The latest campaign finance news from The Texas Tribune.
Our interactive breakdown of campaign finance reports from the second half of 2013 includes the totals for candidates, expenditures, loans and cash on hand at the end of the year, and offers several ways to look at the details. Full Story
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Harold Simmons, a Dallas businessman and billionaire, philanthropist and Republican mega-donor, died Saturday at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. He was 82. 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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Well over half of the money raised so far by the Water Texas PAC came from heavy contractors, Dow Chemical Co. and Energy Future Holdings/Luminant. Use our analyzer to take a closer look at the donors. Full Story
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If Debra Medina doesn't run for comptroller in 2014, it will be because of a lack of money, not will. The former gubernatorial candidate said grass-roots supporters can't contribute enough funds to wage a serious statewide bid. Full Story
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We’ve updated our campaign finance analyzer to cover all of the contributions to statewide officeholders and candidates during the three special sessions this summer. Full Story
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Political contributions to statewide candidates and officeholders during the second special legislative session this summer are now in our finance analyzer, which shows donations by size, location, donor and even by daily totals from June 26 to July 30. Full Story
Use our interactive to check out the top contributors in the first half of 2013 to candidates running for or considering a shot at governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, land commissioner and agriculture commissioner. Full Story
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A few minor ethics measures passed in the 83rd legislative session. But the real story is what didn’t happen. This story is part of our monthlong 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
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A few minor ethics measures passed in the 83rd legislative session. But the real story is what didn’t happen. This story is part of our monthlong 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
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State Sen. Wendy Davis' filibuster against abortion legislation gave Democrats across the country a rare red-state rallying point, and some of them responded by opening their checkbooks. Full Story
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Using campaign finance reports, we've put together a quick way to find the biggest donors to statewide candidates, the distribution of large and small donations, and how much money came in for each date in a reporting period. Full Story
Texans strongly favor criminal and mental health background checks on all gun sales, and they are divided when it comes to concealed weapons on college campuses, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Candidates are racing to raise money before an end-of-the-month deadline, the better to prove the strength of their campaigns for 2014 in reports that come out July 15. Full Story
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Full video of Ross Ramsey's 5/16 TribLive conversation about ethics in the Texas Legislature with former Assistant Travis County District Attorney Mindy Montford, campaign finance lawyer Randall "Buck" Wood, state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, and former state Rep. Ismael "Kino" Flores, D-Palmview. Full Story
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At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, and ethics and campaign finance lawyer Randall "Buck" Wood talked to the Tribune's Ross Ramsey about transparency in political giving. Full Story
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With just four weeks remaining in the legislative session, there has been little to no pressure from the top — including key committee chairs — to pass measures that would force greater transparency upon Texas’ elected officials. Full Story
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Giving up 20 weeks of every other year to serve in the Texas Legislature is a lot easier if you don't have to worry about the paycheck you're missing at home. It is easier, in other words, if you're rich. Full Story
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One Texan's transparency is another’s right to privacy, and people in politics generally find it easier to demand openness than to provide it. Full Story
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Politically active nonprofits, which are playing an increasingly important role in state elections, would no longer be able to hide the identity of their major donors under a bill making its way through the Texas Legislature. Full Story
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