If Attorney General Greg Abbott wins the governor’s race without a battle, he could claim a bit of Texas election history. Open races for governor are almost always a lot more competitive than this one is shaping up to be.
Jay Root
Jay Root is an award-winning journalist who reported for the Tribune from 2011 to 2020. He covered the dramatic collapse of Gov. Rick Perry’s 2012 presidential campaign and went on to write an ebook about it called “Oops! A Diary from the 2012 Campaign Trail.” Root also broke the story that put the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, on the path toward criminal indictment, co-wrote an exposé that brought an end to privately funded prosecutions in Travis County, and authored a series of watchdog articles that prompted a wave of firings and resignations at two major state agencies.
In 2017, Root co-directed “Beyond The Wall,” a film exploring border politics in the age of Trump, which won a national Edward R. Murrow award for best news documentary. Root’s latest film, “Border Hustle,” was released in early 2019 and reveals how desperate migrants have become cash cows on both sides of the border.
Previously, for a dozen years, Root was Austin bureau chief of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where he chronicled the rise of then-Gov. George W. Bush, wrote about cartel violence in Mexico and covered Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. During a three-year stint at the Associated Press, Root was twice named AP Staff Reporter of the Year for his watchdog reporting, including a story that sparked felony charges against a sitting state representative.
Posted in
Politics
Dewhurst Campaign Owes Vendors Nearly $1 Million
It’s been more than a year since Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst lost his bid to become a U.S. senator, but his campaign still owes consultants and vendors nearly $1 million, Federal Election Commission records show.
Posted in
State Government
Kathy Walt Returns to Team Perry
Kathy Walt is returning to the Capitol to become Gov. Rick Perry’s chief of staff, the governor’s office announced Monday.
Posted in
State Government
Abbott Detours Around Government Shutdown
Attorney General Greg Abbott said Thursday he would never give up the fight against Obamacare, but the gubernatorial candidate declined to embrace a temporary shut-down of the federal government promoted by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
Posted in
Politics
Davis Remarks Fuel Democrats’ Excitement
Remarks Sen. Wendy Davis made Monday are fueling speculation that she’s going to run for governor, giving Democrats renewed hope in GOP-ruled Texas. But breaking a 20-year losing streak won’t be easy.
Posted inState Government
Abbott Faces Questions on Settlement and His Advocacy of Tort Laws
Since Greg Abbott received a settlement following his 1984 accident, lawmakers have erected hurdles for lawsuits in personal injury cases. There is disagreement about whether Abbott could get a similar settlement now.
Posted inState Government
For the First Time, Abbott Discusses Details of His Lawsuit Settlement
Attorney General Greg Abbott, the front-running candidate for Texas governor, on Thursday opened up for the first time about the legal settlement that guarantees him a six-figure yearly income for the rest of his life.
Posted inPolitics, State Government
Slideshow: Abbott Tours State After Launching Bid
After announcing his candidacy for governor in San Antonio on Sunday, Attorney General Greg Abbott began a tour that is scheduled to have him cover 10 cities over five days. This slideshow looks at some of the stops he has made so far.
Posted in
Politics
Slideshow: Abbott Launches Campaign for Governor
After announcing his candidacy for governor in San Antonio on Sunday, Attorney General Greg Abbott began a tour that is scheduled to have him cover 10 cities over five days. This slideshow looks at the stops he has made so far.
Posted in
Politics
Carefully, Abbott Puts a Little Distance Between Himself and Perry
Attorney General Greg Abbott is disputing claims that he had a deal not to run against Gov. Rick Perry and has begun, in carefully chosen language, to put a little distance between himself and the man he means to replace.
