Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Senate Race Goes from Cool to Lukewarm
The sleepy Senate race picked up this week, with allegations of rigging a debate and the release of first-quarter fundraising numbers.
David Dewhurst
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News & Politics
January 21, 2013
Craig James is Still Running Against Mike Leach
In his latest Internet campaign video, the candidate for U.S. Senate is "interviewed" by his daughter about Leach, whom he calls a "bully"
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Dewhurst Releases New Ad
David Dewhurst's campaign put out a new commercial last week that focuses on his father's military service and curbing deficit spending.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Leppert Dinged for Attending Pride Parades
Social values came under question at a Senate campaign forum when GOP candidates Ted Cruz and Craig James criticized former Dallas mayor Tom Leppert for attending Dallas pride parades.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
The U.S. Senate Race Takes Center Stage
Candidate Ted Cruz announced that he's "effectively tied" with David Dewhurst in funding, while the Lite Guv released a poll that shows he has fifty percent of the vote.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
New Poll Finds Even Texans Won’t Vote for Rick Perry
A Public Policy Polling survey shows that the governor would lose to Mitt Romney in his own state’s GOP presidential primary, most SMU fans wouldn't vote for Craig James, and Newt Gingrich polls well with Aggies.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
And the U.S. Senate Race Is On!
The five Republican contenders vying to replace Kay Bailey Hutchison participate in the first Senate debate in Austin.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Both Dewhurst and Craig James Release Rick Perry-Themed Campaign Ads
But only one of them has the advantage of Rick Perry's actual participation.
News & Politics
January 21, 2013
What the Media Really Thinks About Craig James’ Senate Candidacy
The former SMU star and longtime ESPN analyst officially announced his intent to run on Monday, but the media's been discussing it for a week.
News & Politics
January 21, 2013
Craig James Reportedly Riding Into U.S. Senate Race
The Dallas Morning News reported that the ESPN announcer and former SMU star will file for candidacy by Thursday.
Politics & Policy
December 31, 2012
Dewhurst’s terrible year
One has to feel sorry for David Dewhurst. Has any recent Texas politician ever suffered through a worse year? He lost a Senate race that he was heavily favored to win; his campaign account is missing hundreds of thousands of dollars, allegedly due to the actions of his
Politics & Policy
December 3, 2012
Dewhurst wants to use the Rainy Day fund for water, highways
Well, good for him. The proposal is to use $1 billion from the fund for water projects and for highways. A billion doesn’t buy you what it used to, but it’s a start. Dewhurst also proposed setting up a bank for water and transportation projects. I think he and Craddick
Politics & Policy
July 30, 2012
PPP: Cruz +10
The race has been moving in this direction for months now. Nothing Dewhurst has tried has changed the dynamics of the race at all. If anything, the millions Dewhurst has spent on TV have hurt his own campaign. The China ad and the Kids for Cash scandal ad
Politics & Policy
July 23, 2012
The last debate is now history [see UPDATE, below]
Dewhurst gave his best performance of the campaign, but it may not matter. He still has a tendency to be stiff and wooden. It’s almost painful to watch him struggle to achieve fluency. Cruz has a big edge as a speaker; he reeled off points, “One…two…three…four.” It was good debating
June 22, 2012
ICYMI: A&M Lands a New NASA and the Other Talk of Texas
What was Texas talking about this week? Texas A&M's new biosecurity center, Ron Paul's chances at a VP nomination, Cruz and Dew's debate, and how far the Dallas Stars will travel next year.
Politics & Policy
June 18, 2012
Dewhurst’s new consultant
It’s Rick Perry. Well, not exactly. What has happened is that Team Perry has taken over the Dewhurst campaign. Dave Carney is in charge. Mark Miner has joined the communications team. Rob Johnson is heading up the Super PAC. Everyone understands what that means. It means that the Perry playbook
Politics & Policy
June 1, 2012
Dewhurst’s fatal mistake
Dewhurst has no business being behind the eight-ball in this race. His campaign should have wiped the floor with Ted Cruz.In late January, Cruz’s name ID was 40%. All Dewhurst had to do was stay with his message–that is, touting his record as a conservative light guv and basically ignoring
Politics & Policy
May 8, 2012
Conservative Republicans of Texas poll shows Dewhurst with a big lead
I wouldn’t put too much stock in this poll, which was commissioned by Conservative Republicans of Texas, a group headed by a prominent social conservative Dr. Steven Hotze. The Dewhurst camp’s fingerprints are all over it. The Houston Chronicle points out that the polling firm (Dresner, Wickers,
Politics & Policy
April 20, 2012
Perry backs Dewhurst for Senate
This ought to end any speculation about whether there is a real contest for Hutchison’s Senate seat. Now there is no race, though there never really had been one from the beginning. Dewhurst was a cinch to win. Too much money, too much name I.D, too insignificant opposition. He was
Politics & Policy
February 15, 2012
Davis tweets: victory in SD 10
“Senate District 10 partners victorious in preserving&strengthening ’08 district. Lege damage repaired. Thanks to all who supported&believed.” [tweeted @ 1:33 p.m.] * * * * Just pointing out the obvious: The saving of Davis’s seat could take on added significance if senators choose the successor to Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst.
