Four top takeaways from the 2018 Texas midterm elections
Historic turnout, unusually tight races and a "blue wave" that didn't quite break. Full Story
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![Voters cast their ballots in midterm elections in Houston, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democrats were aiming for historic wins in 2018. What they got instead was hope for 2020.
Republicans won every statewide office in Texas, as they have in every election for the past 20 years. But Democrats are taking heart in their narrow losing margins. Full Story
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![Beto O'Rourke speaks to his supporters after losing to Ted Cruz in the 2018 midterm elections, in El Paso on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Democratic women lead biggest shift in Texas House since 2010 midterms
Led by female candidates, Texas Democrats picked up 12 Texas House seats from Republicans, mostly in North Texas. But Republicans still have the edge in the lower chamber. Full Story
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![State Rep. Rodney Anderson, R-Grand Prairie, and his Democratic opponent Terry Meza,]()
Credit: Facebook -
Democrats Nathan Johnson and Beverly Powell defeat state Sens. Don Huffines and Konni Burton in Texas midterm
Burton and Huffines were two of three Republican senators in districts where more voters backed Democrat Hillary Clinton over Republican Donald Trump in 2016 or where the president had a narrow winning margin. Full Story
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![State Sens. Konni Burton, R-Colleyville, Don Huffines, R-Dallas, and Joan Huffman, R-Houston.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich: Burton/Marjorie Kamys Cotera: Huffines/Laura Skelding: Huffman -
Gov. Greg Abbott clinches second term as GOP wins closest statewide races in 20 years
Abbott easily bested his Democratic opponent, Lupe Valdez. Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller faced rare single-digit contests before eventually besting Democratic challengers. Full Story
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![Texas Governor Greg Abbott smiles before a gubernatorial debate against his Democratic challenger Lupe Valdez at the LBJ Library in Austin, Texas, on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018.]()
Credit: NICK WAGNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN -
Judge orders Harris County to keep some polling locations open an extra hour
Texans looking to cast their ballots on Election Day were met by a series of delays and technical difficulties that resulted in long lines, and in some cases kept voters from casting their ballots. Full Story
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![Voter wait in line outside Marshall Middle School, one of several polling places in Houston being kept open an hour longer after polls opened late with issues including election machine technical problems that caused delays in voting.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Split Decision: Watch candidates in the 2018 Texas elections virtually debate
During the general election campaign, The Texas Tribune produced six episodes of its Split Decision video series. Watch candidates for lieutenant governor, Congress and agriculture commissioner discuss the various issues in their races. Full Story
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With days to go, contest for attorney general shows signs of a competitive race
Attorney General Ken Paxton has run a mostly under-the-radar re-election campaign, but new ads and big donations in the final days suggest Republicans aren't taking anything for granted. Full Story
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![Houston lawyer Justin Nelson (left) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.]()
Credit: Nelson campaign/Laura Buckman: Paxton -
More than 4,884,528 Texans voted early in the midterm election
Early voter turnout in the 2018 midterms surpassed turnout from the 2012 presidential election in the 30 Texas counties where most registered voters in the state — 78 percent — live. Full Story
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![Long lines for the start of early voting at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center near downtown Houston Monday, Oct. 22. (Photo by Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune)]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
In midterms, Democrats see a chance to disrupt GOP dominance of state appeals courts
Enough judicial seats are up for election that Democrats could flip the four sprawling appellate court districts that serve Austin, Dallas and Houston. Hillary Clinton won those districts in 2016. Full Story
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![The Texas Third Court of Appeals in Austin on Oct. 17, 2018.]()
Credit: Rachel Zein for The Texas Tribune -
While Beto O'Rourke rakes in cash, big donors ignore the Democratic statewide ticket
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke has raised money hand over fist, but the rest of the statewide ticket has been left relatively empty-handed as many left-leaning megadonors have shifted — or sharply curtailed — their giving. Full Story
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![Lupe Valdez, Democratic candidate for governor, and U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, vying for the U.S. Senate, at the Texas Democratic Party convention in Fort Worth on June 23, 2018.]()
Credit: Joan Brook for The Texas Tribune -
Beto O’Rourke is betting big on Facebook ads: He’s spent more than $6 million in six months.
U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s spending in particular on the site suggests Facebook is playing a bigger role in his race this year than in any other in Texas — and possibly the country. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso (left), is challenging U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera: O'Rourke/Bob Daemmrich: Cruz -
In Dallas-area Texas House race, Deanna Metzger is the rare Republican who’s on offense
In most Dallas-area legislative races this year, incumbent Republicans are on defense. In House District 107, the script is flipped. Full Story
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![Republican Deanna Maria Metzger is challenging incumbent state Rep. Victoria Neave, D-Dallas, in state House District 107.]()
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State Rep. Dennis Bonnen says he's running for Texas House speaker
Bonnen said in a statement that “after thoughtful consideration with my family, I have decided to heed the call of many of my colleagues.” Full Story
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![State Reps. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton (left), and Tom Craddick, R-Midland, on their way to a House Republican Caucus meeting in Austin on Dec. 1, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Lawyers for state Sen. Charles Schwertner say forensic review proves explicit texts didn't come from his phone
The lawyers said the examiner, R3 Digital Forensics, of Austin, "determined that the photo and texts in question could not have come from the senator's phone." Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, on the floor of the Senate on April 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Groups with neutral-sounding names launch Facebook ads against Texas Republicans
Names like “The Voter Awareness Project” and “Breaking News Texas” are being used by political groups for negative campaign ads on the platform. Full Story
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In campaigns for Texas’ top courts, judicial candidates must rely on party ID
In these down-ballot, low-information races, judges' success often depends on the party leaders at the top of the ballot. Full Story
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![Judge Ravi K. Sandill smiles after he is introduced during a Meet & Greet at the Sweetwater Country Club in Sugar Land on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Here’s how to avoid problems with straight-ticket voting in Texas
Some voters have complained that their votes at the top of the ballot were changed, but the Texas secretary of state's office said the voting machines are not at fault. Full Story
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Army Corps, Texas officials propose sweeping hurricane protection plan
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas General Land Office have recommended a plan to shore up the Houston area and other parts of the Texas coast. It features a massive flood wall along Galveston Island and could cost as much as $31 billion. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Three candidates vie for slot on Texas' oil and gas regulatory agency
Railroad Commission Chairman Christi Craddick — a Republican whose relationship with the industry she regulates has been questioned — is seeking re-election to a second term. She faces challenges from Democrat Roman McAllen and Libertarian Mike Wright. Full Story
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![Fog in a low lying area where pumpjacks and powerlines populate the range along SW 5000 in Andrews County northeast of Kermit, Texas.]()
Credit: Jerod Foster for The Texas Tribune