Despite Gov. Perry’s presidential run ending, and his approval rating at its lowest level, ever, his power has not diminished.

Perry was accused of “crony capitalism” during his campaign for appointing his friends to powerful agencies across the state. Political experts say Perry’s power of appointment is something poll numbers cannot take away.

“Since Governor Perry has been in office so long, he’s been able to appoint about everything that’s possible in the state of Texas and then in some ways these people serve as a de facto cabinet for him,” Sherri Greenberg from the University of Texas’ Center for Politics and Governance said.

After weeks in court, state redistricting maps have yet to be finalized. Testimony wrapped up in Washington, DC Thursday as a three-judge panel is looking at whether the maps violated the Voting Rights Act.

You can see these stories, plus hear from our Political Analyst Harvey Kronberg in the video below.

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Austin congressional candidate Dan Grant joined us in the YNN studio Thursday. Grant is running for Congressional District 10 against Rep. Michael McCaul. You can hear from Dan in the video below.

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Our Capital Commentators joined us to give some insight to how the delay in Texas redistricting might affect 2012 elections. Watch Democratic Strategist Harold Cook and Republican Strategist Ted Delisi below.

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