Past Contributions

• Interactive Map: Texas Drifted Right in 2012

  By Ryan Murphy Nov. 15, 2012

  Much of Texas voted less Democratic and more Republican in 2012 than 2008. Use our interactive to see the differences, by county, between the 2012 and 2008 vote totals. Full Story 

• Interactive: Bill Tracker for the 83rd Session

  By Ryan Murphy and Travis Swicegood Nov. 13, 2012

  Bill filing for the 83rd legislative session kicked off on Monday, and lawmakers filed more than 250 bills on the first day alone. The Tribune has retooled last session's bill tracker and put it to work, pulling in all the legislation that's been filed so far for 2013. Full Story 

• In "Buying" Votes, Some Do Better Than Others

  By Ryan Murphy Nov. 9, 2012

  State and federal candidates and their political committees spent more than $175 million during the 2012 election season. Some candidates spent up to $60 a vote to secure victory. Full Story 

• Interactive: Cost Per Vote, State Office Candidates

  By Ryan Murphy Nov. 9, 2012

  Now that we know who will be serving in the Texas Legislature in 2013, we take a look at how much they spent to get the job. Use this interactive to take a look at which state candidates got the most bang for their campaign bucks, and who spent the most money but lost. Full Story 

• Interactive: Cost Per Vote for TX Federal Candidates

  By Ryan Murphy Nov. 8, 2012

  Candidates have finished collecting and spending money, and the votes are in. Use this interactive to take a look at which federal candidates got the most bang for their campaign bucks, and who spent the most money but lost. Full Story 

• Interactive: Last Look at Federal Candidates' Campaign Finance Totals

  By Ryan Murphy Nov. 6, 2012

  On Oct. 25, federal candidates filed their pre-general reports, the last campaign finance reports before the Nov. 6 general election. These reports are our last look at how much money each candidate had on hand before the big day. Use our interactive to view the contribution, expenditure, cash on hand and outstanding loan totals for each candidate. Full Story 

• Interactive: Candidates' Eight-Day Campaign Finance Report Totals

  By Ryan Murphy Nov. 2, 2012

  On Oct. 29, state candidates filed their eight-day reports, the last campaign finance reports before the general election. Use our interactive to view the contribution, expenditure, cash on hand and outstanding loan totals for each candidate. Full Story 

• Visualization: Executions on Perry's Watch at 250

  By Brandi Grissom, Ryan Murphy and Noah Seger Nov. 1, 2012

  The execution of Donnie Lee Roberts Jr., 41, on Wednesday for the 2003 shooting death of a Polk County woman marked the 250th execution during Gov. Rick Perry’s tenure, and the 12th in 2012. The total is the largest — by far — under any recent governor in the United States. Full Story 

• News App: Campaign Finance Database Adds Recent Expenditures

  By Ryan Murphy and Noah Seger Oct. 30, 2012

  We've updated our campaign finance database to reflect state contribution and expenditure data reported by candidates and committees 30 days before Election Day. Use our tool to find out how much money was being spent in the final weeks of the 2012 election cycle. Full Story 

• Interactive: 2012 Early Voting Totals in 15 Counties

  By Ryan Murphy Oct. 29, 2012

  Using data collected by the Texas Secretary of State's office, which provides early voting totals for the 15 counties with the most registered voters, we have built an interactive way to explore these numbers. Full Story