Politics
Clinton wins Texas
BY JAY ROOT and JOHN MORITZ, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 March 2008
AUSTIN – Texas voters gave Hillary Clinton a much-needed victory over Barack Obama on Tuesday in a contest that produced record turnout and furious allegations of election-day dirty tricks.
Resurgent Hillary Clinton beats Barack Obama in Texas, Ohio
By GROMER JEFFERS JR., Dallas Morning News, 5 March 2008
DALLAS – Hillary Rodham Clinton revived her quest for the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday by beating Barack Obama in a nail-biting, Texas cliffhanger and more decisively in Ohio.
Clinton campaign hints at lawsuit over Texas tactics
BY JAY ROOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 March 2008
AUSTIN – Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign held an "emergency" call with reporters late Tuesday to allege that supporters of Barack Obama were basically trying to steal the caucus elections with a series of shenanigans and raised the possibility of a legal challenge.
Central Texans jam caucuses in 'record-shattering turnout'
By Andrea Ball, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 5 March 2008
AUSTIN – Confusion, chaos and controversy ruled Central Texas' precinct caucuses Tuesday night.
Some caucuses turn chaotic, and Clinton mulls legal action
By KAREN BROOKS and JOANNA CATTANACH, Dallas Morning News, 5 March 2008
DALLAS – Too many people and too little experience created chaos Tuesday night at several Texas caucuses.
Analysis: Texas primary dissolves into raucous caucus
By WAYNE SLATER, Dallas Morning News, 5 March 2008
AUSTIN – The Texas primary became a back-alley brawl Tuesday, a possible prelude to Democratic infighting all the way to the convention.
Caucus confusion eventually overcome
By Graeme Zielinski, San Antonio Express-News, 5 March 2008
SAN ANTONIO – The Texas Two-Step turned into the Sit-and-Wait Salsa on Tuesday, with the Democratic Party's swollen precinct conventions beset by glitches big and small, leaving the specter of lawsuits hanging over the results.
Demo caucus chaos leaves El Paso voters confused and disappointed
By Adriana M. Chávez, El Paso Times, 5 March 2008
EL PASO – Voter enthusiasm turned into confusion during Tuesday night's Democratic caucuses throughout the city, and many voters cried foul over the way individual caucuses were organized.
Voters rush precinct caucuses to vote again
By Carl Kieke and Charles G. Anderson Sr., Abilene Reporter-News, 5 March 2008
ABILENE – Voters swamped precinct conventions after the polls closed Tuesday night, hoping to express their presidential preference one more time.
Confusion reigns at Tarrant caucus sites
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 March 2008
FORT WORTH – Democrat caucus sites around Tarrant County are reporting high turnout and confusion.
Big caucus turnouts jam Dallas-area polling places
Dallas Morning News, 5 March 2008
DALLAS – Primary Day is not ending quietly across North Texas.
Officials amazed at crowds eager to back candidates
By PEGGY O'HARE and MIKE TOLSON, Houston Chronicle, 5 March 2008
HOUSTON – The crowd started growing well before the polls closed, and by 7:15 something resembling a mob had assembled in front of the Lovett Inn in the heart of Montrose.
Energized Democrats pour into the polls
By MICHAEL A. LINDENBERGER, Dallas Morning News, 5 March 2008
DALLAS – Democrats surged to the polls Tuesday for a hugely contested but mostly glitch-free primary that brought out more voters than any primary in at least 28 years.
Houston Democrats savor role in crucial election
By BENNETT ROTH, Houston Chronicle, 5 March 2008
HOUSTON – Edsel M. Cramer, an artist whose portrait of the late black Congresswoman Barbara Jordan hangs in the state Capitol, was clearly energized about Tuesday's primary election.
Tabulation takes time as voters swarm precincts
By MATT STILES, Houston Chronicle, 5 March 2008
HOUSTON – Local voters flooded polling places Tuesday, turning out in historic numbers that delayed tabulations of the results for hours, officials said.
