The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: Gov. Rick Perry and others are traveling the state encouraging voters to approve water funding, first lady Anita Perry makes news with her views on abortion and Wendy Davis makes if official. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/100413_NewsreelStill.jpg)
Your evening reading: Davis confident she'll win governor's race; Ritter retiring from Texas House; no indictment for Lehmberg over jail conduct Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/10/03/Wendy-Announce-5.jpg)
Now that both Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott and state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, have launched their respective bids for governor, here's a look back at the party front-runners' full announcement speeches. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f9668f82725cd2a24668e4423e791df6/DONT%20USE%20Abbott%20Davis%202013)
After nearly 15 years in the Texas House, state Rep. Allan Ritter, R-Nederland, announced his retirement on Friday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/27/_01F9986.jpg)
Republican Debra Medina says she has been encouraged to drop her bid for comptroller and to run instead for governor — as an independent. Why would someone ask her to do that? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/10/03/Medina-Debra.jpg)
With Wendy Davis officially campaigning for governor, Republican and Democratic candidates in Fort Worth's Senate District 10 are preparing for what could be a tough race in a swing district. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/10/03/SD10-WendySeat.jpg)
A flurry of honed attacks greeted Wendy Davis on Thursday as she kicked off her campaign for governor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/10/03/Wendy-Announce-6.jpg)
Your evening reading: Davis makes it official; in new video, Abbott vows to keep Texas red; ad to hit Davis over abortion Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/10/03/UP9A2972.jpg)
State Sen. Wendy Davis, standing on the stage where she got her high school diploma more than 30 years ago, finally announced what has been anticipated, telegraphed and talked about for weeks: She is running for Texas governor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/10/03/D54H0882.jpg)
In a new advertisement for his gubernatorial campaign, Attorney General Greg Abbott promises he will preserve Texas and keep President Obama and his allies from turning the state blue. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Screen_Shot_2013-10-03_at_12.10.47_PM.png)
The spotlight has largely turned to 2014, but in one part of Travis County, this year's November ballot will include a crowded and competitive special election for a state House seat currently held by Rep. Mark Strama, D-Austin. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/DSC_0372.jpg)
What's likely to be one of the nation's most closely watched 2014 races kicks into full swing today. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/207e2f90cbd7ab1df8fb24bd21190fbf/BD%20INC%20Wendy%20Davis%20232%202013%20)
Your evening reading: Williams leaving Senate; Libertarian Kathie Glass announces bid for governor; poll shows Abbott leading Davis by 8 points Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b490036bb6809b3e08b5b14fb9bd0e1b/BD%20INC%20Williams%2001%202013%20)
Houston lawyer Kathie Glass announced Wednesday that she will again run as a Libertarian candidate for governor, saying Texas voters are frustrated with the two major parties. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/10/02/Kathie_Glass.jpg)
In an effort to keep immigration reform alive during the debate over the government shutdown, congressional Democrats have filed legislation that includes elements of a border-security measure backed by a key GOP leader. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/20100501-DSC_3420.jpg)
Republican Greg Abbott is leading Democrat Wendy Davis by 8 points in a hypothetical matchup for Texas governor, but it’s a statistical dead heat among women, according to a Texas Lyceum Poll of registered voters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/34679251c8a1e2bb987da40df90ddc22/BD%20INC%20Abbott%20Right%20898%202013)
Some in the Tea Party faction of the Texas GOP are encouraging talk of a challenge to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, raising a question: Is he vulnerable to a challenge? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/28/Cornnyn.jpg)
At the 2013 Texas Tribune Festival, Battleground Texas Senior Adviser Jeremy Bird, state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, and former Houston Mayor Bill White talked about what it will take to make Democrats competitive in Texas again. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/10000721646_24052e9772_b.jpg)
Wendy Davis, expected to announce for governor on Thursday, is relying on a tight-knit group of people who have fought in the political trenches together — often against the odds, and often in territory inhospitable to Democrats. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/51377a65db82cefdcee0ac460fb85f0a/BD%20INC%20Wendy%20Davis%20227%202013%20)
Gov. Rick Perry's latest cross-country campaign to lure out-of-state business to Texas and Attorney General Greg Abbott's gubernatorial campaign are costing taxpayers thousands in security bills. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ce0893c63a471b32cbd3fa46605c2e15/DONT%20USE%20Perry%20Abbott%20Split%202013%20)