Texas Elections 2018

Andrew White, a Houston entrepreneur in a Democratic runoff race to challenge Gov. Greg Abbott this fall, rolled out a plan to add 1 million jobs by promoting Texas oil and implementing a statewide mass transit system. Full Story 

U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, says he raked in over $6.7 million for his U.S. Senate bid in the first quarter of 2018. It's an eye-popping number that poses a new category of threat to Republican incumbent Ted Cruz. Full Story 

"Texans aren't afraid," U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz said Monday morning in Beaumont. "Texans are strong. Texans are free...Texans are tough." The rally marked the beginning of a 12-city, three-day tour of Texas to kick off Cruz's re-election bid. Full Story 

In last month's Republican primary, former Texas Water Board Commission Chairman Bech Bruun came in first but by a narrower margin than many expected, drawing more attention to runner-up Michael Cloud ahead of next month's runoff. Full Story 

Jose "Chito" Vela and Sheryl Cole are the Democrats still competing to represent Texas House District 46 in Central Texas. Find out what where they stand on legalizing marijuana, education spending and "media ninjas" and more in our latest Split Decision campaign debate series. Full Story 

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee telegraphed its preferences Thursday in two primary runoffs for U.S. House seats in Texas, one month after its effort to torpedo a Houston Democrat's congressional bid appeared to backfire. Full Story 

On this week's TribCast, Emily talked to Evan, Patrick, Alex and Democratic congressional candidate M.J. Hegar about Hegar's impending runoff, the Austin bombings and another client of now-notorious Cambridge Analytica, Ted Cruz. Full Story 

U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, previously announced his retirement in December following renewed sexual harassment accusations against his office. Full Story 

Empower Texans was not able to demonstrate a credible fear of prosecution stemming from tactics it used in a closely watched Texas House race, a federal judge ruled Friday. Full Story 

A lawsuit filed in El Paso County on Thursday alleges fraud in the Democratic primary race for Texas' 16th Congressional District. Full Story 

On this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Ross, Patrick, Jolie and GOP political consultant Tyler Norris about the primary night defeats of several district attorneys and what general election races will be the toughest matchups. Full Story 

Who’s on the ballot in Texas for the May 22 primary runoffs? Here are all the Democrats and Republicans running for statewide, congressional and legislative offices and the State Board of Education. Full Story 

Political candidates wanting a major boost from a public education voting bloc last week saw their hopes fall when teachers did not show up to the polls in the numbers they had expected. But educator voting advocates argue their political strength is only growing. Full Story 

Sure, there are a lot of races on the ballot in November that feature both Democrats and Republicans. But some are a lot more likely to change hands than others. Full Story 

Seven of 13 sitting Texas district attorneys who faced 2018 primary challengers lost their races. Whether that's normal turnover or part of a larger focus on criminal justice reform, several experts say it's no longer safe to be an incumbent prosecutor. Full Story 

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said in a Thursday interview he thought it was "outrageous" that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee came out against Moser before the primary. Full Story 

In Foard County, near the Texas-Oklahoma border, only one person even showed up to the polls. Zavala County, about 100 miles north of Laredo, didn't even hold a primary. Full Story 

El Paso Democratic U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke was the heavy favorite to win this week's Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate. So why did he lose some border counties to a relative unknown? Full Story 

If no candidate in a primary election receives a majority of the vote, the top two vote-getters go head-to-head in a runoff. Here's everything you need to know about how they work and how to vote. Full Story 

Former state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer's history in the Capitol and facility with legislative rules make him a strong player on a political team that's vastly outnumbered in the Republican-controlled lower chamber, some of his former colleagues say. Full Story