West Houston voters frustrated by long caucus wait
By LINDSAY WISE, Houston Chronicle, 5 March 2008
HOUSTON – Unprecedented turnout at caucuses across Houston and Harris County left hundreds of frustrated voters waiting in the cold until almost midnight outside at least one polling place in West Houston on Tuesday.
Thousands wait in line to cast ballots Tuesday
By Eileen E. Flynn, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 5 March 2008
AUSTIN – They showed up by the dozens before the polls opened at 7 a.m. They waited in long lines to cast their ballots.
Texas Panhandle counties report heavy voter turnout
By Cheryl Berzanskis, Amarillo Globe-News, 5 March 2008
AMARILLO – Regional voters turned out Tuesday in numbers, that if not record setting, were at least good to heavy.
Scores of Southeast Texans turn out to do Texas two-step on election night
By COLIN GUY and FRED DAVIS, Beaumont Enterprise, 5 March 2008
BEAUMONT – Despite the pre-election confusion over the state's "Texas two-step" primary system - as well as the ensuing caucus chaos Tuesday - a sense of history prevailed at Blanchette Elementary School.
Valley Still ‘Clinton Country’
By Kevin Sieff, Brownsville Herald, 5 March 2008
BROWNSVILLE – Visits from two presidential candidates, one former president, and a panoply of politicians and celebrities have brought national attention to Brownsville and the Rio Grande Valley in recent weeks.
Clinton secures over 70 percent of the early vote in two big border counties
By Steve Taylor, Rio Grande Guardian, 4 March 2008
EDINBURG – Hillary Clinton received more than 70 percent of the early vote in two big border strongholds, Hidalgo County and Webb County.
Young Texas voters turn out in huge numbers to cast ballots for first time
By EMILY RAMSHAW, Dallas Morning News, 5 March 2008
AUSTIN – Brittney Nickleberry was psyched to vote.
Many Texas women wavered until the last minute
By EMILY RAMSHAW, Dallas Morning News, 5 March 2008
AUSTIN – Laura Sandberg was tired of wavering.
Hispanic voters drawn to Clinton's experience, community ties
By DAVID McLEMORE, Dallas Morning News, 5 March 2008
SAN ANTONIO – On this city's Hispanic-heavy west side, in the working-class neighborhood that launched the career of favorite son Henry Cisneros, it's all Clinton country.
Race just one of several factors in choosing a candidate
By DIANNE SOLÍS, Dallas Morning News, 5 March 2008
DeSOTO – Aisha and Leroy Collins walked into Precinct 3607 at noon bursting with pride at the chance to vote for Barack Obama.
Spotlight in Texas on Democrats' duel
By CLAY ROBISON and PEGGY FIKAC, Houston Chronicle, 5 March 2008
AUSTIN – The tight race for Texas' Democratic presidential delegates largely came down to whether voters valued change or experience.
County, Texas vote Hillary back into race
By Jason Smith, Brazosport Facts, 5 March 2008
ANGLETON – Voters in Brazoria County followed statewide trends in picking Sen. John McCain and Sen. Hillary Clinton for their parties’ nominations.
McCain wins GOP nod, Huckabee bows out
By ANNA M. TINSLEY, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 March 2008
FORT WORTH – Republican presidential hopeful John McCain clinched the GOP nomination Tuesday night – with a big push from Texans and Tarrant County residents – eight years after his first bid for the White House died.
Noriega apparently avoids runoff in U.S. Senate race
By JANET ELLIOTT, Houston Chronicle, 5 March 2008
AUSTIN – Houston state Rep. Rick Noriega apparently avoided a runoff early today in a four-way Democratic race for U.S. Senate.
Noriega leads two Democrats in bid to challenge Cornyn
By Mike Ward, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 5 March 2008
AUSTIN – Rick Noriega, a tough-talking state lawmaker and Iraq war veteran, was battling to avoid a runoff late Tuesday in the four-way Democratic race for U.S. Senate.
