Alana Rocha

Alana Rocha was the director of news partnerships for The Texas Tribune until June 2022. She was previously a multimedia reporter, after working in television and radio news for eight years. Alana covered politics for stations in Florida, Kansas and Texas and traveled the country reporting from the 2012 and 2016 presidential campaign trails. She was the lead reporter on several award-winning projects and launched “The Brief,” a daily audio update. A native of Tampa, Florida, Alana received bachelor’s degrees in journalism and Spanish from the University of Florida.

Past Contributions

Roundup: Cruz Puts Iowa in the Win Column

By Alana Rocha and Justin Dehn Feb. 2, 2016

In this special edition of the Texas Political Roundup, we look at Ted Cruz's big night in Iowa, what this win means for the Texas senator moving forward and how his closest competitors fared. Full Story

Credit: Rebecca F. Miller
Video: Cruz Confident He Can Go the Distance

By Alana Rocha and Justin Dehn Feb. 2, 2016

After being crowned the winner of the Iowa Republican caucuses, Ted Cruz said Monday that he's ready to shift his focus to the next states casting ballots. Full Story

Credit: Rebecca F. Miller
Video: Dan Patrick to Attend Same Caucus as Marco Rubio

By Alana Rocha and Justin Dehn Feb. 1, 2016

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is among about 500 Texans in Iowa campaigning for Ted Cruz ahead of Monday night's Iowa caucuses. Patrick will be speaking on Cruz's behalf at the same precinct caucus as Marco Rubio will attend. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Video: Many Iowa Republicans Vow to Caucus for Cruz

By Alana Rocha and Justin Dehn Feb. 1, 2016

After months of polling and posturing, the first nominating contest of the presidential primary season kicks off Monday in Iowa. Republican Ted Cruz is working to ensure his supporters get out to caucus. Full Story

Credit: Rebecca F. Miller
Roundup: Planned Parenthood, Campus Carry, Iowa 2016

By Alana Rocha and Justin Dehn Jan. 29, 2016

In the Roundup: The people behind the undercover videos of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast in Houston face criminal charges, a University of Texas at Austin professor says he won't follow the campus carry law and Ted Cruz is exhausting his energy in Iowa ahead of Monday’s caucuses. Full Story
Roundup: Abbott Goes to Israel, Paxton's Opinion on Fantasy Sports Sites

By Alana Rocha and Justin Dehn Jan. 22, 2016

In the Roundup: The U.S. Supreme Court will consider President Obama’s controversial immigration program, Gov. Greg Abbott travels to Israel and the state’s attorney general says participation on fantasy sports sites can involve illegal gambling. Full Story
Roundup: Ted Cruz Borrows, Rick Perry Lobbies

By Alana Rocha and Justin Dehn Jan. 15, 2016

In the Roundup: Ted Cruz fails to disclose a significant 2012 campaign loan from a Wall Street firm, Rick Perry finds a new gig and Attorney General Ken Paxton launches a unit to investigate human trafficking. Full Story
Roundup: Gun Control, Sandra Bland Case, 2016

By Alana Rocha and Justin Dehn Jan. 8, 2016

In the Roundup: State leaders react to President Obama’s executive actions on gun control, a Waller County grand jury issues an indictment in the Sandra Bland case, and the presidential campaigns shift into high gear in the new year. Full Story
Video: 2016 Arrives, Officially

By Alana Rocha and Justin Dehn Jan. 6, 2016

After more than a year of nonstop punditry, predictions and stump speeches, 2016 is finally here. Texans can expect more candidate visits and more campaign ads with the state’s March 1 primary very much in play. Full Story

Credit: Ben Hasson
Texas Legislature, Cruz Top 2015 Video Coverage

By Alana Rocha and Justin Dehn Dec. 31, 2015

During the first half of 2015, the Texas Legislature and new statewide leaders dominated the headlines in Texas news. But there was plenty attention on Rick Perry, Ted Cruz and other major story lines in the later months. Full Story