The latest 2012 elections news from The Texas Tribune.
In an effort to make it easier for military and overseas voters to take part in elections, lawmakers may have killed turnout in primary election runoffs in Texas and increased the electoral power of organized groups like the Tea Party. Full Story
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The daughter of a former Texas House speaker tops the latest round of campaign announcements. Full Story
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Maybe it's the heat. Or redistricting. Or maybe Gov. Rick Perry's political hyperactivity is contagious. Whatever it is, candidates are popping up like it was Labor Day. Full Story
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This week, with The Response just a few days away, Evan, Ross, Reeve and Ben discuss the upcoming prayer rally and how political races around the state — like the already-underway battle for lieutenant governor — are shaping up. Full Story
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Christi Craddick, daughter of former House Speaker Tom Craddick, says she'll run for the Republican nomination for the Texas Railroad Commission next year — for the seat now held by Republican Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones. Full Story
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Former Brazos County Tax Assessor-Collector Gerald "Buddy" Winn might run for the Texas House next year, but it won't be for state Rep. Fred Brown's seat. Full Story
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Sugar Land Mayor Pro Tem Jacquie Chaumette says she will challenge state Rep. Charlie Howard, R-Sugar Land, in next year's Republican primary. Full Story
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Congress is set to vote on a deal that would raise the federal debt ceiling to avoid an unprecedented default. They may not be in Washington now, but we asked several U.S. Senate candidates to weigh in on how they'd vote on the plan if they were. Full Story
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As expected, state Rep. Kelly Hancock, R-Richland Hills, will run for the Texas Senate next year in SD-10, the district currently occupied by state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth. Hancock is the first challenger to announce, but this could get crowded, and quickly. Full Story
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Michael Williams, who jumped from the U.S. Senate race to the congressional race in the new CD-33 in North Texas, says he'll jump again: He's running for congress in CD-25, a district that stretches from Tarrant County all the way south to Hays County. Full Story
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Michael Williams might be on the move again, switching from a new Tarrant County-centered congressional district to one that starts on that county's southern edge and runs all the way south of Austin into Hays County. Full Story
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State Rep. Beverly Woolley, R-Houston, says her current term — her ninth — will be her last; she's not running for re-election next year. Full Story
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In this week's TribCast, Evan, Ross, Reeve and Ben discuss David Dewhurst's campaign rollout, political fallout from the legislative session and who might be calling Rick Perry to run for president. Full Story
State Rep. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, says that he won't be a candidate for Congress in the seat opened by Ron Paul's decision not to seek another term — but he might run for the state Senate. Full Story
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Republican Ted Cruz parried David "unapologetically conservative" Dewhurst's video announcement this morning, calling himself the "proven conservative" in the U.S. Senate race. Full Story
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Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst dribbled out his U.S. Senate announcement Tuesday, letting a preview for a relatively small group of supporters and activists slip into wide circulation on the internet before his campaign geared up for a big public show later in the week. Full Story
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Promising an "unapologetically conservative" campaign, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst today jumped into the Republican primary race to succeed Kay Bailey Hutchison in the U.S. Senate. Among other promises he made in a video sent to supporters, he pledged to support the controversial "Cut, Cap and Balance" budget plan under discussion in Congress. Full Story
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The three declared Republican candidates for Kay Bailey Hutchison's U.S. Senate seat released mid-year campaign finance totals today. Tom Leppert got to the end of June with more money in the bank than either Ted Cruz or Elizabeth Ames Jones. Full Story
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Bennett Ratliff, son of the former lieutenant governor and brother of the State Board of Education member, is jumping into the race to replace Rep. Jim Jackson, R-Carrollton, in the Texas House. Full Story
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Party leadership said the "closely held" news was a "shock," but it didn't take long for the line to start forming after U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Surfside, announced that he would not be seeking re-election, opting instead to focus on his bid for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination. Full Story
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