Politics & Policy
January 16, 2012
The problem for Republicans in Texas
This was Kate Alexander’s main takeaway from the Senate debate. I don’t think it was any surprise that the top-heavy favorite in the race was on the defensive. If anything, as I wrote in my report on the debate on Friday, I thought Cruz missed opportunities
Politics & Policy
January 13, 2012
The Empower Texans U.S. Senate debate: no clear winner
Tom Leppert’s pitch was that when he became the mayor of Dallas, the biggest problem was crime, and he brought it down by 31%. “I’ve been there, I’ve done it.” Good talking point, but not what is uppermost in the minds of primary voters. Craig James kept saying that he
Politics & Policy
November 17, 2011
New UT College Republicans President Continues Offensive Tweeting Tradition
Cassandra Wright is the second University of Texas College Republicans President in just over a month to get into hot water for a tweet about President Obama.
Politics & Policy
November 16, 2011
UT Student’s Tweet: It’s “Tempting” To Shoot President Obama
Lauren E. Pierce, the president of the College Republicans at the University of Texas, tweeted about the White House shooting suspect Oscar Ramiro Ortego-Hernandez and lands on the national political media's radar.
Politics & Policy
September 12, 2011
Dewhurst attacks EPA over anti-coal rule
I am amending this post after making some calls and finding out more about the EPA's rule. I guess this is one of those cases where we're paranoid because they really are after us. Dewhurst's statement follows: AUSTIN—Today, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst issued the following statement regarding the detrimental effects of
Politics & Policy
August 28, 2011
Not one to suffer fools gladly
I’m speaking of Steve Ogden, who ripped into Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst and his own Senate colleagues this week in a speech in College Station. What he said was the truth–that Dewhurst was ineffective and that all his colleagues cared about was politics. During the discussions over a school finance bill
Politics & Policy
August 2, 2011
Perry: won’t take a position on debt deal
From the Statesman, August 1: A spokesman for Gov. Rick Perry would not directly say Monday whether Perry supported the debt-ceiling deal reached between President Barack Obama and congressional leaders. Asked whether lawmakers should approve the deal, Perry spokesman Mark Miner said: “The governor thinks the right track to
Politics & Policy
July 19, 2011
Dew tell
I got a robocall from Dewhurst over the weekend — along with 850,000 other Texans. The text was very similar to a video he has posted online. It’s about what you would expect: loser pays, kept $6 billion in the rainy day fund, balanced the budget without raising taxes. And
Politics & Policy
July 15, 2011
Is Dewhurst too complacent?
When I first wrote about the race for U.S. Senate, I said that there was no race, that Dewhurst has a huge lead in fundraising and name I.D. I still think that Dewhurst has the advantage over Ted Cruz, but, even in a state as big as Texas, there is
Politics & Policy
July 5, 2011
The Senate race
Is it even worth writing about? Dewhurst has the money and the name I.D. Tom Leppert has neither. Cruz has a great reputation as a lawyer but little else. Dewhurst has already driven most of the hopefuls out of the race and into contests for Congress–the worst job in American
Politics & Policy
May 30, 2011
R.G.’s Take: The Budget Session Nobody Enjoyed
As the 82nd Legislature hurtled this weekend toward a crash landing, freshman Republican Representative Lanham Lyne of Wichita Falls stepped up to the front microphone of the Texas House to deliver his first major legislative speech. Lyne was arguing on behalf of the budget, which cuts billions, yet he seemed
Politics & Policy
May 20, 2011
R.G.’s Take: 82nd Legislature rolls the dice, betting on the come
Betting on the come, in gambling terms, means: You don’t have what you need but you’re betting that you will have it when you need it. Betting on the come is exactly what House and Senate Republicans are doing with Governor Rick Perry as they press for a final budget
Politics & Policy
March 24, 2011
Help! Help! There’s a pig in this room! Quick, get the lipstick!
You have to feel sorry for the Legislative Budget Board. The LBB came out with a required report titled "Dynamic Economic Impact Statement" on the effect of the House budget, and you have never heard such squealing in the pink building. Among those seeking to apply the Maybelline were David
Politics & Policy
January 27, 2011
Ron Paul: Texas’s next senator?
The Morning News reports that the Texas congressman is considering a run for the Senate. [I am having trouble with the link.] Paul is not going to be able to resist the chance to serve in the Senate alongside his son. If he runs, who is going to beat him? The guy with
Politics & Policy
February 2, 2010
What is Medina up to?
