The latest 2014 elections news from The Texas Tribune.
The primaries are on, and our biennial Hot List is back, ranking the races by risk to the incumbents and/or the level of drama for candidates and voters. We'll add, subtract and change the rankings as the races develop. Full Story
State Sen. Wendy Davis, in her first major policy proposal as a candidate for Texas governor, said on Thursday that she would increase the supply of teachers and give them more money. But she didn't say how she'd pay for the new programs. Full Story
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Studying technology's impact on higher education and evaluating public school students' writing scores on state assessments are among the tasks Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst gave lawmakers in education-related interim charges Thursday. Full Story
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Now that candidates have filed with their political parties and the parties have passed the information to the state, we have a list of the nearly 700 people running for state office. Full Story
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A new PAC will allow Texans for Education Reform, which became a lobbying powerhouse during the 2013 legislative session, to put resources toward candidates for office. Full Story
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U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Friendswood, may have already begun receiving donations in Bitcoin since embracing the private virtual currency. That puts him firmly in a gray area of campaign finance law. Full Story
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The legislative changes coming in the 2014 elections mean several current lawmakers will be replaced. But their voters, in almost all instances, are likely to stick with politicians of the same party. Full Story
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These are heady days for Republican consultants, with an unusually large number of open seats creating a bumper crop of primary campaigns along with a challenge: finding enough staff to work them. Full Story
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Welcome to the marquee political contest this year in Texas, where the gubernatorial primaries are all but decided and both candidates are looking toward a November showdown with knives drawn. Full Story
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In Texas, 2013 featured a legislative calendar that included multiple special sessions, a filibuster that drew international attention and a multitude of filings for the 2014 elections. Here's a look back at some of 2013's top stories. Full Story
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Both Democratic and Republican candidates for statewide office in 2014 are pledging to increase resources for the cash-strapped Texas Department of Transportation. Full Story
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For Texas Democrats, 2014 marks another run at the statewide offices that have remained out of their reach for two decades. Their challenge: convincing voters that a Democrat can win a statewide race here. Full Story
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Many Republican officials have pointed to George P. Bush, the odds-on favorite in the 2014 land commissioner's race, as an example that Hispanic candidates are able to win statewide GOP primaries. But several political observers do not see a trend starting. Full Story
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Campaign advertising is all about what appeals to the audience of voters — even if that means ignoring the office the candidates are seeking. Full Story
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Dec. 31 is not a political deadline voters care about — but candidates sure do. It's the last day they can bring in money for a report that will demonstrate their strength to supporters. Full Story
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Many of the candidates who are well known in political circles are strangers to voters. In most races — even for statewide offices — the leading candidate is "Undecided." Full Story
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The primaries are on, and our biennial Hot List is back, ranking the races by risk to the incumbents and/or the level of drama for candidates and voters. We'll add, subtract and change the rankings as the races develop. Full Story
It's not yet clear who will be returning to the Legislature in 2015, but the list of people who won't be back has started to gel. Full Story
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In Texas, where nearly a third of all residents speak Spanish, Spanish-speaking candidates looking to win in 2014 have a political advantage with the coveted Hispanic vote regardless of political affiliation, according to political observers. Full Story
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If you want to know why Republican candidates for lieutenant governor favor teaching creationism in schools, just look at conservative voters' views on the subject. Full Story
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