Evan Smith

Evan Smith is a co-founder and senior adviser at The Texas Tribune, where he served as CEO from 2009 to 2022. He’s also a senior adviser at Emerson Collective, where he works closely with the leadership teams of nonprofit news organizations around the country. Previously he spent nearly 18 years at Texas Monthly, stepping down in August 2009 as the magazine’s president and editor in chief. Evan is also the host of “Overheard with Evan Smith,” a weekly half-hour interview program that airs on PBS stations around the country. A native of New York, he is a graduate of Hamilton College and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

Past Contributions

Wallace Jefferson on Why We Shouldn't Elect Judges

By Evan Smith Dec. 9, 2009

The Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court on the trouble with asking voters — and donors — to decide who sits on the bench. Full Story

Credit: Texas Politics Project screengrab
Wallace Jefferson on That Exxon Case

By Evan Smith Dec. 8, 2009

The Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court on the not-quite-settled case that has everyone talking: Exxon v. Emerald, or, as you might prefer to think of it (we do), the biggest oil and gas company on earth vs. one of the state's most mythic ranching families. Full Story
Video: On Being a Black Republican

By Evan Smith Dec. 7, 2009

Wallace Jefferson, the chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court, on what race has to do with politics, why he's a member of the GOP, and whether the party has been sufficiently hospitable to African Americans. Full Story

Credit: Texas Politics Project screengrab
On Being a Black Republican

By Evan Smith Dec. 7, 2009

Wallace Jefferson, the chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court, on what race has to do with politics, why he's a member of his party, and whether the GOP has been sufficiently hospitable to African Americans. Full Story
2010: Dan Patrick Staying Put, Endorsing Combs

By Evan Smith Dec. 4, 2009

Forget what I said on this week's TribCast, parroting the chatter around the Capitol: The state senator from Houston is not considering a primary challenge to his fellow Republican, Comptroller of Public Accounts Susan Combs. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
2010: Is it Safe?

By Evan Smith Dec. 3, 2009

How many Texas congressional seats are competitive enough to merit a mention? Three, according to sayer of sooth Charlie Cook. Full Story
2010: The Times Mag on Rick vs. Kay

By Evan Smith Dec. 2, 2009

Robert Draper's long-awaited piece on the Republican primary is sure to be the talk of our little world. Full Story

Credit: Dan Winters for The New York Times
T-Squared: Poll Position

By Evan Smith Dec. 2, 2009

The collaboration of the big five newspapers on polling in the 2010 election cycle is good news for Texas. Full Story
T-Squared: The Month of Living Dangerously

By Evan Smith Dec. 1, 2009

Four weeks into this thing, we're well beyond where we thought we'd be. And we're just getting started. Full Story
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Evan Smith Nov. 28, 2009

Ramsey and others on Bill White and the changing state of the race for governor; Thevenot's two-parter on what Dallas churches are doing to combat social ills and racial division; Ramshaw on the use of force by school district police departments (and why parents don't know about it); Grissom's two-parter, abetted by Stiles, on unregulated payday lenders; Aguilar on Mexican immigrants who play against type; and Rapoport on those missing extra checks for retired public employees. The best of the best from November 21 to 25, 2009. Full Story