The latest 2012 elections news from The Texas Tribune.
State Rep. J.M. Lozano, a freshman Republican from Kingsville who was a Democrat just two months ago, is trying to show that he has GOP credentials and isn't an opportunist. Full Story
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U.S. Senate rivals David Dewhurst and Ted Cruz are only 9 percentage points apart in the Republican primary race, and the chances of a runoff are high. Democrats are likely to see a runoff in their primary as well. Full Story
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During Tom Leppert's tenure as Dallas mayor, the city's crime rate dropped and major projects advanced. But critics say Leppert, now a U.S. Senate hopeful, had always looked at the job as a political stepping stone. Full Story
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Aaronson on why the latest Texas job gains are a mixed bag, Aguilar on the fight over an Eagle Pass coal mine, Batheja on nasty U.S. Senate race ads, Galbraith on El Paso's water woes, Grissom on John Bradley's tough primary, Hamilton and M. Smith on the controversial chairman of the University of Texas System Board of Regents, Murphy's cool higher ed stats interactive, Ramsey talks to Robert Draper about what's wrong with Congress, Ramshaw on Joe Barton vs. himself, Root on Perry's Mitt embrace and my exclusive sit-down with the chancellor of the UT System: The best of our best content from May 14-18, 2012. Full Story
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State Rep. James White said the allegation that he left his job as a teacher after repeated complaints of inappropriate sexual discussions in class is "malicious, untrue gossip." Full Story
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Elizabeth Ames Jones, a candidate in SD-25, has filed her response to a defamation suit filed against her by incumbent state Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio. Her campaign calls his suit "frivolous and politically-inspired." Full Story
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Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst recently loaned an extra $6 million of his own money in his bid for the U.S. Senate, the campaign revealed late Friday. Full Story
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U.S. Rep. Kenny Marchant's GOP primary opponent has put up a sign near Marchant's North Texas home that asks, "Why won't you debate me?" Marchant's campaign says Grant Stinchfield's campaign is full of gimmicks. Full Story
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It's great to have experienced leaders on hand to help run the Legislature. But it's also great — at least from a leader's perspective — to have some openings to offer to potential supporters. Full Story
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Rallies, speeches, endorsements, and that's just the presidential race. News from the campaigns around the state. Full Story
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Predicting voter turnout in November is almost riskless; if the years-long pattern holds, just under 9 million Texans will vote. As for the primaries, who knows? Full Story
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Ahead of the Texas primary, we look at state Rep. J.M. Lozano's fight to keep his seat and former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert's U.S. Senate bid. Full Story
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The Republican primary race in the newly drawn HD-19 between state Reps. James White and Mike Hamilton has the markings of a battle-by-proxy between state leaders who represent different factions of the Republican Party. Full Story
Evan, Ross, Reeve and Ben try their hands at determining which U.S. Senate candidate is the Deb Fischer of Texas and separating facts and rumors from the latest brouhaha at the University of Texas. Full Story
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Congressman Joe Barton isn’t expecting too much trouble in his re-election bid. But the longtime incumbent has three opponents in the Republican primary, and political observers say it could be a tougher-than-usual race. Full Story
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The race to replace state Rep. Ken Legler, R-Pasadena, in House District 144 has sparked competitive races in both the Republican and Democratic primaries. Full Story
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With this year's Texas primaries less than two weeks away, candidates are blanketing the state. But as Autumn Caviness reports for KUT News and ReportingTexas.com, while bumper stickers and yards signs mark support for older voters, younger voters prefers a subtler, more modern approach. Full Story
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The Club for Growth announced Wednesday that it has spent nearly $2 million in the last week on ads criticizing David Dewhurst in its efforts supporting Ted Cruz in Texas' U.S. Senate race. Full Story
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Calling his primary campaign bashing of Mitt Romney water under the bridge, Gov. Rick Perry voted for the former Massachusetts governor Wednesday and predicted he would beat President Obama. Full Story
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At our Hot Seat conversation at Angelo State University, state Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, and state Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, discussed cuts to public and higher education and other by-products of the 82nd Session. Full Story
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