy Burkett is challenging freshman state Rep. Robert Miklos, D-Mesquite, in a southeastern Dallas County swing district.
Texas House of Representatives
Posted in
State Government
A Sophomore Slump?
Half a dozen Democratic House members first elected in 2008 face an important test this fall: Can they win re-election on their own merits, without the help of high turnout generated by a popular presidential candidate? Republicans believe the combination of the current anti-incumbent mood, the Obama backlash and the built-in advantage that the GOP enjoys in Texas spells doom for Dems up and down the ballot. But the freshmen playing defense point to a few factors working in their favor.
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State Government
Show Us the Money
With a month to go before Election Day, challengers in fifteen House races outraised incumbents during the most recent reporting period, according to the most recent filings with the Texas Ethics Commission. In eight of those races, the challengers led in combined spending and saving, a rough measure of each campaign’s financial strength.
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State Government
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 49
In this week’s skirmish, topics include campaign cash, the latest polls in the governor’s race, the hotbed of Texas House activity in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and the consequences of the budget crisis.
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State Government
Where They Stand: HD-48
Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune looks at where the candidates running in House District 48 stand on the issue of education.
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State Government
TribBlog: Mr. Ten Percent?
A court filing provides 59 hints as to what the state’s case against state Rep. Ismael “Kino” Flores, D-Palmview, will look like when his trial for ethics charges begins on Oct. 18.
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State Government
2010: Moody Hearts Perry?
The Republican Party of Texas is accusing Democratic state Rep. Joe Moody, of El Paso, of plagiarizing the text of a State of the State address by Gov. Rick Perry, and it has launched a website to make its case: www.madatmoody.com.
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State Government
Where They Stand: HD-45
In House District 45 — which covers Hays, Blanco and Caldwell counties — incumbent Democrat Patrick Rose faces a stiff challenge from Republican Jason Isaac. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune looks at where the candidates stand on two flashpoints this election year: the budget and immigration.
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Health care
In the Soup?
Double-billing taxpayers for travel expenses, driving a luxury car owned by a state transportation contractor and repeatedly failing to pay taxes won’t put a lawmaker in good standing with the ethics police, as state Reps. Charles “Doc” Anderson, R-Waco; Joe Driver, R-Garland; and Linda Harper-Brown, R-Irving, are finding. The three hope the headlines dogging their re-election bids won’t follow them to the polls, while their Democratic opponents are reveling in their misery at every campaign stop. Yet whether a scandal forces an incumbent from office depends on the scenario.
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State Government
Full Audio: Debbie Riddle at TribLive
Full audio recording (including Q & A) of state Rep. Debbie Riddle’s appearance at our TribLive breakfast conversation series.
