Analysis: A history lesson amid Texas Democrats’ hopes of a blue November
Texas Democrats have pined for years for a candidate who could turn their luck around. Now they're hoping a Republican will answer their prayers. Full Story
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![U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton take the stage at their presidential town hall debate at Washington University in St. Louis on Oct. 9, 2016.]()
Credit: Brian Snyder/REUTERS -
Analysis: Texas braces for Hurricane Donald, chance of purple rain
Republican politicians in Texas ought to be celebrating right now, and for a variety of reasons. But the national election has them looking at the political weather forecasts. Full Story
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Analysis: Texas Politics Ain’t Fun and Games, But This Year Is One of a Kind
Nastiness and politics go together like expensive coffee and free wifi. Presidential races often prompt urges for civility. Even so, the forces of decency, propriety and good taste kinda have a point this year. Full Story
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![Rob Morrow spoke to reporters on Aug. 24, 2016, in Austin about losing his post as Travis County GOP chairman.]()
Credit: Alana Rocha / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: That Silly Perry Vs. Cruz Idea? Don’t Be So Quick to Dismiss It
Ted Cruz and Rick Perry are well known across Texas, able to raise money inside and outside of the state, and demonstrably ambitious. The speculation about a 2018 matchup will probably come to nothing, right? Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Gov. Rick Perry and state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, are shown at a press conference at Fort Hood, Texas, on April 4, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: For Some Texas Republicans, Useful Distractions Back Home
Republicans who want to stay out of the national conversation about the presidential race — the speaker of the Texas House, to name one — there are a handful of races at home that offer plausible excuses. Full Story
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![Texas House Speaker Joe Straus is shown at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 19, 2016.]()
Credit: Alana Rocha / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas, the Biggest Red State, Isn’t Feeling GOP Love
The largest red state of them all is effectively sitting on the sidelines as Republicans begin their national convention in Cleveland. Full Story
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![Ted Cruz thanks Texas Republicans for supporting his presidential bid in a Dallas speech on May 14, 2016.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune/Bob Daemmrich -
Platforms Reveal Texas Republicans, Democrats Actually Agree on Stuff
Though they disagree on almost every policy issue, from education funding to abortion to immigration, Texas Republicans and Democrats seem to have common ground on a few things, according to their newly approved platforms. Full Story
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![Attendees at the 2016 Texas Democratic Convention in San Antonio (top) and the 2016 Republican Party of Texas Convention in Dallas (bottom)]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera / Bob Daemmrich -
Travis County GOP Limits Power of New Chairman
The Travis County GOP has voted to limit the power of incoming chairman Robert Morrow, a controversial figure whose surprise election earlier this year shook up local politics in Texas' fifth-largest county. Full Story
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![Robert Morrow at the Travis County precinct at Riverbend Church on March 3, 2016.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: State GOP Pols Still Finding Voices to Back Trump
Before Texas Republicans can become evangelists for their presidential nominee, they’re going to have to reconcile themselves to Donald Trump. Full Story
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![Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Fort Worth on February 26, 2016.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber -
Analysis: A Very Early Guide to November’s Competitive Texas Races
Most of the 218 races at the top of the state and federal sections of our general election ballots in November are not going to be competitive. Here's a look at those that are likely to be. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Analysis: Selling Ideas to the People Who Influence Texas Lawmakers
The more prescriptive a party platform becomes, the more it reads like a directive to the Legislature. In Texas, the GOP platform becomes a way to build the kind of grassroots support that can spur action from legislators. That, in turn, attracts lobbyists. Full Story
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![The entrance to the 2016 Republican Party of Texas convention at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The Texas GOP, in Its Own Words
It’s not really news that the latest Republican Party of Texas platform has some offbeat ideas in it. That’s always the case. The platform is the state GOP’s biennial gift to political reporters and columnists. But it's also the clearest expression of the GOP's preferences and intentions. Full Story
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![Texas Republicans study the proposed party platform as the debate plays out in Dallas on May 13, 2016.]()
Credit: Illustration by Bob Daemmrich -
Scenes from the Texas GOP Convention
Scenes from the 2016 state Republican Party convention in Dallas, Texas. Full Story
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![Linda Eden of Denton County poses with Donald Trump poster while attending the trade show at the Republican Party of Texas convention on May 13, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A Place at the Table for Two Texas Republicans Under Fire
The two statewide officials whose halos have slipped got a couple of the least-prominent speaking spots at the Texas GOP convention. They weren’t the stars of this show, but the GOP faithful appear to be giving both the benefit of the doubt. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (l.) and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. Both spoke at the state GOP convention in Dallas Texas on May 14, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas GOP Approves Platform, Weighs In on Transgender Bathrooms
Texas Republicans approved their 2016 platform, weighing in on transgender bathroom rules and many other aspects of American life. Party officials, however, averted determined efforts by some delegates to insert a plank in favor of allowing Texas to secede from the United States. Full Story
![Texas Republicans study the proposed party platform as the debate plays out in Dallas on May 13, 2016.]()
Credit: Illustration by Bob Daemmrich -
Texas GOP Hears Cruz on "Challenges Ahead," Sessions on Unity
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, sought Saturday to re-energize his most loyal supporters after a tough defeat in the presidential race, urging them not to abandon the conservative movement. U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama urged the delegates to unite and forge ahead. Full Story
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![Former presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks at the state Republican convention in Dallas, Texas on May 14, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Mechler Wins Re-election as Texas GOP Chairman
Tom Mechler has won re-election as chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. Full Story
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![Chair Tom Mechler at the GOP state convention on May 12, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas Republicans Rail Against Obama Transgender Directive
Texas Republicans came out swinging Friday against President Barack Obama's new directive on transgender students, already a piping-hot issue here at the state GOP convention. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick addressed transgender bathroom rules during a news conference in Dallas on May 13, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: Regardless of 2016 Results, Texas GOP Still Enthralled by Cruz
Ted Cruz, for perfectly sound reasons, packed the Republican Party of Texas convention with his own supporters. As of last week, he’s no longer a candidate for president of the United States, but he’s still the favorite here. Full Story
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![The Ted Cruz booth at the Republican Party of Texas convention in Dallas was lined with notes to the U.S. senator on May 12, 2016, the week after he bowed out of the presidential race.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune/Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: Whose Texas GOP Is It, Anyway?
The Republican Party of Texas’ convention in Dallas gives the heart of the state’s GOP electorate a chance to see their heroes and stars and to figure out — if possible — where the various conservative tribes are going to come together. Full Story
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![Republicans posing with the elephant at the Fort Worth Convention Center on June 5, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich