The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz checks in with voters on a post-shutdown tour of Texas, surprising moves on the 2014 campaign trail and Gov. Rick Perry announces a Texas A&M campus in Israel. Full Story
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Your evening reading: contractor involved with health exchange received Enterprise Fund money; Sebelius comes to Texas to apologize and to criticize; Cruz despises avocados Full Story
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The problem-plagued federal health insurance marketplace drew fire on Thursday from across the political spectrum and in multiple venues. Full Story
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Your evening reading: gubernatorial hopefuls both favor Prop 6; Davis calls insurance exchange problems "inexcusable"; yet more NSA surveillance revelations Full Story
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Gubernatorial candidates Wendy Davis and Greg Abbott are throwing their support behind Proposition 6, the constitutional amendment that will fund projects designed to help the state meet its growing need for water. Full Story
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Whoever wins the House District 50 special election in Travis County next month will have to start campaigning all over again for the March primary. But the victor will enter the race next year with a key advantage: four months of incumbency. Full Story
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A major plot twist emerged Wednesday in the race to succeed Wendy Davis in the state Senate. Full Story
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Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns said on Wednesday that he will not run to succeed Wendy Davis in the state Senate. Full Story
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Your evening reading: closing arguments made in abortion law trial; lite guv candidate Patrick promises to cut property taxes; new Times profile shines spotlight on Mrs. Ted Cruz Full Story
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Republican attorney and activist Linda Vega will run in the GOP primary for the U.S. Senate seat held by John Cornyn. Full Story
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Republican Chart Westcott on Wednesday launched his campaign to replace state Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, in House District 108. In the video announcement, Westcott touts his conservative platform and bashes Congress and the Obama administration. Full Story
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In the second TV ad of his campaign for lieutenant governor, state Sen. Dan Patrick promises to cut property taxes for all Texans and eliminate tax increases for senior citizens. Full Story
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A tame 2014 down-ballot race picked up a little star power on Tuesday. Full Story
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Ted Nugent has agreed to be the treasurer and co-chairman of former state Rep. Sid Miller's campaign for agriculture commissioner, the musician said Tuesday night, promising to "raise as much hell" as he can in the campaign. Full Story
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Move over, Texas Trial Lawyers Association. There's a new group in town: the Texas Association of Consumer Lawyers. Democratic mega-donor Steve Mostyn says he formed the group because he wants more cash to go straight into campaign coffers. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Pitts testifies in Regent Hall investigation; Stefani Carter drops Railroad Commission bid for run at re-election; blowback over Combs' endorsement of Hegar for comptroller Full Story
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UPDATED: Records requests that University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall filed with the University of Texas at Austin were the subject of hours of testimony Tuesday afternoon during a legislative committee hearing. Full Story
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In a new web ad, Republican Attorney General candidate Dan Branch highlights a bill he sponsored in 2003 requiring that students in Texas public schools be allowed to observe a moment of silent prayer or meditation. Full Story
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State Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, announced on Monday that he will run for the state Senate seat being vacated by Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands. Full Story
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Job creation during Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's tenure is the emphasis of a web video, featuring a Texas-shaped cake, that was released Monday by his re-election campaign. Full Story
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