Noriega leads Democratic U.S. Senate race
By JOHN MORITZ, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 March 2008
AUSTIN – Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Rick Noriega, riding his record as a five-term lawmaker and veteran of the war in Afghanistan, was building a big lead in the state’s most populous counties Tuesday, but it was unclear in early voting as to whether he would win the outright majority needed to avoid a runoff.
Doherty beats Grant, will take on McCaul
By Jason Embry, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 5 March 2008
AUSTIN – Larry Joe Doherty, a lawyer who once starred in his own television series, beat Dan Grant on Tuesday to win the Democratic nomination in U.S. House District 10.
Larson wins Republican nomination for 23rd district
By Gary Martin, Elaine Ayo and Moises Mendoza, San Antonio Express-News, 5 March 2008
SAN ANTONIO – Bexar County Commissioner Lyle Larson won the Republican nomination for the 23rd Congressional District Tuesday — handily defeating San Antonio lawyer Francisco "Quico" Canseco in a race that pundits expected to be close.
Runoff expected for District 22's GOP nomination
By ERIC HANSON and RICHARD STEWART, Houston Chronicle, 5 March 2008
HOUSTON – The battle for the Republican nomination for U.S. House District 22 appeared headed for a runoff as Shelley Sekula Gibbs and Pete Olson led a pack of 10 candidates in late returns.
GOP headed to runoff for DeLay’s former seat
By Rhiannon Meyers, Galveston County Daily N ews, 5 March 2008
GALVESTON – The Republican race to reclaim former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s seat will likely go to a runoff election, but it wasn’t clear late Tuesday who would be in that runoff.
GOP vote split in Houston area race
By JACK DOUGLAS Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 March 2008
FORT WORTH – A former Houston city councilwoman and the former chief of staff for U.S. Sen. John Cornyn were leading a pack of 10 candidates in the Republican primary Tuesday to face U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson.
Paul retains District 14 congressional seat
By John Tompkins, Brazosport Facts, 5 March 2008
BRAZOSPORT – Keeping an eye on two races, a Lake Jackson Republican seeking the nomination for president appeared to hang on to his congressional seat for District 14.
Paul defeats Peden 2-1 for congressional seat
By Sara McDonald, Galveston County Daily News, 5 March 2008
GALVESTON – Few voters wanted him as president, but overwhelming numbers of Republican primary voters chose to keep U.S. Rep. Ron Paul in congress.
Paul easily wins his Congressional primary
BY GABE SEMENZA, VICTORIA ADVOCATE, 5 March 2008
VICTORIA – An unsuccessful yet colorful bid for president didn’t deter Ron Paul in his race for Texas’ Congressional District 14.
Not even Victoria backs Paul for prez
BY GABE SEMENZA, VICTORIA ADVOCATE, 5 March 2008
VICTORIA – Ron Paul proved that being outspoken and controversial could propel you to the late-night TV circuit.
Fullingim leading in District 19
By Eric Finley, LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL, 5 March 2008
LUBBOCK – Dwight B. Fullingim was on his way to winning the Democratic primary for Congressional District 19 on Tuesday night over Dr. Rufus Mark.
Political newcomer has lead in Texas Railroad Commission race
By Gary Sharrer, San Antonio Express-News, 5 March 2008
AUSTIN – A political novice dreaming "the big dream" and who raised no campaign money grabbed a lead Tuesday in the Democratic primary for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission.
Criss loses bid for state Supreme Court
By Leigh Jones, Galveston County Daily News, 5 March 2008
GALVESTON – Linda Yañez won the Democratic primary race for Place 8 on the Texas Supreme Court, but only beat local favorite Susan Criss by 4 percentage points.
Williams, Jaworski take solid leads
By DANE SCHILLER, Houston Chronicle, 5 March 2008
HOUSTON – Results for area state Senate races favored an incumbent from The Woodlands who held a commanding lead over a former legislator running against him.
Jaworski leads in District 11 Senate race
By John Lowman, Brazosport Facts, 5 March 2008
BRAZOSPORT – Galveston attorney Joe Jaworski led Nassau engineer Bryan Hermann by more than 8,000 votes at midnight Tuesday, giving him what he believed to be an insurmountable lead in the Democratic primary for the State Senate District 11 nomination.
Estes holds on to state Senate seat
By Amy Dodd Thompson, Denton Record-Chronicle, 5 March 2008
DENTON – State Sen. Craig Estes will apparently keep his seat.
Most Craddick supporters prevail in legislative primaries
Houston Chronicle, 5 March 2008
AUSTIN – Seven state House members, including one of the longest serving legislators, were ousted by their own party in races colored by last year's bitter attempt to overthrow Republican Speaker Tom Craddick.
Marquez ousts Moreno as state representative
By Ramon Renteria, El Paso Times, 4 March 2008
EL PASO – Challenger Marisa Marquez won a tight election over Democratic state Rep. Paul Moreno in the race for House District 77.
Margo beats Haggerty in Republican primary
By Michael D. Hernandez, El Paso Times, 4 March 2008
EL PASO – El Paso businessman Dee Margo was sucessful in his bid to oust State Rep. Pat Haggerty and become the Republican candidate for District 78.
Moody beats Irwin in Democratic primary
By Michael D. Hernandez, El Paso Times, 4 March 2008
EL PASO – El Paso Assistant District Attorney Joe Moody scored a resounding victory over Louis Irwin in the Democratic primary for Texas House Representative District 78.
Edwards takes back District 146
Houston Chronicle, 5 March 2008
HOUSTON – Former state Rep. Al Edwards on Tuesday reclaimed his District 146 seat from incumbent Borris Miles in a dramatic comeback that saw him unofficially rack up more than 61 percent of the vote.
Tara Rios Ybarra wins state District 43 primary
By DAISY MARTINEZ, VALLEY MORNING STAR, 5 March 2008
BROWNSVILLE – Eight months of intense campaigning paid off Tuesday for Tara Rios Ybarra, who won the Democratic primary for state representative for District 43, defeating incumbent state Rep. Juan Manuel Escobar.
Lewis, West head into runoff
BY DAVID J. LEE, Odessa American, 4 March 2008
ODESSA – The heated four-way race for the District 81 seat in the State House of Representatives is headed for a runoff — incumbent Buddy West and challenger Tryon Lewis will face off April 8.
Lewis, West enter state rep's runoff
By Bob Campbell, Midland Reporter-Telegram, 5 March 2008
ODESSA – Former district judge Tryon Lewis and state Rep. Buddy West of Odessa will meet in an April 8 runoff for the Representative District 81 seat in the Texas Legislature.
Flores, Peña, win re-election
By Joey Gomez and Steve Taylor, Rio Grande Guardian, 4 March 2008
MISSION – Two of Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick’s key lieutenants in the Rio Grande Valley have won re-election after bruising Democratic primary battles.
Dukes breezes to victory in Texas House race
By Laylan Copelin and Corrie MacLaggan, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 5 March 2008
AUSTIN – State Rep. Dawnna Dukes of Austin swept away Democratic rival Brian Thompson on Tuesday despite her past support of Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick, a Midland Republican whose controversial tenure as House leader is an undercurrent in several legislative campaigns around the state.
Oliveira wins lucky 13
BY EMMA PEREZ-TREVIÑO, Brownsville Herald, 5 March 2008
BROWNSVILLE – No. 13 proved lucky for state Rep. Rene Oliveira, who captured his 13th term to the District 37 office Tuesday with a win over opponent John Shergold.
