Jay Root is a native of Liberty. He never knew any reporters growing up, and he has never taken a journalism class in his life. But somehow he got hooked on the news business. It all started when Root walked into the offices of The Daily Texan, his college newspaper, during his last year at the University of Texas in 1987. He couldn't resist the draw: it was the biggest collection of misfits ever assembled. After graduating, he took a job at a Houston chemical company and soon realized it wasn't for him. Root applied for an unpaid internship at the Houston Post in 1990, and it turned into a full-time job that same year. He has been a reporter ever since. Root has covered natural disasters, live music and Texas politics — not necessarily in that order. He was Austin bureau chief of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for a dozen years, most of them good. He also covered politics and the Legislature for The Associated Press before joining the staff of the Tribune.Root is the author of “Oops! A Diary From The 2012 Campaign Trail,” an insider’s account of Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s dramatic collapse in the 2012 presidential race. The book was released in September, 2012.
jroot@texastribune.org
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Texas Democrats gather in Houston on Thursday for yet another state party convention being held amid long odds of any kind of statewide victory.
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Mitt Romney travels to the Lone Star State this week to collect money for his presidential campaign and tout his economic proposals.
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Like it did in Indiana in the defeat of Sen. Dick Lugar, the Club for Growth plans to raise millions to boost former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz in his runoff against Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.
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Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz, both GOP candidates for the U.S. Senate, will vie in one of multiple runoffs that Texas voters will decide in July.
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Voters in HD-146 could be forgiven for having a sense of déjà vu. They truly have been here before. Two years ago. Four years ago. Six years ago. Their ballots always seem to carry the same two names: Borris Miles vs. Al Edwards.
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State Sen. Mike Jackson is probably headed for a runoff in the new 36th Congressional District in southeast Texas. With 12 candidates in the GOP primary, it's hard to predict the rest.
Full StoryHouston trial lawyer Steve Mostyn, Texas' largest single contributor to Democrats in 2010, is pouring money into a GOP primary race, targeting state Senate hopeful Larry Taylor.
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A legal opinion on the use of state incentive money prompted a new round of sparring Friday between Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and Comptroller Susan Combs, who could face off in a 2014 race for lieutenant governor.
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The race to replace state Rep. Ken Legler, R-Pasadena, in House District 144 has sparked competitive races in both the Republican and Democratic primaries.
Full StoryCalling his primary campaign bashing of Mitt Romney water under the bridge, Gov. Rick Perry voted for the former Massachusetts governor Wednesday and predicted he would beat President Obama.
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Ann Romney and Anita Perry are joining forces Thursday to raise money for Mitt Romney. They will both attend a fundraiser at the Austin home of golfing legend Ben Crenshaw.
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The race to replace U.S. Rep. Ron Paul is a free-for-all, with nine Republicans among 11 major party candidates running to represent Congressional District 14.
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State Rep. Jim Murphy, R-Houston, is facing a challenge from Ann Witt, a former schoolteacher and developer. With House District 133 now solidly Republican, the primary is where the attention will be.
Full StoryHouse Speaker Joe Straus, who has been the frequent target of conservatives within his own Republican Party, is announcing endorsements from two anti-abortion groups today.
Full StoryIf you thought a little Secret Service investigation or a $10,000 bear hunting fine would tame the "Motor City Madman," well, you probably have never sat down for a chat with Ted Nugent.
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