Liveblog: 2016 Texas Primary Results
Throughout the night, Tribune reporters will keep you updated on the results of Texas' Republican and Democratic primary battles, from the first early voting totals through the last ballots counted. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/02/25/6F6A9203.jpg)
-
![Travis County voters cast ballots at Travis County Tax Office on Feb. 25, 2016.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles -
UT/TT Poll: Foreign Terrorists the Greatest Threat to U.S., Texans Say
Foreign terrorist groups and illegal immigration are the greatest threats to the United States, according to voters surveyed for the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/02/25/TT-primary16-chart.001.jpeg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Emily Albracht -
Open Legislative Races Draw More than 70 Candidates
A slew of open seats in the Legislature means there will be at least 18 freshman lawmakers in the Capitol come January. Two thirds of the open seats are currently held by a Republican. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/HouseChairs.jpg)
![The March 1 primary ballot will feature 18 open seats in the Texas Legislature – two in the Senate and 16 in the House.]()
Credit: Steve Laugh -
Open Senate Seat Sparks Four-Way Race
With longtime state Sen. Kevin Eltife's retirement, four GOP candidates in Senate District 1 are racing to define themselves as conservative outsiders, including state Reps. Bryan Hughes and David Simpson. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/02/12/sd1.jpg)
![Top Row: David Simpson and Bryan Hughes
Bottom Row: Major General James K. "Red" Brown Jr. and Mike Lee]()
-
In Central Texas House Race, Candidates Disagree on Speaker
While state Rep. Marsha Farney and challenger Terry Wilson share conservative views on abortion and immigration, they differ on whether to support House Speaker Joe Straus. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/02/09/Wilson_Farney_sidebyside.jpg)
![State Rep. Marshey Farney, left, and Terry Wilson, right.]()
-
Analysis: Is a Move From the Texas House to the Senate a Clear Promotion?
Moving from the Texas House to the Texas Senate makes sense, but not for every politician: One current candidate for Senate — and a potential future one — each has more clout in the House than he or she would have in the Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/02/08/Thompson_Martinez_Fischer.jpg)
![State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, and state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio.]()
-
Analysis: Primaries Could Hush Reps. Stickland, Martinez Fischer
Republican Jonathan Stickland and Democrat Trey Martinez Fischer, the noisiest pot-stirrers in the Texas House, are in tough March 1 primary contests. Each man is his own best argument, and his worst one. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/02/04/SticklandTMF.jpg)
![State Reps. Jonathan Stickland (left), R-Bedford, and Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, are seen as gadflies by many of their colleagues in the Texas House. Both are locked in tough 2016 primary battles.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera/Shelby Knowles -
In Re-Election Bid, Straus Faces Familiar Attacks
House Speaker Joe Straus finds himself in a familiar position, fending off Tea Party primary challenges to hold his San Antonio seat and, presumably, his grip on the gavel. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/01/28/Joe_Straus_Campaigning.jpg)
![House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, campaigns for re-election at The Barn Door restaurant in San Antonio on Jan. 21, 2016.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
GOP Brags, Democrats Wince as HD 118 Goes Red
A day after a Republican unexpectedly snatched away a long-held Democratic statehouse seat in San Antonio, state GOP leaders were crowing while Democrats swore the low-turnout special election was a non-repeatable fluke. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/01/26/PaintStateBlue-2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
State Rep. Ruth McClendon Submits Letter of Resignation
State Rep. Ruth McClendon, D-San Antonio, has submitted a letter of resignation to Gov. Greg Abbott, effective Jan 31, the governor's office confirmed Tuesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/06/01/_BDB5745McClendon.jpg)
![Sen. Rodney Ellis and State Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio, celebrate Gov. Abbott's signing of HB48 that establishes the Timothy Cole Exoneration Review Commission. In background is Cole's brother, Cory Session.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: The Future of the Texas House Could Be Seen in Eight Races
Will bragging rights in the Republican primaries for Texas House seats go to the management now in place or to those opposed to the current leaders? Watching these races involving incumbents will provide some answers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/01/07/Split-TinderholtRinaldiCookFrullo.jpg)
![Clockwise, from top left: Republican state Reps. Tony Tinderholt of Arlington, John Frullo of Lubbock, Byron Cook of Corsicana and Matt Rinaldi of Irving.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: For Politicians, There's No Statute of Limitations on Comments
All of us have to watch our mouths — particularly politicians. State Rep. Jonathan Stickland is under political fire for past online comments. He's apologized, but time is the enemy here for the Bedford Republican, who's facing a primary challenge. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/27/Jonathan_SticklandTT.jpg)
![State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, is shown during a legislative debate on gun legislation on April 17, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Women Still Underrepresented in Legislative Races
It remains a daunting political reality in Texas. While women make up more than half the state, they are underrepresented in the halls of power, and it appears the 2016 elections will do little to change that. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/13/_S3R7968handsup.jpg)
![State senators take the oath of office on the first day of the Texas Legislature on Jan. 13, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Perry Endorses Fisher's Bid to Unseat Rep. Stickland in GOP Primary
The longest-serving governor in Texas history is endorsing Bedford pastor Scott Fisher in his GOP primary campaign against state Rep. Jonathan Stickland, Fisher's campaign announced Tuesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/06/04/_S3R7947fistpump.jpg)
![Former Gov. Rick Perry announces his intentions to run for president in 2016 on June 4, 2015, at the Addison Airport.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Revisit Our Coverage of the Legislative Session
During the 2015 legislative session, the Tribune kept you updated daily on the various policy debates and legislative votes at the Texas Capitol. Use our Texas Legislative Guide to see that coverage, discover the fate of every bill and learn even more about the session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/13/TxLegeGuide-leadart002.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Revisit 31 Ways New State Laws Will Affect Texans
In August, we featured 31 ways in which Texans' lives would change starting Sept. 1, when many bills passed by the Legislature — including the budget — took effect. Take a look back at our 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/08/31/31-Days-all-leadart_9EOQet2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Lt. Gov. Patrick Appoints Allen West to Texas Sunset Commission
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Friday announced the appointment of conservative firebrand Allen West, a former Florida congressman and prominent Fox News contributor, to the state's Sunset Commission. Full Story
-
Analysis: For Many Candidates in Texas, Election is No Contest
Now that the political candidates have filed, some of the races in the 2016 election cycle have come to an end. It's not that the elections are over, but 75 federal and state lawmakers don't have any major-party opponents. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib_ElectionDay_Tamir.Kalifa004.jpg)
![Voters wait in line to cast their ballots at the Flawn Academic Center on the University of Texas at Austin campus on Nov. 6, 2012.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa -
Analysis: Familiar Incumbents and Familiar Challengers, Too
The candidates for the 2016 elections have filed their papers, and the ballots have some familiar names. There are perennial candidates, former officeholders who want their own jobs back and candidates with the same names as their opponents. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/12/15/Green_vs_Green.jpg)
![Texas Supreme Court Justice Paul Green (left) is facing a Republican primary challenge from Rick Green.]()
-
DPS Chief: Refugee Concerns Extend Beyond Syrians in Texas
Despite Texas Republicans’ laser focus on keeping Syrian refugees from being resettled here, the head of the state's Department of Public Safety says he’d prefer a wider lens that focuses on all countries connected to “Islamic extremist terrorism.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/09/11/TT-leadart-syrianref.jpg)
![A child walks in a United Nations refugee camp in Turkey where thousands of Syrian refugees reside.]()
Credit: UNHCR
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3d7798d73275dcc973d47bc619279124/.NOPE)