2012 elections

Live Chat with Gwen Ifill

By Rodney Gibbs Sept. 20, 2012

Join Gwen Ifill, host of PBS' Washington Week and senior correspondent for the NewsHour, in a live chat about national politics and the upcoming presidential election. She's taking your questions now! Full Story

Credit: KCTS 9 - PBS
An Accidental State Board of Education Candidate?

By Morgan Smith Sept. 19, 2012

El Paso Democrat Martha Dominguez's apparent absence from the campaign trail has prompted her SBOE opponent to call her a "ghost" — and has sparked criticism from members of her own party. But that may not stop her from winning the race. Full Story
Weber's First Campaign Ad in General Election

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 18, 2012

Republican Randy Weber, a state representative from Pearland trying to make the leap to U.S. Congress in CD-14, unveiled his first commercial of the general election — a takeoff on the president's "You didn't build that" speech. Full Story
Cruz, Sadler Agree to Second Debate in Dallas

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 17, 2012

U.S. Senate candidates Ted Cruz and Paul Sadler have agreed to a second Dallas debate, this one hosted by KERA and set for Oct. 19. Full Story
Gallego Starts TV in CD-23 With a Family Bio

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 17, 2012

Democrat Pete Gallego of Alpine is starting his television campaign this week with an initial $100,000 buy in that San Antonio to El Paso district, his campaign said. His first ad is a bio spot that talks about his family. Full Story
Lampson Launches TV Campaign in CD-14

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 17, 2012

Democrat Nick Lampson started his general election TV campaign Monday with an ad laughing at "whining and crying in Congress" and suggesting he's part of the solution. The campaign said the ad is running in Houston and Beaumont. Full Story
Some Candidates Would Prefer Electoral Danger

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 17, 2012

No candidate wants to be in trouble at election time. But they don't want their supporters to think they're shoo-ins, either. Full Story

Credit: Ariel Min
Once a Powerhouse, Sadler Works to Remind Voters of Past Status

By Aman Batheja Sept. 16, 2012

Once a force to be reckoned with in the Texas Legislature, Democrat Paul Sadler is urging voters not to count out his bid for U.S. Senate against Republican Ted Cruz. Full Story

Credit: Jennifer Whitney
Texas Weekly Newsreel: Races Under the Radar

By Justin Dehn Sept. 15, 2012

This week on the Newsreel: Races flying under the radar. Full Story
Dead or Alive, Texas Voters Will Find Choices Limited at Polling Places

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 14, 2012

Many of the measures designed to make the ballot box more secure — like asking people to affirm that they are, in fact, alive — create hurdles for a public that isn't terribly motivated to vote in the first place. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Rick Pilot
Health Care Debate is Front and Center in SD-10

By Emily Ramshaw Sept. 13, 2012

For a race that encapsulates Texas’ raging health care debate, look no further than Senate District 10 in Fort Worth — the matchup between incumbent Democrat Wendy Davis and her challenger, Republican state Rep. Mark Shelton. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Survey Finds Big Lead in Texas for Romney, Thanks to White Voters

By Jay Root Sept. 12, 2012

Mitt Romney may be struggling in some key swing states, but there’s no slippage for him in conservative Texas, a new survey by a Republican pollster shows. His 55-40 lead over President Obama here is due to a huge lead among white voters. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Voter Purge Bill Raises Concerns After Living Flagged as Possibly Dead

By Julián Aguilar Sept. 12, 2012

House Bill 174, which passed with little controversy or fanfare last year, is causing a stir after several voters have been asked to prove they are not dead. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
TribLive: A Conversation with Three Senate Hopefuls

By Evan Smith Sept. 11, 2012

Full video of my TribLive conversation with state Reps. and Texas Senate hopefuls Kelly Hancock, R-Fort Worth, Ken Paxton, R-McKinney, and Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood. Full Story
Electoral Shakeup Opens Door for Consultants

By Jay Root Sept. 11, 2012

After the 2012 elections shook things up for Texas Republicans, new opportunities loom for top dog Texas consultants. Many people are talking about Jason Johnson, who helped Ted Cruz win the GOP U.S. Senate primary. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Spanish-Language Debate Scheduled in CD-23 Race

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 10, 2012

U.S. Rep. Francisco “Quico” Canseco, R-San Antonio, and his challenger in Texas' 23rd Congressional District, state Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, will debate on Sept. 25 — in Spanish. Full Story
Effect of New Voter Registration Rules Still Unclear

By Matt Largey, KUT News Sept. 10, 2012

A court ruled last week that new voter registration rules in Texas can be enforced ahead of the November elections. While the effect of the new rules remains unclear, the ruling has cast new light on the state's low voter registration rates. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Texas Weekly Newsreel: Races, Races, Committees and Races

By Justin Dehn Sept. 8, 2012

This week, we hit some of the races remaining in Texas, Senate committee assignments and reporter Jay Root's take on campaign consultants. Full Story
A 10-Week Sprint to Election Day

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 7, 2012

The conventions start next week, with Republicans going first, in Tampa, and Democrats following, in Charlotte. Both parties are going South, but they're interested in swing states. Texas isn't one. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
In Pitch to Young Voters, Longoria Recalls Texas Upbringing

By Emily Ramshaw Sept. 6, 2012

Two Latina Texans — actress Eva Longoria and College Democrats President Alejandra Salinas — graced the Democratic National Convention stage on Thursday night with messages that seemed targeted at young voters. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Ricky Brigante / Todd Wiseman