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AUSTIN, Tex. — Behind every politician there are men and women working in the wings, operatives who can make calls, fix problems, raise money, punish enemies. In Rick Perry’s world, one man stands above them all: Mike Toomey. Intense and reclusive, Mr. Toomey is not well known outside of a few square blocks around the…

He’s rough! He’s tough! He won’t take any guff! He’s Rick Perry’s chief of staff! He cuts Democrats—and Republicans—in half! Mike Toomey is The Enforcer. FOR THE PAST TWENTY YEARS, Mike Toomey has loomed large in state government, as imposing and immovable—and some would say as cold—as the pink-granite Capitol itself. First as a Republican…

Many Democrats want the economy to remain closed. Some Republicans have insisted that it reopen immediately. But more than anyone else, the decision about when — and how — Texas will return to business as usual falls to Gov. Greg Abbott. The team that is guiding him through that process features some of the most…

Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday announced initial steps to reopen the Texas economy during the coronavirus pandemic, including those that in the next week will loosen surgery restrictions at medical facilities, allow all retail stores to provide product pickups and reopen state parks. Abbott also named a “statewide strike force” devoted to getting the economy…

A lot of money was spent, and the status quo remains for the most part (assuming 2 recounts don’t change the election night winner) . The blue wave that was suspected did not hit Texas shores. The Texas House of Representatives stayed at its current makeup (83 Republicans, 67 Democrats) with two upsets coming from…