2012 elections

TribLive: A Conversation with Wendy Davis

By Evan Smith April 23, 2012

Full video of Evan Smith's April 19 TribLive conversation with state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth. Full Story
Making the Trip From the Bench to the Grass Roots

By Ross Ramsey April 23, 2012

How do you get state judges to go to a weekday afternoon reception in rural West Texas? It depends on who else is there — and what it could mean for their re-election bids. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
TribLive: Davis on Perry's Budget Compact

By Evan Smith April 20, 2012

At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, explained why she won't sign the governor's budget compact — and why tax exemptions should be on the table. Full Story
Sometimes It's Just Safer Not to Be a Superstar

By Ross Ramsey April 20, 2012

High expectations can raise the risks for a candidate, especially in a rookie campaign against a wealthy incumbent. Falling short when the predictions are rosy can affect future runs for office. Full Story
Losing Steam

By Ross Ramsey April 20, 2012

What might have been a big turnout year has turned into a ho-hum affair, with the presidential race petering out before the Texas primary. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Campaign Chatter

By Ross Ramsey April 20, 2012

Endorsements are flying, with notable nods from statewide candidates who aren't on the ballot — but might be in two years. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
TribLive: Davis on the SD-10 Race

By Evan Smith April 19, 2012

At this morning's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, talked about why she thinks she can get re-elected in a GOP district — and why the liberal label doesn't fit. Full Story
Weekend Insider: Planned Parenthood Unites, Ted Cruz

By Justin Dehn April 19, 2012

Texas Planned Parenthood branches unite to form a mega-organization, and Emily Ramshaw reports on what this means politically. Ross Ramsey columnizes on the high expectations set for U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz. Full Story
Leppert Has Spent "Several Million Dollars" for TV Ads

By Aman Batheja April 18, 2012

U.S. Senate candidate Tom Leppert said he has recently invested "several million dollars" to run campaign commercials between now and the May 29 primary. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Sadler Says Fundraising Total So Weak It's "Shocking"

By Jay Root April 17, 2012

Democrat Paul Sadler has compiled the latest fundraising figures for his U.S. Senate race, and it’s not pretty: $72,800 for the first three months of the year. Sadler calls the number "shocking." Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Interactive: First-Quarter Filings by Congressional Candidates in Texas

By Ryan Murphy April 17, 2012

On April 15, Texas candidates running for congressional seats were required to file campaign finance reports with the Federal Election Commission. We have compiled a list of the major numbers for the candidates running for Congressional districts in Texas. Full Story
New Dewhurst, Cruz Ads Focus on Cruz

By Aman Batheja April 17, 2012

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz, both candidates for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination, launched new television ads this morning on the same topic: Ted Cruz. Full Story
James Raises $268,000, Gives Campaign $750,000

By Aman Batheja April 16, 2012

U.S. Senate candidate and former ESPN college football analyst Craig James has reported raising more than $1 million — 74 percent of that total from himself — in the first three months of the year. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Obama Endorses U.S. Rep. Reyes' Bid for Re-election

By Julián Aguilar April 16, 2012

UPDATED: On the heels of last week’s announcement that former President Bill Clinton is endorsing U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, Reyes' campaign announced today that President Obama is also lending his support. Full Story

Credit: Julian Aguilar
Video: CD-35 Candidates Mix It Up

By Justin Dehn April 14, 2012

The three Democrats vying for their party's nomination in newly created Congressional District 35 mixed it up Friday night on San Antonio public television. Full Story
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Evan Smith April 14, 2012

Aaronson maps Medicaid patients' access to pharmacies, Aguilar on Mexicans in exile, Batheja on an unlikely threat to a veteran lawmaker's re-election, Galbraith and Murphy interactively track reservoir levels around the state, Grissom on the ringleaders who rule the state's largest youth lockup, Hamilton on how much Texas professors are paid, Ramsey on who's conservative, Ramshaw and Tan on the latest Planned Parenthood kerfuffle, Root on what Santorum's exit means for the Texas primary, and parts 4 (by M. Smith) and 5 (by Tan and Dehn) of our series on school district closures: The best of our best content from April 9-13, 2012. Full Story

Credit: Allen Otto
Cruz and Dewhurst Trade Barbs in Feisty Debate

By Aman Batheja April 13, 2012

For much of an hour-long televised debate in Dallas, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst found himself playing defense against the three other candidates in the contest for the GOP nomination to the U.S. Senate. Full Story
Cruz Slammed as "False Conservative" in Attack Ad

By Jay Root April 13, 2012

A 30-second video ad by the independent Super PAC supporting Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst for U.S. Senate attacks fellow GOP candidate Ted Cruz, calling him a “false conservative.” Full Story

Credit: Gage Skidmore
GOP Senate Candidates Face Off in Televised Debate Tonight

By Aman Batheja April 13, 2012

The four leading Republican U.S. Senate candidates will try again to prove to conservative voters which of them will adhere most strictly to the party's values in Washington. Full Story

Credit: Allen Otto
Fight Card: Primaries to Watch

By Ross Ramsey April 13, 2012

The top of the ballot is weird this year. The heat might be local this time. Full Story

Credit: Jason Brackins