As Democratic victories in races across the nation left Republicans with several questions, Texas Republicans enjoyed another statewide sweep.
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 inState Government
Perry Keeps 2016 Door Open, Offers Advice to GOP
About two days after his onetime rival Mitt Romney lost his bid for the White House, Gov. Rick Perry said he is keeping his options open for 2016. But he added that 2016 is “multiple lifetimes away.”
Posted inState Government
Cruz Easily Tops Sadler to Win U.S. Senate Race
Ted Cruz, a Harvard-educated lawyer and Tea Party icon, easily won the U.S. Senate race Tuesday night, becoming the first Hispanic from Texas to land the job.
Posted inState Government
Cruz Poised for Big Win as Election Day Arrives
Barring a shocking upset, Ted Cruz will be elected U.S. senator Tuesday night, and former state Rep. Paul Sadler will join a long line of Texas Democrats who have failed to break the GOP stranglehold on statewide politics.
Posted in
Economy
F1 Drivers to Start Their Engines in Unlikely Spot
Austin will be the epicenter of the auto racing world this month when its new, $400 million track — the Circuit of the Americas — hosts the first Formula One race in the United States since 2007.
Posted inState Government
More Than $5 Million In Outside Money In CD-23
Voters in Congressional District 23 are getting a taste of what folks in swing states are seeing in the presidential contest: a real nailbiter of a race. Each side claims it’s winning, but the amount of money and the tenor of the attack ads suggest the race is a tossup.
Posted inState Government
Slurs, Fists Fly Over Obama Signs in Lubbock
The Texas Democratic Party in Lubbock County has released a video showing several young men in an altercation with one of its volunteers and yelling racially derogatory remarks at the volunteer, who was looking out for vandals targeting signs for President Obama.
Posted inState Government
CD-23 Candidates May Not Hold Debate in English
Republican U.S. Rep. Francisco “Quico” Canseco and his Democratic challenger, state Rep. Pete Gallego, debated once in Spanish a month ago. Since then they haven’t appeared on stage together, and time is running out.
Posted inState Government
Heated Battle in CD-23 Getting Lots of Attention
Texas Republicans are used to playing offense — and winning. But in the sprawling 23rd Congressional District, in which U.S. Rep. Francisco “Quico” Canseco is being challenged by state Rep. Pete Gallego, they have a fight on their hands.
Posted inState Government
Bill Clinton to Stump for Gallego in San Antonio
Former President Bill Clinton is coming to Texas this week to stump for state Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Francisco “Quico” Canseco, R-San Antonio, the Gallego campaign has announced.