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

Texas Puts the "T" in ATM

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 26, 2011

Texas is a lock for Republicans at the statewide level, from the president on down. So color the state red and stop talking about the electoral map. Talk instead about the financial primary. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Liveblog: Energy and Environment at The Texas Tribune Festival

By Ross Ramsey, Kate Galbraith and Ryan Murphy Sept. 24, 2011

We'll be liveblogging throughout the weekend from the Texas Tribune Festival's energy and environment track — which includes panels on the coming crisis over water, big oil and national security, and whether green energy is an oxymoron. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Ben Hasson
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 24, 2011

Ramshaw, Root and Philpott track the governor on the campaign trail, Tan and Dehn on high school football concussions, and Murphy and yours truly on the partisan climates of each district under redistricting maps: The best of our content from Sept. 19 to 23. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
When Second Place is the Same as Last

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 23, 2011

Nobody is required to pay attention to you just because you’re running for office. Not the news media, not the money people and not the voters. But where is the line on who’s in and who’s out? Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Cotera
Campaign Chatter

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 23, 2011

Rep. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, will run for Steve Ogden's Senate seat. Ogden isn't running, and Williamson County has become the 300-pound gorilla of that district in terms of population. Rep. Larry Gonzales, R-Round Rock, won't run. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
In the Map Rooms

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 23, 2011

The Justice Department didn't find fault (put an asterisk here) with the Senate and State Board of Education redistricting maps from Texas, but told a federal court in Washington, DC, that it thinks the maps for the congressional delegation and for the Texas House go backwards in minority representation. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune
Higher-Octane Partisans

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 23, 2011

Partisan changes in the Legislature are on ice for now. The more important game to watch is for which kinds of Republicans and Democrats are coming to Austin every two years. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Inside Intelligence: The Trouble with Immigration

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 22, 2011

Immigration issues jumped into the center ring of the presidential race, so we took the opportunity to ask our insiders how that's going to play for Gov. Rick Perry. The verdict? It depends. Full Story
The Texas Weekly Index: March Fights, November Peace

By Ross Ramsey and Ryan Murphy Sept. 21, 2011

General elections in Texas will be less competitive than ever under the redistricting maps approved by the Legislature earlier this year. The political threats to incumbents, if any, will come in primaries and not in general elections. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Ogden Won't Seek Another Term

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 20, 2011

The Texas Senate's chief budget writer — Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan — won't seek re-election, he announced this morning. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich