The latest 2010 elections news from The Texas Tribune.
Politicians are always listening to voters — but the ones who actually select the state’s elected officials have a lot more clout than those who stay home. You can see it in the way lawmakers govern. Full Story
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Big election campaigns take years to mount. So some politicians aren't thinking about the 2020 elections. They're dreaming and planning for 2022. Full Story
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Is Texas really a swing state? To explore the question, we looked at nearly 20 years of election data to assess the competitiveness of every congressional and legislative district in the state. Take a tour of some of the state's hot spots and then type in your address to find out the lay of the land in your districts. Full Story
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Democrats took a shellacking during President Barack Obama's first midterm election in 2010, and U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz's loss was one of the biggest surprises. Eight years later, some are wondering if Republicans have some overly confident incumbents unprepared for a potential "blue wave" in November. Full Story
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Even if Texas Republicans sweep this year's statewide races, there are ways to figure out whether and where Democratic organizing efforts have made any headway. Or there will be, once the results are in. Full Story
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UPDATED: Dallas attorney Ray Hutchison, a former legislator, gubernatorial candidate and husband of former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, has died, sources said Monday morning. He was 81. Full Story
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The newest Texas Weekly Index measures each of the state's legislative and congressional districts, based on how statewide Republicans and Democrats fared in races in each district over the 2010 and 2012 election cycles. Full Story
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Ashton Oravetz, the former Smith County Republican Party chairman, describes the state and national Republican Party leaders of today as "dysfunctional, unethical, crony capitalists." Full Story
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In HD-114, which includes North Dallas and Lake Highlands, the candidates in the runoff for the Republican nomination are taking different approaches in their bids to replace Rep. Will Hartnett. Full Story
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Corporations and unions can play in politics, but complete disclosures are not required. A corporate political campaign in Texas two years ago was unusual, featuring an unknown corporation that was open about what it was doing. Full Story
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It’s been a long 12 months for Rick Perry. The governor started 2011 in triumph, at the peak of his political power, with a high gloss on his boots and a national audience of conservatives eager for just the tale he was telling. He ends it treading water. Full Story
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Texans who gave big money to Kay Bailey Hutchison to try to unseat Rick Perry for governor in 2010 haven’t gelled around a single candidate in the presidential race. In fact, the majority of them seem to still be sitting on the sidelines. Full Story
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In an appearance this morning on CNN's State of the Union, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, said she's "not going to backtrack" on her criticism of Gov. Rick Perry now that he's running for president. Full Story
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Per Politico's estimable Ben Smith, here's a never-aired Kay Bailey Hutchison attack ad against Rick Perry on the subject of the day: HPV. Full Story
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In an interview with the Fox Business Network last night, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison again stopped short of endorsing Gov. Rick Perry in his bid for the White House, but she pledged to support whichever of the Republican candidates wins the nomination. Full Story
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When Ellen Cohen decided, two months after losing re-election to her state House seat, to run for Houston City Council, a friend worried, “Isn’t that a step down?” Cohen’s answer? “No, it’s a step closer.” Full Story
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Dan Neil conceded to Democrat Donna Howard of Austin in the House District 48 race Friday afternoon, just days after a House committee turned back his challenge to the November election results. Full Story
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The House Election Contest Committee unanimously voted today to uphold Rep. Will Hartnett's determination that Donna Howard won the long-disputed HD-48 seat. Full Story
The 82nd legislative session will be about halfway over by the time lawmakers on a specially appointed committee decide whether Republican Dan Neil or incumbent state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, won the disputed HD-48 seat. Full Story
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Rep. Donna Howard won the HD-48 seat by four votes over Republican Dan Neil, according to state Rep. Will Hartnett, R-Dallas. Hartnett was appointed to investigate their election after Neil challenged the results. Full Story