R.G. Ratcliffe

Jan 11, 2021 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

Comptroller Glenn Hegar projected a nearly $1 billion deficit—far smaller than lawmakers feared.

Jan 11, 2021 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

With state government more firmly in Republican hands, the next year will feature a return of the Republican civil war. Here are the skirmishes to watch for.

Jan 9, 2021 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

After his denying local authorities tools to combat community spread, it’s no wonder Texans are desperate for vaccinations to save us from COVID-19’s renewed surge.

Nov 6, 2020 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

After a too-close-for-comfort Senate race two years ago, the Texas GOP went into overdrive to ensure the state would not be won in 2020 by newly hopeful Democrats.

Jun 25, 2020 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

After initially deferring to city and county leaders on COVID-19 response, Governor Abbott has renewed his battle with local government.

Jun 18, 2020 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

Unless the courts rule decisively, Texas voters could face a terrible choice: risk their health at the polls, or risk prosecution by using a mail-in ballot.

Apr 29, 2020 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

One of Governor Greg Abbott's top aides says more testing and contact tracing should have been in place before restrictions were lifted.

Apr 28, 2020 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

The plan deviates considerably from what many public health officials say is needed for Texans to reopen businesses.

Apr 17, 2020 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

The governor tries to address coronavirus concerns in the face of lobbying from his most conservative supporters.

Apr 3, 2020 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

Family care physicians say they still don’t have enough personal protective equipment. So they’re seeking other solutions.

Mar 17, 2020 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

Historically, the Lege has met shortfalls with tax increases or spending cuts. Whether Dems or the GOP are in power makes all the difference.

Feb 16, 2020 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

The colorful mogul lost the 1990 gubernatorial election after making a joke about rape and admitting to not paying some income taxes.

Nov 20, 2019 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

This could be the year that Texas Democrats finally break through. (Yes, really.) But Republicans have a solid plan to stop them.

Sep 10, 2019 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

The lieutenant governor's pledge to "take an arrow" from the NRA is a surprise, but the move is not as politically risky as it looks.

Aug 11, 2019 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

The growing controversy around Bonnen's quid pro quo is about much more than palace intrigue. Fundamentally, it concerns unethical, possibly criminal, behavior on the part of the speaker.

Jul 12, 2019 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

Long before Texans had heard of “no pass, no play,” and before free trade was a major political issue, H. Ross Perot entered my life as a super-patriot who believed perseverance was the key to success.

Jun 18, 2019 — By Carlos Sanchez, R.G. Ratcliffe and Christopher Hooks

They called it the kumbaya session, but we still found plenty of scoundrels and statesmen.

May 30, 2019 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

Texas's top lawmakers managed to put together an $11.5 billion package, but they did it in a way that all but guarantees a tax hike in 2021.

May 17, 2019 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

The Legislature’s own budget advisors have warned that a constitutional amendment prohibiting an income tax could cost the state billions in lost revenue from the business tax.

Mar 12, 2019 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

"We believe we have a path to [winning] ... if the Democrats choose a far-left person who is espousing socialistic policies."

Feb 28, 2019 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

A recent poll of Texas voters shows opinions about President Trump’s wall depend on where in the state you live.

Dec 20, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

Keying off of Governor Abbott’s opposition to President Obama’s Syrian resettlement policy, Russian trolls built Texas dissent.

Dec 17, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

Beto O’Rourke came out on top of a poll of progressives, prompting Bernie Sanders supporters to complain.

Dec 12, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

Texas's senior U.S. senator says he will have to make the case for his re-election based on his positions, not those of the president.

Dec 12, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

Energy Secretary Rick Perry has avoided the turmoil of the Trump Administration by staying out of Washington.

Dec 11, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

Matthew Whitaker repeatedly hammered the idea that people who enter the country without authorization are ”illegal aliens.”

Dec 6, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

Dallas billionaire Ross Perot often is miscast as a spoiler in the election that saw Bill Clinton replace George H.W Bush in the White House.

Dec 5, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

It was a funeral marked far more often by humor than by maudlin sentiment.

Dec 4, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

The last urban stronghold of Republicanism in Texas is being captured by infighting instead of planning for the 2020 elections.

Nov 30, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

The 41st president's death comes less than eight months after that of his wife, Barbara.

Nov 30, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

Texas law would allow Beto to take a shot at the White House and at Senator John Cornyn at the same time.

Nov 18, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

The Associated Republicans of Texas co-chair is out to prove that clashing with Dan Patrick doesn’t make you a Republican In Name Only.

Nov 18, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

The socially conservative Midland oil man has been putting a lot of money into the fight for the GOP’s soul.

Nov 16, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Joe Straus had a rocky relationship to say the least.

Nov 12, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

The Angleton Republican says he has 109 commitments when 76 are needed to elect him to the leadership post.

Nov 7, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

Ted Cruz won the Senate election, but he had no coattails. Some takeaways from election night.

Nov 6, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

A spirited campaign by opponent Beto O’Rourke made the race a national obsession.

Nov 6, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

How to interpret results as they come in—and not hyperventilate in the process.

Nov 5, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

Texas voter turnout is the highest in a midterm election precisely because O’Rourke stayed left.

Oct 31, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

The GOP enjoyed the strong support of young Texans in the 2000s, but that appears to be changing.

Oct 31, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

The Texas Legislature refused to consider ending birthright citizenship in 2009. Now President Trump wants to do it by fiat.

Oct 29, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

Midland oilman Tim Dunn is best known for financing Empower Texans, but now he is putting $2.5 million into defeating Montana Democratic U.S. Senator John Tester.

Oct 24, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

One in five voters on the first day have no voting history and are wild cards in the Senate race.

Oct 23, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

The Republican rally for Ted Cruz was a display of us-against-ourselves politics.

Oct 22, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

The president's rallies for Republican candidates are more often about him than about the candidates he’s endorsing.

Oct 22, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

A slew of inventive—and humorous—political videos are emerging in the closing days of this year's election.

Oct 19, 2018 — By Carlos Sanchez and R.G. Ratcliffe

Early voting in Texas for this year’s midterms begins Monday; these are some of the races in Texas generating the most buzz.

Oct 16, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

Despite repeated attacks, Cruz never appeared cornered or defensive.

Oct 11, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

A new Quinnipiac University poll indicates Republican Senator Ted Cruz will easily defeat Democrat Beto O’Rourke. But could that poll and several others be wrong?

Oct 5, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe

O’Rourke has spent more on social media advertising than any politician in America this year—other than President Trump.