Analysis: What Might Be Next in Texas Politics
Elections always raise obvious questions, like "Who'll be the next president?" and less obvious ones, like "Who would replace a U.S. senator from Texas if he won the presidential election?" Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott is shown on stage on Feb 24, 2016, in Houston during the Harris County Republican Party's 2016 Lincoln Reagan dinner.]()
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Historic Nature of Latina's Campaign Drew Attention But Not Enough Support
In South Texas, a candidate named Dolly Elizondo had a chance to make history as the first Latina from Texas to serve in Congress. Those involved say she struggled to translate national interest into sufficient local support. Full Story
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![Dolly Elizondo]()
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Amid Rivals' Home-State Drama, Cruz Finds Openings Elsewhere
While the political world focuses on Ohio and Florida, Ted Cruz is hoping to take advantage of a relatively open field in three other states that vote Tuesday: Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina. Full Story
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![Ted Cruz campaigns in San Antonio a day ahead of Super Tuesday, Feb 29, 2016.]()
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Railroad Commission Hopeful Unclear on Agency's Duties
Wayne Christian, a candidate for Texas railroad commissioner, frequently touts his energy expertise. But he did not know one of the agency’s key duties — regulating natural gas utilities — until a reporter told him. Full Story
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![Gary Gates and Wayne Christian]()
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Watch President Obama Speak at SXSW
South by Southwest got a visit Friday from President Obama, who sat down with Texas Tribune CEO and Editor-in-Chief Evan Smith for a conversation focused on civic engagement in a digital age. Watch the interview here. Full Story
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![Texas Tribune CEO and Editor-in-Chief Evan Smith interviewed President Barack Obama about civic engagement in a digital age at Austin's South by Southwest on March 11, 2016.]()
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Cruz Needles Trump in Tame GOP Debate
The Republican presidential hopefuls were on their best behavior at Thursday night's debate, with almost no insults, ad hominem attacks, mockery or commentary about candidate appendages. Full Story
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![Billionaire businessman Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz at the GOP debate in Miami, Florida on March 10, 2016.]()
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Hugh Shine Wins Recount Over Molly White
Challenger Hugh Shine secured victory Thursday in the Republican primary for Texas House District 55, defeating incumbent state Rep. Molly White by 104 votes after a recount, according to Bell County GOP chairwoman Nancy Boston. Full Story
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![Molly White, left, and Hugh Shine, right, face off in state House District 55.]()
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Religious Liberty Champion Joins Paxton's Team
Jeff Mateer, tapped by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Wednesday to be the state's first assistant attorney amid a staffing shakeup, has built his career as a tenacious champion of religious expression in the public square. Full Story
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![Ken Paxton's first assistant attorney general, Jeff Mateer.]()
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Mike Lee Gives Ted Cruz First U.S. Senate Endorsement
U.S. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah on Thursday announced his support for Ted Cruz for president, giving Cruz his first endorsement from a colleague in the upper chamber. Full Story
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Mayors Hold Taco Summit to End Austin-San Antonio Feud
With an escalating culinary battle threatening to destabilize the region, the mayors of Austin and San Antonio met Thursday morning to announce a taco truce. Full Story
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![Mayor of San Antonio Ivy Taylor gifts the mayor of Austin Steve Adler a taco stress toy at the conclusion of the Taco Summit held at the Hilton Austin on March 10, 2016.]()
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Former Assistant Attorney General Joins Pro-Ted Cruz Super PAC
Chip Roy, the former first assistant attorney general of Texas, has joined a super PAC supporting the presidential campaign of his old boss, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Full Story
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![Chip Roy sits down with Tribune reporter Julián Aguilar to discuss immigration and the Attorney General on Feb. 1, 2016.]()
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Federal Appeals Court Will Revisit Texas Voter ID Law
The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed Wednesday to take up the Texas voter ID case, adding another chapter to the law’s convoluted journey through the federal court system. Full Story
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Texas Caseworkers Call For Foster Care Reforms
A new group has joined the chorus lambasting Texas for resisting court-ordered reforms to its foster care system: its own employees who work with children. Full Story
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![Susan Rial, member of the Texas State Employees Union, rallies with fellow Department of Family and Protective Services employees at the Capitol on March 9, 2016.]()
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Carly Fiorina Endorses Ted Cruz
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has added former GOP presidential rival Carly Fiorina to his list of endorsements. On Wednesday, the former Hewlett Packard CEO joined Cruz onstage during a rally in Miami. Full Story
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![Republican Presidential candidate Carly Fiorina speaks to the National Organization of Women Business Owners meeting in San Antonio, Texas September 27, 2015.]()
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Analysis: Politics Wasn't at Play With Tax Hearing, Bettencourt Says
After questions about a special Senate committee hearing in San Antonio, and the appearance there of a challenger to House Speaker Joe Straus, state Sen. Paul Bettencourt makes a fairly strong case that there’s nothing to see here. Full Story
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![Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston.]()
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Hell and High Water: Risks Grow for Low-Lying Cities in Houston Region
Several experts worry that the low-lying residential areas in the Houston region are now more vulnerable to storms. Read more in our "Hell and High Water" project, done in collaboration with ProPublica. Full Story
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![Boats and residential development in League City near Clear Lake on Nov. 10, 2015.]()
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Travis County GOP Condemns Its Next Chairman
At a packed Travis County GOP executive committee meeting Tuesday night, it took less than a minute for someone to acknowledge the elephant not in the room — newly elected chair Robert Morrow. Full Story
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![Outgoing Chairman James Dickey speaks to the Travis County Republican Party on Tuesday Mar. 8, 2016, the first executive committee meeting since Robert Morrow was elected chairman.]()
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Ted Cruz Wins in Idaho, Places Second in Three Other States
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz on Tuesday night won the the Idaho GOP presidential primary, and placed second to Donald Trump in Michigan, Mississippi and Hawaii. Full Story
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![Senator Ted Cruz speaks to Texas reporters in Columbia following the South Carolina Republican presidential primary on Feb. 20, 2016.]()
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Battling Trump, Cruz Gets Some Unlikely Support
He's taking calls from Mitt Romney. Adding Bushes to his finance team. Winning over Lindsey Graham. Emerging as the chief alternative to Donald Trump, Ted Cruz is drawing the attention — and support — of a Republican establishment he has built his political career brutalizing. Full Story
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![Ted Cruz campaigns in San Antonio a day ahead of Super Tuesday, Feb 29, 2016.]()
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Texas Supreme Court Grapples With Billion-Dollar Tax Question
With billions of dollars at stake, the Texas Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a tax showdown whose outcome could shake up the next legislative session while providing a boost to struggling petroleum drillers. Full Story
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![Pipes used for fracking are shown in front of a Fasken OIl and Ranch drilling rig outside of Midland on Oct. 8, 2013.]()
Credit: Jerod Foster