The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
As thousands of protesters descended on the state Capitol in an effort to protect access to abortions in Texas, Republican leaders vowed not to quit until they’ve approved far tighter restrictions on the procedure. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0d30383679268e03e50dea2c03ab89c0/BD%20INC%20Special%20Session%20Protest%2001%202013)
In the wake of a voting rights decision by the nation's highest court and new political maps drawn by Texas lawmakers, a federal panel on Monday began working to figure out the next steps for Texas redistricting. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/RedistrictShapes5.jpg)
While much attention has been paid to the political conflict on the floor of the Texas Senate last week, the subtleties of public opinion on abortion in Texas framed the clash in the upper chamber. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/98132729a6443c293bf85e8161c0a3ff/BD%20INC%20Fillibuster%20Richards%20108%202013)
What happened last Tuesday was started by an "unruly bunch" — the people who were controlling the Senate that night, flouting rules, chucking tradition and ignoring common sense to get their way. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/07/D54H6678.jpg)
The "gallery filibuster" last Tuesday — when loud demonstrations made it impossible for senators to vote on anti-abortion legislation — wasn't democracy in action. It was mob rule. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/27/Estes.jpg)
Rick Perry was supposed to decide by July 1 whether he would jump into the 2014 governor's race. But all bets are off now that he has called a new special session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/27/TXTrib-PerryRightLife-CCR013.jpg)
Attorney General Greg Abbott has a big bank account, a political organization and a nearly clear field on the path to governor — if the office is open in 2014. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/22/_01F0689.jpg)
State Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, wrapped up a week in the national spotlight with appearances on the network affiliate Sunday talk shows. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a2c7eb0b2e1666997bcebf7cd3406e92/BD%20INC%20Wendy%20Davis%20Floor%20163%202013%20)
The new Democratic star in Texas politics has said she'll seek re-election to the state Senate, but the events of the last week put Wendy Davis in position for a bigger race — one that would be very difficult to win. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/27/DavisWendyMC002CMS.jpg)
After reviewing video from Tuesday's filibuster, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst — who also spoke at a Right to Life conference on Saturday — said he found no evidence that the media incited "unruly" behavior from activists in the Senate gallery. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/27/DewhurstSpecial1.jpg)
Your evening reading: aide says Davis "looking very closely" at statewide run; Straus says Perry's comments on Davis crossed a line; Cruz says Davis' views don't match Texans' Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/wendy-davis_2.jpg)
One of the most powerful Republicans in Texas, House Speaker Joe Straus, said Friday that Gov. Rick Perry’s controversial remarks about Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis were inappropriate and damaging to the GOP brand. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/464f2b9f314f98bec39b1c0ee824ce2c/BD%20INC%20Perry%20Straus%202011)
Texas Democrats had a big win on a big stage Tuesday night. Can they keep it going? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/60cc0e2617a248bd125480519f2cc304/BD%20INC%20Wendy%20Davis%20290%202013%20)
In the wake of its decision to strike a section of the Voting Rights Act earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday sent two Texas cases on voter ID and redistricting back to the lower courts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Scotus.jpg)
Citing the need for "authentic conservative leadership" in Texas, state Sen. Dan Patrick announced on Thursday that he would run for lieutenant governor against incumbent David Dewhurst. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1b4628bba1dd57ec79476d435c09e5da/BD%20INC%20Patrick%204463%202013)
While Gov. Rick Perry’s standing among Texans remains stronger than most of his “oops”-focused critics recognize, he can no longer count on the level of support he enjoyed among the state's conservatives four years ago. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/722645db8f47a80e86a0f92cf274c35e/BD%20INC%20Perry%20Listens%202012)
State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, announced Thursday morning that he will run for lieutenant governor in 2014, choosing a moment between special legislative sessions to challenge sitting Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who has said he will seek re-election. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/patrickvideo.png)
Wendy Davis came off the Senate floor early Wednesday as the national Democratic Party's newest star. But what effect her 11-hour filibuster to stop abortion legislation will have on her political prospects in Texas is an open question. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/DSC_4915.jpg)
Miss the dramatic end to the debate over abortion legislation in the Texas Senate on Tuesday? Just want to see it again? Here's raw video of the explosive final moments. Spoiler alert: It gets loud. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/filibuster_end.jpg)
As Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday called for a second special session on abortion restrictions, the drama of Tuesday night's explosive fight in the Texas Senate continued to reverberate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/x0625_chaos199.JPG)