The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
These are heady days for Republican consultants, with an unusually large number of open seats creating a bumper crop of primary campaigns along with a challenge: finding enough staff to work them. Full Story
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Here's a novel strategy for state officials looking to avoid answering questions from the public: When in doubt, blame the Sugar Bowl. Full Story
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The legislative changes coming in the 2014 elections mean several current lawmakers will be replaced. But their voters, in almost all instances, are likely to stick with politicians of the same party. Full Story
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With a year left to go in Rick Perry's governorship, the future of the Texas Enterprise Fund is unclear. The two front-runners to succeed him have offered mixed messages on the fund in the past. Full Story
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The political conversation is wasting no time in 2014 pivoting to what is expected to be the biggest story of the year — the November clash between Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis. Full Story
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Welcome to the marquee political contest this year in Texas, where the gubernatorial primaries are all but decided and both candidates are looking toward a November showdown with knives drawn. Full Story
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2013 wasn't supposed to be a very political year, but in this very political state, it became one. Full Story
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The Federal Aviation Administration has selected Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi as a test site to further study the uses of unmanned aircraft systems. Full Story
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For Texas Democrats, 2014 marks another run at the statewide offices that have remained out of their reach for two decades. Their challenge: convincing voters that a Democrat can win a statewide race here. Full Story
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Harold Simmons, a Dallas businessman and billionaire, philanthropist and Republican mega-donor, died Saturday at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. He was 82. Full Story
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Many Republican officials have pointed to George P. Bush, the odds-on favorite in the 2014 land commissioner's race, as an example that Hispanic candidates are able to win statewide GOP primaries. But several political observers do not see a trend starting. Full Story
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Campaign advertising is all about what appeals to the audience of voters — even if that means ignoring the office the candidates are seeking. Full Story
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We had especially provocative and interesting guests as part of our TribLive conversation series in 2013. Here are 10 must-watch clips from the many interviews we conducted. Full Story
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Your evening reading: oil boom creates another, unexpected boomlet in windshield repair; Ralph Hall says next term in Congress would be his last; move to push Medicaid expansion is losing support from key industry groups Full Story
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Dreams of Texas playing a pivotal role in choosing the next GOP presidential nominee are running thorugh state Republican Party Chairman Steve Munisteri's head. Full Story
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Dec. 31 is not a political deadline voters care about — but candidates sure do. It's the last day they can bring in money for a report that will demonstrate their strength to supporters. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Perry pushes a new position at A&M "on par with [the] chancellor"; navigator supporters criticize new requirements proposed by state; state jobless rate hits a nearly five-year low Full Story
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Health care navigators are back on the agenda with a hearing Friday morning in Austin on new proposed state rules by the state's insurance department. Full Story
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Democrats say the the decision by Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Lawrence Meyers to leave the Republican Party gives them something to build on for the 2014 elections. But GOP officials see no evidence of a sea change. Full Story
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Many of the candidates who are well known in political circles are strangers to voters. In most races — even for statewide offices — the leading candidate is "Undecided." Full Story
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