The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: Texas legislators are back for a second special session and another round of the debate on the state's abortion laws. Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Perry will announce "exciting future plans" in San Antonio. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/070313_ART.jpg)
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst currently enjoys the unenviable status of being the least popular of the major statewide Republican elected officials in Texas, according to an analysis of his approval numbers and standing in election matchups. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/504c90ec851572b4157db9fbdc22177e/BD%20INC%20Dewhurst%202013)
The former Texas Republican Party chairman is betting his fellow conservatives want a change of direction after a dozen years of Gov. Rick Perry and what he says would be "more of the same" from Attorney General Greg Abbott. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/03/Tom_Pauken_1747.jpg)
Rather than displaying the swagger of Gov. Rick Perry, Attorney General Greg Abbott comes off as cautious and measured. Those who know him say he is very methodical, a trait that could be to his advantage in a potential race for governor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/03/TXTrib-Abbott-CCR018.jpg)
As Greg Abbott — widely believed to be running for governor — waits for Monday's announcement on Gov. Rick Perry's political future, we've compiled a photographic retrospective of the Texas attorney general's life. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/03/Abbott-LEAD.jpg)
Reeve, Ben, Evan and Ross discuss the fallout from last week's filibuster by state Sen. Wendy Davis, the Voting Rights Act, the effort to impeach a university regent and Gov. Rick Perry's coming announcement of "exciting future plans." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Tribcasters-ReeveEvanRossBen_1.jpg)
For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about setting up a presdential race, resigning to run, getting federal permission to change election laws and whether the 2014 primaries will be on time. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/inside_intelligence-logo-Hahn-sponsorship.jpg){kind=logo}
After Democrats scored a rare legislative victory on Gov. Rick Perry's home turf, the national spotlight is revisiting the governor of Texas. How he handles it could affect his hopes as a 2016 presidential contender. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/27/TXTrib-PerryRightLife-CCR014.jpg)
After an end-of-session debate killed three bills, including a controversial abortion bill that prompted a filibuster, Gov. Rick Perry is calling lawmakers back for more. They started Monday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/26/IMG_3011.jpg)
As thousands of protesters descended on the state Capitol in an effort to protect access to abortions in Texas, Republican leaders vowed not to quit until they’ve approved far tighter restrictions on the procedure. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0d30383679268e03e50dea2c03ab89c0/BD%20INC%20Special%20Session%20Protest%2001%202013)
In the wake of a voting rights decision by the nation's highest court and new political maps drawn by Texas lawmakers, a federal panel on Monday began working to figure out the next steps for Texas redistricting. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/RedistrictShapes5.jpg)
While much attention has been paid to the political conflict on the floor of the Texas Senate last week, the subtleties of public opinion on abortion in Texas framed the clash in the upper chamber. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/98132729a6443c293bf85e8161c0a3ff/BD%20INC%20Fillibuster%20Richards%20108%202013)
What happened last Tuesday was started by an "unruly bunch" — the people who were controlling the Senate that night, flouting rules, chucking tradition and ignoring common sense to get their way. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/07/D54H6678.jpg)
The "gallery filibuster" last Tuesday — when loud demonstrations made it impossible for senators to vote on anti-abortion legislation — wasn't democracy in action. It was mob rule. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/27/Estes.jpg)
Attorney General Greg Abbott has a big bank account, a political organization and a nearly clear field on the path to governor — if the office is open in 2014. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/22/_01F0689.jpg)
Rick Perry was supposed to decide by July 1 whether he would jump into the 2014 governor's race. But all bets are off now that he has called a new special session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/27/TXTrib-PerryRightLife-CCR013.jpg)
State Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, wrapped up a week in the national spotlight with appearances on the network affiliate Sunday talk shows. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a2c7eb0b2e1666997bcebf7cd3406e92/BD%20INC%20Wendy%20Davis%20Floor%20163%202013%20)
The new Democratic star in Texas politics has said she'll seek re-election to the state Senate, but the events of the last week put Wendy Davis in position for a bigger race — one that would be very difficult to win. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/27/DavisWendyMC002CMS.jpg)
After reviewing video from Tuesday's filibuster, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst — who also spoke at a Right to Life conference on Saturday — said he found no evidence that the media incited "unruly" behavior from activists in the Senate gallery. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/27/DewhurstSpecial1.jpg)
Your evening reading: aide says Davis "looking very closely" at statewide run; Straus says Perry's comments on Davis crossed a line; Cruz says Davis' views don't match Texans' Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/wendy-davis_2.jpg)