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

A Runoff Ahead, and Three Amendments Fail

By Brandi Grissom, Ross Ramsey and Lara Lapin Nov. 8, 2011

Lawmakers approved 10 changes to the Constitution during the legislative session, and the few voters who turned out approved all but three of them. Full Story

Credit: Jason Brackins
Federal Judges Will Draw New Political Maps for Texas

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 8, 2011

Next year's congressional and legislative elections in Texas will probably be conducted using political maps drawn by federal judges instead of those drawn by lawmakers. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Updated: Ames Jones to Challenge Wentworth

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 7, 2011

Railroad Commission Chairwoman Elizabeth Ames Jones will end her campaign for the U.S. Senate to run instead for the Texas Senate against incumbent Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio. Full Story
Inside Intelligence: The Big Issue Facing Texas Is...

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 7, 2011

In our nonscientific survey of the state's governmental and political insiders, we asked about big problems, immigration, the death penalty, public education and whether Texans would vote for a Mormon if they agreed with that candidate on issues. Full Story
Lawsuit Gives Cover to Texas Lawmakers

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 7, 2011

Judges have been telling legislators what to do since we set up government to replace knife fights and bar brawls. And legislators use the courts to make them do unpopular but necessary things that voters don't like. School finance, for instance. Full Story
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 5, 2011

The latest UT/TT Poll on the 2012 race and other issues, Root on Herman Cain's stumble, Ramshaw and Titus on Texas Republicans who don't support Perry, Murphy maps presidential fundraising in Texas, Philpott on changing the constitution for parks and education, Hamilton on a case of higher ed separation anxiety, Grissom on the state's breakup with a death penalty witness, Galbraith on a congressman's search for a big leak, Aguilar on the Border Patrol's effort to operate in environmentally protected areas and Aaronson on a dramatic drop in government employment in Texas: The best of our best content from October 31 to November 4, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Forget Who Dropped the Dime, It's Still News

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 4, 2011

Surprised that a candidate moved to the front and got hit in the back of the head with a brown envelope full of damning information about his past — information a reasonable voter would want to know when choosing a president? Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Gage Skidmore / Todd Wiseman
UT/TT Poll: Economy, Immigration Top Voter Concerns

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 4, 2011

Texas voters think the economy is the biggest problem facing the country but immigration is the most pressing issue facing the state, according to the new University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll. Full Story
Flying the Flag

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 4, 2011

Early voting is underway and has been since October 24, but it's not easy to prove it. Full Story

Credit: Erik Hersman
You Can't Go Home Again

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 4, 2011

U.S. Rep. Mike McCaul's decision not to run for the U.S. Senate means he won't be testing one of the truisms of Texas politics: A seat in the Texas congressional delegation is a lousy launching pad for statewide office. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich