Mitt Romney travels to the Lone Star State this week to collect money for his presidential campaign and tout his economic proposals.
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
U.S. Senate Runoff Draws Big Money, Heated Words
Like it did in Indiana in the defeat of Sen. Dick Lugar, the Club for Growth plans to raise millions to boost former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz in his runoff against Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.
Posted inState Government
Dewhurst, Cruz to Battle in One of Several Runoffs
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz, both GOP candidates for the U.S. Senate, will vie in one of multiple runoffs that Texas voters will decide in July.
Posted inState Government
Ding Ding: Round 4 in Miles-Edwards Showdown
Voters in HD-146 could be forgiven for having a sense of déjà vu. They truly have been here before. Two years ago. Four years ago. Six years ago. Their ballots always seem to carry the same two names: Borris Miles vs. Al Edwards.
Posted inState Government
GOP Race in New CD-36 Draws 12 Hopefuls, Including State Senator
State Sen. Mike Jackson is probably headed for a runoff in the new 36th Congressional District in southeast Texas. With 12 candidates in the GOP primary, it’s hard to predict the rest.
Posted in
State Government
Mostyn Pours Money Into Race Against Larry Taylor
Houston trial lawyer Steve Mostyn, Texas’ largest single contributor to Democrats in 2010, is pouring money into a GOP primary race, targeting state Senate hopeful Larry Taylor.
Posted inState Government
Combs, Patterson Spar Over Formula One-Related Ruling
A legal opinion on the use of state incentive money prompted a new round of sparring Friday between Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and Comptroller Susan Combs, who could face off in a 2014 race for lieutenant governor.
Posted inState Government
Rare Swing Seat Sparks Two Hot Primaries in HD-144
The race to replace state Rep. Ken Legler, R-Pasadena, in House District 144 has sparked competitive races in both the Republican and Democratic primaries.
Posted inState Government
Perry Votes for Romney, Predicts He Will Become President
Calling his primary campaign bashing of Mitt Romney water under the bridge, Gov. Rick Perry voted for the former Massachusetts governor Wednesday and predicted he would beat President Obama.
Posted inState Government
Anita Perry Joining Ann Romney at Austin Fundraiser
Ann Romney and Anita Perry are joining forces Thursday to raise money for Mitt Romney. They will both attend a fundraiser at the Austin home of golfing legend Ben Crenshaw.