The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
Officials say Tuesday's election proceeded smoothly despite controversy surrounding the newly implemented voter ID law, but some worry that could change in coming elections with increased voter turnout. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/11/05/TxTribElectionDay2013_Kalifa012.jpg)
In the end, the only electoral drama on Prop 6 was how quickly the wire services would make the call after the polls closed in El Paso. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/86c3f28e9aa4635fb75f9d692bb4aca6/BD%20INC%20Straus%203103%202013)
Texas voters addressed the state's fast growth and lingering drought Tuesday by approving a $2 billion water fund and eight other constitutional amendments in a low-turnout election. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/64aa49c5e9920dcc406356db774e9407/BD%20INC%20Straus%203074%202013)
Your evening reading: toll road swap floated for Austin; Texas Supreme Court hears same-sex divorce cases; new poll shows Abbott with commanding lead Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TrafficCongestion_on_I35.jpg)
This year's vote on water funding has some implications for conservative candidates in Texas. It's the best opportunity to fund water projects without raising taxes, but also controversially pulls from the state's savings account. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/09/13/Housotn.jpg)
The latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll confirms that U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has solidified his status as the biggest star in the Texas GOP firmament. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d41e481478e488833813773b7268da9f/BD%20INC%20Ted%20Cruz%2003%202013)
Unlike their counterparts in the lieutenant governor’s race, the Republicans vying to be the state’s next attorney general have largely refrained from drawing any knives in public. But they're coming out around the issue of smart meters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/12/TxTribLive-Smitherman110.jpg)
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d556423f700e68726466df572a61bc38/DO%20NOT%20USE%20Perry%20Secret%2002%202013)
Your evening reading: Martinez Fischer raises possibility of looking at UT regents' tablets; Abbott downplays prevalence of voter ID affidavits; Microsoft inks big Texas wind power deal Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/10/23/7C2A4582.jpg)
Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, a candidate for lieutenant governor, highlights his commitment to gun rights and a family history of military service in a new campaign web video. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Screen_shot_2013-11-04_at_11.38.56_AM.jpg)
The big headline from the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll out today is this: The gap between Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis can be counted on a single hand. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f9668f82725cd2a24668e4423e791df6/DONT%20USE%20Abbott%20Davis%202013)
Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott has a single-digit lead over Democratic state Sen. Wendy Davis in the 2014 race for governor, according to a new University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/11/03/TxTrib-Inside-Intel.462.png)
This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: The vote on water and other constitutional amendments is days away, Todd Staples jabs at Dan Patrick and Democrats start testing Ted Cruz's popularity with independent voters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/1031_newsreel_still.jpg)
Your evening reading: clinics end abortion services after court ruling; Carona lends his plane to Patrick for lite guv campaign; no cooling off period for Williams Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/12/D54H5617.jpg)
Full video of my 10/31 TribLive conversation with Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, a 2014 candidate for lieutenant governor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/StaplesTodd082.jpg)
A trio of federal judges gave Greg Abbott and his fellow Republicans a big treat on Halloween evening. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/03/TXTrib-Abbott-CCR018.jpg)
Gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis talked border security and driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants in El Paso on Thursday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4ef54bfd52adbeb3429c3e23b03fdf24/BD%20INC%20Wendy%20Davis%20Senate%20Floor%2003%202013%20)
Your evening reading: statewide candidates say where they stand on Prop 6; Katy ISD plans $69 million football stadium; Cruz's dad says the darndest things Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/10/24/laketexoma12.jpg)
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples explained why he decided to run for lieutenant governor in 2014. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/XStaplesTodd097.jpg)
UPDATED: Former state Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, has officially joined the Texas A&M University System as its new vice chancellor of federal and state relations. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/deaf8a2c8effdb386edfbb2b873a1639/BD%20INC%20Williams%204878%202013%20)