A couple of weeks ago I questioned in this space whether Medina might enter the Senate race if Hutchison resigns her seat after the primary or the runoff? Apparently someone else was thinking the same thing. The analysis that follows was sent to me by someone who is well known
Politics & Policy
November 30, 2009
Gattis out, Ogden in
An amazing development. Gattis has spoken openly of his desire to be president of the United States some day. Now he is out of politics, not even running for reelection to the House. It's a double whammy, a talented member gone and the dreadful Milton Rister as a possible successor.
Politics & Policy
October 21, 2009
Raise the gasoline tax?
In the comments to my earlier post, “Dewhurst hits bottom,” referring to the light gov’s op-ed piece in today’s American Statesman, I wrote about what I would have done to close the budget deficit. One of my recommendations would be to raise the gasoline tax, index it to inflation, and
Politics & Policy
October 21, 2009
Dewhurst Hits Bottom
I have already received a couple of calls from friends who wanted to be sure that I noticed the Dew's op-ed piece in today's Statesman about how Texas balanced its budget. His salient characteristic is on full display here: There is no depth of cravenness so low that
Politics & Policy
September 14, 2009
Dew or Die, again
So, what’s he really running for and how can we tell? The best clue may be Steve Ogden’s decision not to seek reelection. Ogden has been chair of Senate Finance. The likelihood is that under a different lieutenant governor, he would not be chairman again. And there’s not much reason
Politics & Policy
September 11, 2009
Dew or Die: Update
Two more reasons why Dewhurst decided to announce that he is running for reelection: (1) I am told by two sources that he called Hutchison to ask about her plans — was she going to resign her seat and if so, when — and he did not like the answer
Politics & Policy
September 9, 2009
Dew or Die
Dewhurst’s decision to announce for lieutenant governor has touched off intense speculation about whether this is a final decision or a keep-my-options-open decision. Dewhurst has always wanted to be governor, and so I think his plan is to succeed Perry upon his retirement in January 2019. But seriously, folks …
Politics & Policy
August 30, 2009
Who has the best chance to hold the Senate seat for the GOP?
I don’t think it is any of the announced candidates. It’s a member of the Texas congressional delegation, whose members are worried about whether any of the wannabes can hold the seat against a Democrat. –This candidate has a large, enthusiastic constituency that goes beyond the boundaries of his district
Politics & Policy
August 17, 2009
Does Dewhurst have a future as lieutenant governor?
Senate Republicans continue to have conversations about what to do in the event that (a) Dewhurst resigns his office to run for the Senate, or (b) opts to run for lieutenant governor again. The GOP caucus has three factions. The lines are not set in stone, and, depending on the
Politics & Policy
August 12, 2009
Will Troy Fraser succeed Dewhurst?
Some Senate Republicans, Fraser foremost among them, have been cooking up a plan to exclude the Democrats from choosing the successor to Dewhurst if and when Hutchison resigns her Senate seat. The idea is to impose a unit rule — a term not heard in Texas politics since the days
Politics & Policy
August 10, 2009
Barton may seek Hutchison seat
I missed this story from the Startlegram on Saturday. The first few paragraphs: No one seems to be mentioning U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Arlington, as a candidate to replace outgoing Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas. Turns out that Barton — who came in third in the 1993 special
Politics & Policy
August 7, 2009
Should Hutchison Resign?
The answer is: No, no, and hell no. What is the upside of resigning? The only advantage is that it gives her more time to campaign in Texas. That is worth something. But the upside of staying is far greater. Perry set out to define the race as Texas (him)
Politics & Policy
July 13, 2009
Why is Bill White Running for Senate?
Aside from the obvious—he wants to go to Washington—I can’t think of a good reason to run for Senate instead of governor. As things now stand, Hutchison will probably resign her seat in the fall. I believe that Perry will appoint either David Dewhurst or Greg Abbott. Michael Williams would
Politics & Policy
June 29, 2009
Who runs the Senate?
Jeff Wentworth is still unhappy about the failure of his constitutional amendment to authorize a short veto override session following the twenty-day period during which the governor decides whether to sign or veto legislation. (A third option allows the governor to let a bill become law without his signature.) Jason
Politics & Policy
May 27, 2009
Dewhurst says CHIP expansion is alive
Patti Hart phoned in this report: When I asked the lieutenant governor about whether CHIP could be saved, he said, “There’s a bill it can go on.” I said that the mood may have changed (for the worse) in the last couple of days. “Not my mood,” Dewhurst said.
Politics & Policy
April 24, 2009
Dewhurst pushing TWIA compromise
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst announced from the prodium this morning that he plans to begin meeting with coastal senators on Sen. Troy Fraser’s Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) bill. I’m told that the coastal senators, plus a few other senators whose constituents own property on the coast, had enough votes