2014 elections

TribLive: A Conversation With Harvey Hilderbran

By Evan Smith Nov. 8, 2013

Full video of my 11/7 TribLive conversation with state Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville, a 2014 candidate for Texas comptroller. Full Story

Steve Brown, a Democrat, to Run for Railroad Commissioner

By Jim Malewitz Nov. 8, 2013

Steve Brown, a former legislative aide and past chairman of the Fort Bend County Democrats, is the first Democrat to enter the race for railroad commissioner. Full Story

TribLive: Hilderbran on His Budget Vote

By Evan Smith Nov. 7, 2013

At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville, a 2014 candidate for comptroller, explained his 83rd session vote against the state budget. Full Story

TribLive: Hilderbran on the Revenue Estimate

By Evan Smith Nov. 7, 2013

At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville, a 2014 candidate for comptroller, talked about how he'd make the biennial revenue estimate more accurate. Full Story

TribLive: Hilderbran on Combs

By Evan Smith Nov. 7, 2013

At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville, a 2014 candidate for comptroller, assessed the performance of the current occupant of the job, Susan Combs. Full Story

Measuring Attorney General Candidates on Smart Meters

By Reeve Hamilton Nov. 5, 2013

Unlike their counterparts in the lieutenant governor’s race, the Republicans vying to be the state’s next attorney general have largely refrained from drawing any knives in public. But they're coming out around the issue of smart meters. Full Story

Chairman Barry Smitherman of the Railroad Commission of Texas in his office, May 31, 2013. — Credit: Todd Wiseman

Patterson Touts Leadership Abilities in Web Ad

By Morgan Smith Nov. 4, 2013

Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, a candidate for lieutenant governor, highlights his commitment to gun rights and a family history of military service in a new campaign web video. Full Story

UT/TT Poll: Abbott Leads Davis by Single Digits

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 4, 2013

Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott has a single-digit lead over Democratic state Sen. Wendy Davis in the 2014 race for governor, according to a new University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll. Full Story

Peeking Ahead to the Fight Over Moderate General Election Voters

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 4, 2013

For Republican gubernatorial candidates, going too far right in March could mean trouble in November. Full Story

Ross Ramsey, Executive Editor of The Texas Tribune, speaks with Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott during a one-on-one session of The Texas Tribune Festival on Sep. 28, 2013. — Credit: Callie Richmond

TribLive: A Conversation With Todd Staples

By Evan Smith Nov. 1, 2013

Full video of my 10/31 TribLive conversation with Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, a 2014 candidate for lieutenant governor. Full Story

Friendly Fire in Texas Legislative Races

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 1, 2013

What's normal in Texas general elections — legislators in one party endorsing candidates challenging colleagues from the other party — is turning up in primaries. Full Story

TribLive: Staples on Undocumented Immigrants

By Evan Smith Oct. 31, 2013

At Thursday's TribLive conversation, Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, a 2014 candidate for lieutenant governor, talked about his opposition to in-state tuition and other state programs for undocumented immigrants. Full Story

TribLive: Staples on Why He's Running

By Evan Smith Oct. 31, 2013

At Thursday's TribLive conversation, Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples explained why he decided to run for lieutenant governor in 2014. Full Story

TribLive: Staples on His Opponents

By Evan Smith Oct. 31, 2013

At Thursday's TribLive conversation, Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, a 2014 candidate for lieutenant governor, talked about his three Republican opponents. Full Story

Pauken Calls for More Vocational Education in Web Ad

By Reeve Hamilton Oct. 30, 2013

In a new web ad, Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Pauken criticizes what he calls "an elitist educational system pushing everybody to go to a four-year university." Full Story

Abbott and Davis Fight Before Fight Begins

By Jay Root Oct. 29, 2013

They haven’t even won their respective primaries yet, but the leading candidates for Texas governor — Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Wendy Davis — are engaged in a bitter fight in federal court. It’s not over who should be governor. It’s about money — and bragging rights. Full Story

Gubernatorial candidates Greg Abbott (l.) and Wendy Davis (r.).

Smitherman Promotes "Conservative Crusade" in Ad

By Reeve Hamilton Oct. 28, 2013

In a new web ad, Republican attorney general candidate Barry Smitherman invites voters to join his "conservative crusade" and highlights his experience in the "courtroom, boardroom and running major state agencies." Full Story

Abbott Proposes Constitutional Limits to Spending, Rainy Day Fund

By Alexa Ura Oct. 28, 2013

In his first major policy address as a gubernatorial candidate, Attorney General Greg Abbott proposed tighter constitutional limits on state spending and increased constraints on the Rainy Day Fund. Full Story

Attorney General Greg Abbott speaks at the National Right to Life convention on June 27, 2013. — Credit: Callie Richmond

Huffines Will Challenge Carona in SD-16 Primary

By Ross Ramsey Oct. 28, 2013

Dallas developer Donald Huffines, who has never run for office but comes from a well-known family, confirmed Monday that he will challenge state Sen. John Carona in next year's Republican primary. Full Story

Davis Hits Cruz on Shutdown, Rejects Comparison to Filibuster

By Jay Root Oct. 28, 2013

Sen. Wendy Davis, the Democratic candidate for governor, offered her harshest assessment yet of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, criticizing the Republican's role in the government shutdown. She also rejected comparisons between Cruz's actions and her June filibuster. Full Story