2012 elections

Is Texas really going purple? Our Heat Index will show how competitive your district is.

by Shiying Cheng and Ross Ramsey

Is Texas really a swing state? To explore the question, we looked at nearly 20 years of election data to assess the competitiveness of every congressional and legislative district in the state. Take a tour of some of the state's hot spots and then type in your address to find out the lay of the land in your districts.

Left: U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke campaigning in El Paso in 2018; right: Ted Cruz campaigning for the U.S. Senate in 2012.

6 ways Beto O’Rourke's Senate bid is like Ted Cruz’s first bid for Congress

by Aman Batheja

Back in 2012, Ted Cruz was the underdog who managed to beat out the better-known David Dewhurst for a U.S. Senate seat. Now, as Cruz is running for re-election, there are echoes of that earlier campaign in Beto O'Rourke's bid to unseat Cruz.

George H.W. Bush (l) and George W. Bush

Bush 41, 43 Have No Plans to Endorse Trump

by Jordan Rudner

For the first time since his own presidency, George H.W. Bush is planning to stay silent in the race for the Oval Office — and the younger former president Bush plans to stay silent as well.

All Roads Lead to Rome? In 2016, Try Texas

by Abby Livingston, Annie Daniel and Jolie McCullough

Of the two dozen or so politicos floated as serious presidential contenders, an uncanny number have a legitimate Texas connection.

Five — and a Half — Things We Won't Forget About Gov. Rick Perry

by Jay Root and Reeve Hamilton

Boiling down Gov. Rick Perry’s legacy into a few bullet points isn’t easy. But reporters Reeve Hamilton and Jay Root look at some things people will surely remember years after Perry has left office. Their feature kicks off our 10-part series, The Perry Legacy.

The Calendar

by Texas Weekly

Key meetings and events for the coming week.

Rick Perry and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and 2014 RedState Gathering at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas on August 8, 2014.

Even Before Indictment, Perry Had Faced Gap With Cruz in 2016 Talk

by Aman Batheja

Even before his recent legal troubles, Gov. Rick Perry was operating in U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s shadow, in the eyes of many conservatives, as the two Texans explored bids for the White House. That was apparent in their receptions at a recent conservative conference.

Perry, Cruz Among Texans to Speak at RedState Event

by Aman Batheja

Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, two potential 2016 presidential candidates, are among the Texas Republicans scheduled to speak at RedState's national conference Friday and Saturday in Fort Worth.

Perry Baptized Anew in Historic Creek

by Jay Root

As he ponders whether to run for president again, Gov. Rick Perry has renewed his faith by getting baptized in the spring waters once used to wash the sins off Sam Houston, the first president of the Republic of Texas.

Civil Rights Group Criticizes Texas Voter Registration Process

by Alexa Ura

Lax enforcement, lacking leadership by state election officials and faulty voter registration procedures led to the disenfranchisement of thousands of Texans in 2012, according to a report released on Monday.

TribLive: An Evening With Halperin and Heilemann

by Evan Smith

Full video of my Nov. 18 conversation with veteran political reporters Mark Halperin and John Heilemann, whose new book on the 2012 presidential campaign, Double Down, is already a best-seller.

Book Describes Rise, Fall of Perry's 2012 Campaign

by Jay Root

Gov. Rick Perry's failed 2012 presidential campaign is chronicled in detail in Double Down: Game Change 2012, a new book about the last presidential race.

Redistricting Plan Set, But Legal Debate Isn't Over

by Ross Ramsey

Lawmakers passed a new set of congressional and legislative maps in their first special session. Redistricting has been a long and contentious process, and it is probably far from over. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series.

Democracy and Texas Voters — By the Numbers

by Ross Ramsey

Texas politicians can easily represent the people who elect them without necessarily representing the people of Texas. To get re-elected, they have to please their voters, not the general population.

Democratic Strategist Has Big Wins, Little Patience

by Julián Aguilar

After successfully leading the bruising campaigns for two state senators and a state representative, Terrysa Guerra, an unassuming Democratic strategist, has emerged as a secret weapon for her party.

TWI: The Climate in Texas Political Districts

by Ross Ramsey and Ryan Murphy

The newest Texas Weekly Index measures each of the state's legislative and congressional districts, based on how statewide Republicans and Democrats fared in races in each district over the 2010 and 2012 election cycles.

State Rep. Carol Alvarado (left), D-Houston, and Former Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia are among the eight candidates vying to replace the late Sen. Mario Gallegos.

Updated: Garcia Wins Houston Senate Race

by Julián Aguilar

Former Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia is headed for the Texas Senate after beating state Rep. Carol Alvarado in a Saturday special election runoff to succeed the late Mario Gallegos, D-Houston.

TribLive: A Conversation with Erickson and Treviño

by Evan Smith

At the quarterly meeting of the Texas Lyceum, I interviewed Erick Erickson of RedState.com and Joshua Treviño of the Texas Public Policy Foundation about the evolving influence of conservative media.

TribLive: A Conversation with McKinnon and Dowd

by Evan Smith

At last Saturday's quarterly meeting of the Texas Lyceum, I interviewed political-strategists-turned-pundits Matthew Dowd and Mark McKinnon about the media's coverage of the 2012 elections and how reporting on politics will be different going forward.

Perry Sets March 2 SD-6 Runoff

by Julián Aguilar

Gov. Rick Perry on Friday set a March 2 special runoff election to fill the open seat created by the death of the late state Sen. Mario Gallegos. The race is between state Rep. Carol Alvarado and former Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia.