DALLAS (AP) - The first signs of how conservative the 2013 Texas Legislature will be emerged in the primary, and all signs point to a tea party movement determined to tighten its grip on Texas public policy.
Republicans already hold large majorities in the House and Senate, but Tuesday's primaries were dominated by candidates trying to prove who is the most conservative.
Tea party-backed challengers pushed even farther to the right, shoving several House incumbents out of office and forcing a few more into runoffs.
Republican House Speaker Joe Straus of San Antonio has been criticized within the GOP as not conservative enough. He saw three of his top lieutenants defeated, and was warned he'll be challenged for the office by Rep. Bryan Hughes of Mineola in 2013.
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