Weber earns GOP nod for Dist. 29 House seat
By Jason Smith, Brazosport Facts, 5 March 2008
BRAZOSPORT – A local business owner whose top priority is to reform the state property tax system was leading the race to be the Republican nominee for the District 29 Texas House seat in November.
Toll-road opposition not enough to boost Kosub in District 122 race
By Patrick Driscoll, San Antonio Express-News, 5 March 2008
SAN ANTONIO – Early tallies Tuesday showed state Rep. Frank Corte sweeping aside a fellow Republican recruited by toll-road critics.
Sheffield, Tyroch in District 55 GOP runoff
By Justin Cox, Killeen Daily Herald, 5 March 2008
BELTON – With four candidates vying for the Republican nomination in the District 55 Texas House race, a runoff was a foregone conclusion.
Anderson tops Sibley in Texas House race
Waco Tribune-Herald, 5 March 2008
WACO – State Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson, a local veterinarian, beat challenger Jonathan Sibley, an insurance attorney, in Tuesday’s GOP primary election, 10,030 to 5,753.
Macias tries to hold District 73
By Roger Croteau, San Antonio Express-News, 5 March 2008
NEW BRAUNFELS – Incumbent Nathan Macias was clinging to a narrow lead in his bid to keep his job as House District 73 representative Tuesday night.
Estes posts solid win over Stafford 30th District Senator
Wichita Falls Times Record News, 5 March 2008
WICHITA FALLS – After a campaign that 30th District Sen. Craig Estes characterized as “traveling, traveling, traveling,” Estes had garnered 68 percent of the votes in his 18 counties by 10 p.m. Tuesday for a solid win against his opponent, Denton real estate agent and developer Charles Stafford.
Despite attacks, Jones takes significant lead
By Enrique Rangel, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 5 March 2008
LUBBOCK – Tens of thousands of dollars worth of last-minute attacks on State Rep. Delwin Jones went down the drain Tuesday night as the Lubbock Republican did what he's done in previous elections - defeat his opponent in his district's Republican primary rather easily.
Aggressive Clinton puts brakes on Obama’s momentum
Austin American-Statesman, 4 March 2008
AUSTIN – Texas, Ohio help Clinton’s revival. McCain sweeps 4 states, accepts GOP nomination as Huckabee bows out. Sen. Hillary Clinton saved her campaign Tuesday with help from Texas Democrats, particularly those in rural areas and Hispanics along the state’s southern border, from the Gulf to El Paso.
Obama's disappointing week
Dallas Morning News, 5 March 2008
DALLAS – Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton two-stepped their way across Texas, a suddenly important presidential proving ground, but unfortunately, Tuesday's primaries signaled no end to the Democrats' bruising battle.
Clinton owes debt of gratitude to Texas Republicans
By BUD KENNEDY, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 March 2008
FORT WORTH – So, are you happy now?
Government
Perry adviser appointed TYC chief of staff
Austin American-Statesman, 5 March 2008
AUSTIN – A policy adviser in Gov. Rick Perry's office who was criticized during a scandal at the Texas Youth Commission last year has been named chief of staff of the troubled agency.
News
Feds begin inspection of Texas A&M research labs
By R.A. DYER, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 March 2008
AUSTIN – A team of federal inspectors arrived at Texas A&M University on Tuesday to begin a review of several shuttered labs that handle dangerous biodefense agents, the university confirmed Tuesday.
People
Former state Rep. Puente lands job with SAWS as a consultant
By Jerry Needham, San Antonio Express-News, 4 March 2008
SAN ANTONIO – Robert Puente, who stepped down last month after 17 years as a state representative, the last five as the powerful chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, was hired Tuesday as a consultant for the San Antonio Water System.
Former New Mexico lawmkaer and Texas native Ron Godbey dies in San Angelo
San Angelo Standard-Times, 5 March 2008
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Ron Godbey, a former Republican state lawmaker from Texas who battled members of his own party over drug reform proposals, died Saturday. He was 73.
