The latest campaign finance news from The Texas Tribune.
We've updated our Campaign Finance Database with new data from the Texas Ethics Commission. All contributions and expenditures that occurred between Jan. 1 and April 30 are now searchable. Full Story
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On April 30, which was 30 days ahead of Texas' May 29 primaries, participating candidates were required to file reports that represent all campaign-finance efforts leading up to the election. We have pulled all contribution data for filers between Jan. 1 and April 30 and made it searchable here. Full Story
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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
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Former state Solicitor General Ted Cruz announced raising $1.31 million in the first quarter of 2012. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst raised $1.66 million in the same period. Full Story
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Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst will report raising $1.66 million in individual contributions during the first three months of 2012, his campaign confirmed today. Full Story
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The Texas Ethics Commission could undergo major changes in the next legislative session. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports on why some think the state should scrap the commission and start over from scratch. Full Story
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The Tribune requested the most recent personal finance statements for all current members of the Texas House and Texas Senate. We have updated each lawmaker's page in the directory to make the documents viewable. Visit legislators' page in the directory to view their most recent filings with the Texas Ethics Commission. Full Story
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Michael Quinn Sullivan said he hadn't seen the ethics complaints filed by two Republican legislators, but "I do know, they're just trying to distract people about their record." Full Story
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Political candidates across Texas are gearing up for the state's May 29 primaries. And as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, that partisan campaigning extends to candidates who often promise to be impartial: the state’s judges. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry and his now dormant presidential campaign committee, RickPerry.org Inc., are in the clear to create a new PAC or Super PAC with the remaining primary funds or to funnel those contributions to Perry’s Texas committee. Full Story
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The Super PAC Restore Our Future, which supports Mitt Romney, received $3 million from Houston homebuilder Bob Perry and $100,000 from Contran Corporation CEO Harold Simmons of Dallas in February. Full Story
Texas has scored a 68 out of 100, placing 27th in a national state integrity study. The state got high marks for auditing and for monitoring pension funds, but not as high for accountability of the governor and legislators. Full Story
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The political action committee of Dallas billionaire waste magnate Harold Simmons is asking 18 lawmakers to return about $65,000 in contributions after admitting that an oversight led to illegal campaign contributions. Full Story
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Aaronson interactively charts the legal wrangling between Texas and the feds, Aguilar on what Obama's budget means for the border, Galbraith on congressional ambivalence about a wind tax credit, Grissom on cuts to crime victims services, Hamilton on UT-Austin's plan to boost graduation rates, Ramsey on our woefully low voter turnout, Ramshaw on a new Super PAC targeting incumbents of both parties, Root on conservative opposition to the Keystone pipeline and M. Smith on cash-starved school districts in the advertising game: The best of our best content from February 13-17, 2012. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry wants his campaign to go on — perhaps as a Super PAC. Full Story
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Once upon a time, a campaign account with $100,000 or more was a peculiar thing; if not rare, then at least one of a small group. But that was back in the day: At the end of last year, there were 284 such committees, according to the campaign finance reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission. Full Story
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While our fearless host Reeve is away on special assignment, Ben steps in to lead Evan, Ross and special guest star Jake Silverstein (the editor of Texas Monthly) in a discussion on the next state budget, redistricting and campaign finance. Full Story
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Mere minutes before the campaign finance filing deadline, Ron Paul reported raising $13.3 million for his presidential bid in the fourth quarter of 2011, an amount larger than his previous three quarter's contributions combined. Full Story
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Hot on the heels of his fellow GOP Senate candidates Craig James and David Dewhurst releasing their tax returns, Ted Cruz has provided the Tribune with the last five years of his tax filings. Full Story
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Following the lead of fellow Republican U.S. Senate candidate Craig James, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has released his tax returns from 2009 and 2010. James on Thursday urged his fellow candidates to release their returns from the last five years. Full Story
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