Rick Perry didn't bother showing up in person, but Bill White, Kathie Glass, and Deb Shafto still had plenty to say about him in Tuesday's debate. While Bill White raised further questions on Perry, the strategic applause from Glass supporters almost stole the show. more ›

The Rick Perry campaign has announced that the governor will not be meeting with any newspaper editorial boards before the election. Perry's spokesperson Mark Miner announced that the campaign will continue to talk to reporters at scheduled stops and to focus on social media. It's not the first time Perry has chosen to pass over the papers--the question is whether they can come back to haunt him. more ›

The closer the race is, the nastier and less substantive it becomes. more ›

Not only is the EPA cracking down on the TCEQ, but Congressman Lloyd Doggett is spearheading more restrictions on Texas use of federal education and stimulus funds. Doggett, a lifelong Austinite who represents Texas's 25th District, inserted an amendment into a supplemental appropriations bill in early July that would effectively exclude Texas officials from deciding how to spend federal aid for education. more ›

Governor Perry continues to duck debates, and a chicken finds a new home to roost. more ›

On Monday an Austin election-law expert called the move illegal. On Wednesday the Secretary of State gave it a thumbs-up. Today, the Democrats have decided to sue. Is it any surprise that in the biggest shakeup in the governor's race to date, the road leads back to Arizona? more ›

Gov. Rick Perry (R) has refused to debate his Democratic challenger Bill White until White releases his tax records for the years he's been in public office. Today White did just that. Is Perry ready to rumble? more ›

China's Yingli Green Energy hasn't committed to bringing its solar plant to Austin, but the city will still get 300 new jobs from a web hosting company's move to town. This as Gov. Rick Perry's office quietly admitted to the Associated Press that it has revised three more Texas Enterprise Fund contracts for companies that haven't met their job-creation deadlines. more ›

In a lengthy statement released yesterday through his campaign website, Bill White called for a full investigation of what caused the BP oil spill in the Gulf, and increased containment efforts and transparency, but stopped short of condemning America’s reliance on offshore drilling altogether. While White's written statement is clearly more elaborate and, well, appropriate than Perry's "act of God" remarks, the general message isn’t too dissimilar; each candidate pointed specifically to the economic implications of an abrupt halt to offshore exploration: more ›

Andrea White went to the University of Texas and the UT School of Law, was employed by one of Texas' oldest and most prestigious firms, became one of its first female partners, and then changed career paths to become an award-winning author of children's books. This, in itself, makes one worthy of an article or two. However, Andrea White is also the former First Lady of Houston and is supporting and campaigning for her husband, Bill White, in his gubernatorial race against Governor Rick Perry . . . making her the potential First Lady of Texas. more ›

Rasmussen Reports found in its recent survey of Texas voters that Perry has 48% to White's 44%. There's a rather large margin of error with this poll of 4.5%. Perry has led White in every poll by Rasmussen since he won the Republican primary. But -- and this is a big but -- he has yet to break 50%. In a press release about the new poll Rasmussen wrote, "Any incumbent who earns less than 50% support at this stage of a campaign is considered potentially vulnerable." more ›

In the least surprising political news of the week, Governor Rick Perry’s campaign has wasted no time going on the offensive against Democratic challenger Bill White, hitting him hard on his non-commitment on ruling out tax increases during his TribLive interview on Tuesday (video after the jump), and for his refusal (initially, at least) to release his income tax returns to the public. more ›

Inside a packed Austin Club yesterday, gubernatorial candidate Bill White offered a taste of the Democratic message we can expect to hear through November. White sat down with Texas Tribune editor Evan Smith for some probing questions and well-studied answers. The emphasis on conservatism in his replies showed that White is working hard to keep the independent voters that he claims came over to his campaign after last Tuesday's primary. more ›

Perry's election night speech sounded like more of a pitch to be the next U.S. President than a request to ask Texas voters for an additional four year term. White took Perry on in a direct manner. Who do you think will win in November? more ›

What could have been an easy race for an incumbent may become a day of reckoning. From the Quorum Report: if Rick Perry sees Kay Bailey Hutchison's shadow today, we're in for another 6 weeks of negative campaigning. From the start of the year until February 20, Hutchison and Perry each spent more than Bill White, Farouk Shami, and Debra Medina . Pulling votes from Perry is Debra Medina, who has already generated interest as far away as the UK--one of the most popular stories in the Guardian right now covers her potential effect on the race. more ›

Remember Operation Chaos in 2008? That's when Rush Limbaugh urged Republican voters to take advantage of the open primary rules in Texas and several other swing states and vote for Hillary Clinton in order to prolong Democratic infighting. Fast-forward two years and the shoe is on the other foot: White looks like a lock for the Texas Dems, while Palin pick Rick Perry could still end up in a runoff with old-guard conservative Kay Bailey Hutchison if Debra Medina can peel off enough Tea Party votes. more ›

Early voting has only just begun, but the exit of five aides from the Farouk Shami campaign signal the Democratic primary for Texas governor has pretty much ended. The Shami campaign implosion was triggered by leaked emails that portrayed a campaign in disarray and out of control of its message. more ›

The Dallas Morning News reports that Democrat Tom Schieffer is pulling out of the gubernatorial race, and plans to formally announce his withdrawal this afternoon. more ›

Three of the ringleaders behind the now-defunct UT fraternity Lambda Phi Epsilon pleaded no contest to misdemeanor hazing charges today, nearly two years after freshman pledge Phanta "Jack" Phoummarath died of acute alcohol poisoning. Fraternity president Benny Chan, pledge captain Andrew Nguyen, and "Hellmaster" Kamal Pulukuri got off with little more than a slap on the wrists — according to the Statesman, each will serve two years of probation, "pay a $1,000 fine, perform 100... more ›

Last week, Senate Bill 1317 passed the Senate in a highly partisan vote thanks in large part to lobbying efforts by Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst. The bill itself, if made law, would limit the scope of a city's jurisdiction by making it illegal for any city to regulate air pollution (or, presumably, anything else) beyond its borders. However, despite what many Senators who voted for this bill will tell you, this bill isn't about municipal... more ›

What this picture is basically saying: Shrug! But as of this afternoon, ACL coordinators "are keeping a very close watch on the weather and are being advised by meteorologists", and the festival will go on. More importantly, so will our "Local Music is Sexy" party! From the Statesman: Gov. Perry announces voluntary evacuations AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday urged voluntary evacuations along the Texas coast as Hurricane Rita closed in as a... more ›