Elections

Elected officials and political hopefuls have another week to decide if they'll run in the March primaries.

Longtime Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price is facing opposition in the March Democratic primary. His former assistant, Betty Culbreath has filed to run against him.

SMU political scientist Dr. Cal Jillson says Price has a loyal constituency, even under the cloud of an FBI corruption investigation.

Dallas, TX – Fort Worth Council member Kathleen Hicks yesterday became the first Democrat to file for Tarrant County's newly created Congressional District 33. It's a race that is expected to draw a big field of competitive candidates. KERA's Shelley Kofler reports on the possibility of Tarrant again having a Democrat in Washington, and on the Republican challenge that could prevent that.

By KERA News & Wire Services

Dallas, TX – The Supreme Court has been asked to stop a federal court from implementing a state redistricting map in Texas that could increase minority representation in the state Legislature.

The state's attorney general, Greg Abbott, filed the request with the high court on Monday. The court-drawn map was drafted after minority groups challenged the original plan passed by the Republican-dominated state Legislature.

By Ben Philpott, KUT News

Austin, TX – Political operatives, reporters and pundits alike agreed - the biggest story to come out of last nights republican debate in Michigan was Governor Rick Perry's gaffe. As Ben Philpott reports For KUT News, the more important story is what his performance on stage may have started behind the scenes.

Just how bad was it?

By BJ Austin, KERA News

Dallas, TX – It's Election Day in Texas. Voters are deciding ten state constitutional amendments.

Rich Parsons, with the Secretary of State's office says early voting was about 2%. He says voter turnout for constitutional amendment elections is never as high as presidential or gubernatorial elections.

Parsons: The last two election cycles for proposed constitutional amendments we've seen total a little more than 8% turnout.

By BJ Austin, KERA News

Dallas, TX – Texans decide ten constitutional amendments at the polls Tuesday. Proposition 9 would allow the Governor to pardon someone who has successfully completed a "deferred adjudication". That's a plea agreement that includes probation and community service.

By Ross Ramsey, Texas Tribune

Austin, TX – The two Mormons running for president Republicans Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman face a significant obstacle in Texas. More than one in five Texas voters 23 percent say most of the people they know would not vote for a Mormon presidential candidate even if they agreed with him or her on the issues, according to the new University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.

By Shelley Kofler, KERA News

Dallas, TX – Texas Republicans surveyed in a new poll don't seem to be buying Gov. Rick Perry's campaign claim that his policies are responsible for Texas' job-creating economy.

In the University of Texas- Texas Tribune poll, some 65 percent said Texas's natural resources and policies are the reason the state's economy has outperformed others. Just 21 percent of Republican voters credited Rick Perry's leadership.

By Ross Ramsey, Texas Tribune

Austin, TX – A key part of Gov. Rick Perry's pitch to Republican presidential primary voters is the performance of the state's economy especially in job creation during his tenure as governor. But Texas voters, for the most part, are more likely to see him as a bystander to the state's success than its driver, according to the new University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.

By Ross Ramsey, Texas Tribune

Austin, TX – Gov. Rick Perry is statistically tied with businessman Herman Cain among Republican presidential primary voters in his home state of Texas, with the rest of the GOP candidates well behind the leaders, according to the new University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll.

By Andy Uhler, KUT News

Austin, TX – On this fall's constitutional election ballot is a proposal that supporters claim would make it easier and cheaper for local governments to enter into interlocal agreements. KUT's Andy Uhler reports on what Proposition Five would mean for cooperation between cities, counties and other taxing districts.

By Courtney Collins, KERA News

Dallas, TX – A group of seniors rallied at Congressman Jeb Hensarling's Dallas office today. They had a simple message; cutting senior benefits won't fix the deficit. KERA's Courtney Collins reports.

"Mr. Garcia, I brought some more petitions and postcards for Mr. Hensarling."

Some two dozen members of the Texas Alliance for Retired Americans trooped up to Representative Jeb Hensarling's office to speak out against cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

By Andy Uhler, KUT

Austin, TX – Right now early voters are considering 10 amendments to the Texas Constitution. Supporters of Proposition 4 say it would give counties new opportunities to develop blighted areas. Opponents claim it could lead to eminent domain abuse. Andy Uhler from KUT in Austin takes a look.

By Matt Largey, KUT News

Austin, TX – Early voting has begun for the November 8th election. Texans are voting on 10 constitutional amendments - dealing with everything from water projects to student loans. KUT's Matt Largey explains Proposition One on this fall's ballot.

By BJ Austin

Dallas, TX – Early voting began October 24th next month's state constitutional amendment election. There are 10 amendments on the ballot.

Proposition 3 would increase the amount of bonds the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board can sell to provide low-interest student loans.

Dominic Chavez, with the Board says increasing debt is a red flag for some voters. But he says this "borrowing" will not burden taxpayers.

By BJ Austin

Dallas TX – Two state constitutional amendments on the ballot next month deal with water, and how Texas can ensure there's enough of it as the population grows.

Amendment 8 encourages conservation by offering a property tax break to landowners who practice conservation techniques.

The Texas Sierra Club is backing Proposition 8. Jennifer Walker is the water resources specialist with the Lone Star Chapter.

By Ben Philpott, KUT News

Dallas, TX –

Instead of defending his record as governor, Rick Perry went on the offensive against his chief opponent Mitt Romney in a Republican presidential candidates debate in Las Vegas. KUT's Ben Philpott reports on Perry's strategy.