Here are a dozen of my columns from 2021: highlights on the winter storm, redistricting, the state’s finances and on issues that could figure into this next round of elections.
2022 elections
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Texas 2022 Elections
Beto O’Rourke targets Gov. Greg Abbott for vetoing bill to improve internet access in rural Texas
Abbott vetoed legislation in June that would have helped shore up the Universal Service Fund, which supports telecommunications in rural Texas. He said it would have “imposed a new fee on millions of Texans.”
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Texas 2022 Elections
Analysis: A rose by any other name could stink up the Texas ballot
Political people in Texas know that the Rick Perry on the 2022 Republican primary ballot is not the former governor of the state. Do voters know?
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Politics
Texas attorney general cannot unilaterally prosecute election cases, state’s highest criminal court rules
The 8-1 decision came Wednesday from the all-Republican Court of Criminal Appeals.
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Texas 2022 Elections
A Rick Perry — no, not that Rick Perry — files to run for Texas governor
A Springtown man with the same name as the former governor filed Monday to run for the state’s top post against Gov. Greg Abbott, raising the prospect of dirty political tricks.
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Texas 2022 Elections
Democrat Matthew Dowd ends campaign for Texas lieutenant governor, citing need for “greater diversity”
The former George W. Bush political strategist had launched a bid to win the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. On Tuesday, Dowd said he’s stepping aside to make way for a “diverse field” of candidates in the race.
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Texas 2022 Elections
As critical race theory and mask mandate debates heat up, Texas GOP takes aim at local school board and municipal races
The Republican Party of Texas announced Monday it had launched a new Local Government Committee to work with county parties on backing candidates for nonpartisan local offices.
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Texas 2022 Elections
Analysis: It takes a village to win big races in Texas
Want to win a statewide political race in Texas that’s not at the very top of the ballot? It helps a lot if your party’s top candidate wins — or at least runs a close second.
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Texas 2022 Elections
Analysis: Betting a Texas election on a weather forecast
Gov. Greg Abbott says he can “guarantee” there won’t be blackouts this winter in Texas after one that knocked out power for some people for four days last February. That’s the kind of pre-election prediction that can make a weather forecaster more useful than a political poll.
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Texas 2022 Elections
Matthew McConaughey says he won’t run for Texas governor
The actor said in a video Sunday that “political leadership” is a “path that I’m choosing not to take at this moment.”