Morgan Smith

Morgan Smith was a reporter at the Tribune from 2009 to 2018, covering politics, public education and inequality. In 2013, she received a National Education Writers Association award for “Death of a District,” a series on school closures. After earning a bachelor’s degree in English from Wellesley College, she moved to Austin in 2008 to enter law school at the University of Texas. A San Antonio native, her work has also appeared in Slate, where she spent a year as an editorial intern in Washington D.C.

Past Contributions

Charter School Serving Dropouts Fights Closure

By Morgan Smith March 17, 2014

As six charter schools face automatic closure under a new Texas law, the state is facing questions over the guidelines used to decide which schools to close. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Patterson, Staples Weigh In on Lt. Gov. Runoff

By Morgan Smith and Alana Rocha March 11, 2014

Jerry Patterson and Todd Staples offered differing takes on Tuesday on how the May runoff between their former lieutenant governor primary opponents — Dan Patrick and incumbent David Dewhurst — might turn out. Full Story

Credit: Daniel Kramer
Patrick Camp Touts Dewhurst "Walloping" In Media Call

By Morgan Smith March 7, 2014

The Dan Patrick campaign celebrated a margin of victory over incumbent David Dewhurst that they said their own pollsters did not even predict in a media phone call Friday. Full Story

Credit: Daniel Kramer / Michael Stravato
Lobbyist: Efforts Afoot to Get Candidates to Drop Out

By Morgan Smith March 7, 2014

UPDATED: An email from a lobbyist at one of the state's largest law firms suggests there may be efforts underway to persuade three second-place Republican primary finishers to withdraw from the May runoffs. Full Story

Credit: Michael Stravato
Davis Losses in Border Counties Encourage GOP

By Alexa Ura and Morgan Smith March 5, 2014

In an election year in which Hispanic voters are crucial to Democratic success, the first feud of the now-official general election gubernatorial matchup is being fueled by state Sen. Wendy Davis' primary performance on the border. Full Story

Credit: Laura Buckman
A Rundown of the Runoffs on the May 27 Ballot

By Jim Malewitz, The Texas Tribune, Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune and Reveal, and Julián Aguilar, Morgan Smith, Edgar Walters and Alexa Ura, The Texas Tribune March 5, 2014

Republican primary races for lieutenant governor and attorney general are among several that are headed for runoffs this year in Texas. Check out the list of races that are set for the May 27 runoff ballot. Full Story

Credit: Michael Stravato / Callie Richmond / Daniel Kramer
Patrick, Dewhurst Head to Runoff in Lt. Gov. Race

By Morgan Smith March 4, 2014

Tuesday's GOP primary brought disappointing results for Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who finished second to Republican primary challenger Dan Patrick. The two will head to a May runoff. Full Story

Credit: Daniel Kramer / Michael Stravato
Jasper Reaches $831,000 Settlement With Fired Police Chief

By Morgan Smith Feb. 28, 2014

The East Texas town of Jasper has reached an $831,000 settlement in the federal discrimination lawsuit brought by its first black police chief after his 2012 firing. Full Story

Credit: Scott Dalton
Staples Campaign Ads Hit Patrick on Illegal Worker Reports

By Morgan Smith Feb. 26, 2014

Todd Staples' campaign began airing TV and radio ads Tuesday attacking fellow GOP lieutenant governor hopeful Dan Patrick over reports that illegal immigrants were hired to work at sports bars that Patrick owned in the 1980s. Full Story
In Month Before Primary Day, Dewhurst Spends The Most

By Morgan Smith Feb. 25, 2014

A week before the March primary, all Republican candidates for lieutenant governor except Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples have dipped into personal financial resources to fill their coffers. Full Story

Credit: Mark Graham