Ross Ramsey

Ross Ramsey co-founded The Texas Tribune in 2009 and served as its executive editor until his retirement in 2022. He wrote regular columns on politics, government and public policy. Before joining the Tribune, he was editor and co-owner of Texas Weekly. He did a 28-month stint in government with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Before that, he reported for the Houston Chronicle, the Dallas Times Herald, as a Dallas-based freelancer for regional and national magazines and newspapers, and for radio stations in Denton and Dallas.

Latest Contributions

Analysis: A Name, But No Reputation

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 25, 2015

Change is hard, as the state's new land commissioner, George P. Bush, is finding out. It will take a while to find out whether it's necessary at the agency he took over in January. Full Story

Credit: Julia Robinson
Analysis: More Voices on State Business, and Perhaps, More Headaches

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 24, 2015

Allowing more people to register their opinions on issues before state legislators is technologically easy. But is it really something legislators want to do? Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Analysis: When "We" Doesn't Include You

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 23, 2015

When you read a letter from Texas Railroad Commission Chairman David Porter, there is a chance he wrote it. And there is a chance it was written by someone in the oil and gas industry he's supposed to be regulating. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Analysis: Citizen Feedback, Without the Road Trip to Austin

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 18, 2015

After a committee confrontation and a state police investigation, there's still a question about allowing people who aren't in the Capitol to register their support or opposition to legislation: Why not? Full Story
Analysis: In This Case, Perry's Blame is Misplaced

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 15, 2015

Rick Perry is starting to offer his own autopsy report on the death of his latest presidential campaign, hoping to pin that outcome on somebody else. But the preponderance of the evidence points to the former governor himself. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Analysis: A Political Summons That Doesn't Get an Answer

By Ross Ramsey Aug. 31, 2015

When political people stumble, the opposition usually pounces. But that only happens when the opposition is ready. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Analysis: Reasserting Power, by Working to Concentrate It

By Ross Ramsey Aug. 26, 2015

An open-seat endorsement from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick could strengthen a conservative core in the Texas Senate, and with it Patrick's position in the Legislature and the Legislature's position in state government. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Analysis: Texas Election Managers Are Partying Like It's 2012

By Ross Ramsey Aug. 25, 2015

Federal judges are deciding two major Texas election law cases. One in particular — over the political maps for state House and congressional districts — has officials thinking about 2012, when the courts delayed the primary elections. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Lt. Gov. Patrick Endorses Hughes in Open Senate Seat

By Ross Ramsey Aug. 25, 2015

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who initially planned to stay away from endorsements in Republican primaries, said Tuesday he is backing state Rep. Bryan Hughes of Mineola in the Republican primary race to replace state Sen. Kevin Eltife of Tyler. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Patrick Endorses Six GOP Senators for Re-Election, Changing Course

By Ross Ramsey Aug. 21, 2015

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, abandoning a decision to stay out of legislative primaries, endorsed a half-dozen Republican senators for re-election on Friday, saying he changed his mind because he wants his incumbent senators back for another session. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera