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Articles by Ross Ramsey
Judges deal Texans more confusion about voting by mail
If you were looking for voting-by-mail advice from the Texas Supreme Court, you're out of luck. The court ruled that the pandemic is no reason to expand voting by mail, but also that election officials don't have to check voter claims of disability. The swarm of Texas politicians snarling at one another about how to run elections turned into a lawsuit — bringing hope, maybe, that some panel of wise judges would sort things out, make things clear, save the day.
Ross Ramsey mastering the political art of the interruption
A nasty weather system swept across Texas this week, dropping tornadoes, hail, wind and rain in the central and southeast parts of the state before moving east to wreak more damage in Louisiana. The only good news was that it didn’t hurt more people or do more damage than it did. The aftermath included, as it always does, official assessments, disaster aid, people setting things back in order and government officials zipping to the hardest-hit places to offer solace and assistance.
Rural Texas hospitals still searching for a remedy
Rural Texas can be a very dangerous place to be badly injured or really sick. From 2010-20, 26 hospitals in 22 Texas communities in rural Texas closed, according to the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals, known as TORCH. The Texas institutions were folding at a faster rate than their counterparts in other parts of the country — where rural health care is also regularly described as a crisis situation.
Analysis: The political value of an interruption
Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton hosted 12 attorneys general from around the U.S. for a border security briefing at Texas DPS regional headquarters in Weslaco on Jan. 27, 2022. (Michael Gonzalez For The Texas Tribune, Michael Gonzalez For The Texas Tribune) Editor's note: If you'd like an email notice whenever we publish Ross Ramsey's column, click here. If you would like to listen to the column, click on the play button below. (Audio unavailable.
Analysis: State leaders ask Texans to trust the grid, doubt elections
By Ross Ramsey, The Texas Tribune Feb. 4, 2022 “Analysis: State leaders ask Texans to trust the grid, doubt elections” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Editor’s note: If you’d like an email notice whenever we publish Ross Ramsey’s column, click here. If you would like to listen to the column, click on the play button below.
For a few Texas politicians, a bad time for bad news Original
A political campaign can survive FBI raids, indictments of advisers and even indictments of public officials themselves, but timing is everything. The news of the past week includes the indictment of Todd Smith, a top adviser and longtime consultant to Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, a Republican. Smith is accused of soliciting bribes for hemp licenses from Miller’s agency. In Laredo, the FBI swarmed the home of U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat, as part of an unexplained investigation.
Ramsey: Texas politicians change their minds, but it helps if public goes first
Neither of the top candidates for governor of Texas wants to keep jailing people for possession of marijuana. Reefer madness has been replaced by reefer indifference. The shift at the top level of politics reflects a shift in public opinion — politicians are nothing if not sensitive to voter sentiment — and a change in popular culture that has turned the proverbial “gateway drug” into one that’s legal in 20 states and the District of Columbia and has been decriminalized in several more.
Ross Ramsey the often-convoluted thinking of Texas politicians
You might wonder why the top state leaders have supported restrictive voting legislation, ordered audits of elections they won, and passed laws that counter what most Texans think is the proper policy on abortion or guns. You might or might not like this answer: Those elected officials are doing what they think their voters expect. Not all voters. Their voters. It’s fashionable to gripe about polls, but they can expose voter sentiment and reveal, sometimes, why elected officials act the way they do.
Ross Ramsey often convoluted thinking of Texas politicians
You might wonder why the top state leaders have supported restrictive voting legislation, ordered audits of elections they won, and passed laws that counter what most Texans think is the proper policy on abortion or guns. You might or might not like this answer: Those elected officials are doing what they think their voters expect. Not all voters. Their voters. It’s fashionable to gripe about polls, but they can expose voter sentiment and reveal, sometimes, why elected officials act the way they do.
Ross Ramsey the often-convoluted thinking of Texas politicians
You might wonder why the top state leaders have supported restrictive voting legislation, ordered audits of elections they won, and passed laws that counter what most Texans think is the proper policy on abortion or guns. You might or might not like this answer: Those elected officials are doing what they think their voters expect. Not all voters. Their voters. It’s fashionable to gripe about polls, but they can expose voter sentiment and reveal, sometimes, why elected officials act the way they do.
Ross Ramsey the often-convoluted thinking of Texas politicians
You might wonder why the top state leaders have supported restrictive voting legislation, ordered audits of elections they won, and passed laws that counter what most Texans think is the proper policy on abortion or guns. You might or might not like this answer: Those elected officials are doing what they think their voters expect. Not all voters. Their voters. It’s fashionable to gripe about polls, but they can expose voter sentiment and reveal, sometimes, why elected officials act the way they do.
Analysis: A virus unfettered among the unvaccinated Original
At this time last year, we were at what was then a peak in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths, facing a pandemic that could hit every person in the state. Now, Texas and the U.S. have a different pandemic underway, one that preys heavily on people who haven’t been vaccinated.
Analysis: A virus unfettered among the unvaccinated
by Ross Ramsey, The Texas Tribune. At this time last year, we were at what was then a peak in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths, facing a pandemic that could hit every person in the state. Now, Texas and the U.S. have a different pandemic underway, one that preys heavily on people who haven’t been vaccinated.
Analysis: A virus unfettered among the unvaccinated
ANALYSIS & OPINION Texas and other states are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases, one that’s preying disproportionately on unvaccinated people. By Ross Ramsey, The Texas Tribune Posted 7/22/21 At this time last year, we were at what was then a peak in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths, facing a pandemic that could hit every person in the state.
Analysis: A majority of Texas voters isn't enough to sway a Republican state government
Texans want to legalize marijuana and don’t think everybody should be able to carry a gun without training or a license. So the state Legislature passed a “constitutional carry” bill earlier this year - and the governor signed it. And the marijuana bills that were filed in the recent regular session never came to a vote.
Gov. Greg Abbott wants Texas to be normal again
KTXS ABC Abilene and KTXE ABC San Angelo offer local and national news reporting, sports, and weather forecasts to viewers in central Texas, including Sweetwater, Winters, Ballinger, Cisco, Colorado City, Big Spring, and Grape Creek, Texas.
Joe Biden is as popular as top Republicans in Texas: poll
Overall, the president is as popular in Texas as the governor or either of the state's U.S. senators U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) (Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images) This article originally appeared on The Texas Tribune. Texas Democrats think Joe Biden is doing a good job as president, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Texas Republicans don't.
Ross Ramsey: Joe Biden as popular as top Republican officeholders in Texas, UT/TT Poll finds
Texas Democrats think Joe Biden is doing a good job as president, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Texas Republicans don’t. Overall, the president gets good grades from 44% of Texas voters and bad grades from 46% — numbers that are better or roughly the same as the state’s most popular Republican leaders.
Nearly half of all Texans support abortion ban after 6 weeks, new poll finds
by: Ross Ramsey, Texas Tribune Posted: / Updated: (Getty Images) AUSTIN ( Texas Tribune) - Texas voters have some thoughts for lawmakers on guns, policing, abortion, alcohol to go, and a variety of other issues that remain pending as the Texas Legislature enters the last month of its regular session, according to the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Immigration and border security were the most-mentioned items in an open-ended question about what the Legislature ought to be working on.
February's storm and outages united voters wanting state action, UT/TT Poll finds
"February’s storm and outages united voters wanting state action, UT/TT Poll finds" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans - and engages with them - about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
Texans remain concerned about pandemic, but they're returning to normal, UT/TT Poll finds
"Texans remain concerned about pandemic, but they’re returning to normal, UT/TT Poll finds" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans - and engages with them - about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
Texas voters sharply divided on fairness of elections and what to do about it, poll finds
"Texas voters sharply divided on the fairness of elections and what to do about it, poll finds" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans - and engages with them - about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
TEXAS ANALYSIS: Returning to normal before the Texas herd has immunity
As efforts to vaccinate Texans and keep the coronavirus spread under control continue, the state is rapidly opening up, with traffic getting busier and larger crowds in places that have seemed empty for the last year. Everything from ballparks to concert venues to restaurants are filling up. There’s a race going on, between the desire to return to a pre-pandemic normal and to get enough Texans immunized to make that a safe proposition.
Ross Ramsey: Returning to normal before the Texas herd has immunity
Ross Ramsey: Returning to normal before the Texas herd has immunity Fans fill the stands at Globe Life Field during the first inning of the Texas Rangers’ season opener April 5 in Arlington. The Rangers had the closest thing to a full stadium in professional sports since the coronavirus shutdown more than a year ago.
A Texas state budget minus $38.6 billion in federal stimulus money
The Texas Legislature’s budget writers have left more than $38 billion in federal COVID-19 relief out of the budgets they’re writing, as they try to sort through the details and the politics attached to that money. Some of the $38.
RAMSEY: Why would Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick run a race he's already won?
It’s clear that there are more people trying to get across the border between Mexico and Texas, that state officials are concerned about increases in human trafficking there and that the state’s Republican politicians are trying to pin those troubles on the country’s Democratic president. It is not at all clear that the people of Texas are more at risk of catching COVID-19 from a migrant than from anyone else they run into right now.
Texans support keeping 'Dreamers' in the U.S., poll finds
Texas voters are divided on whether undocumented immigrants in the U.S. should be immediately deported, but most said they support federal laws that bar the deportation of young people brought to this country illegally as children, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.
Texans support keeping 'Dreamers' in the US, poll finds
Texas voters are divided on whether undocumented immigrants in the U. S. should be immediately deported, but most said they support federal laws that bar the deportation of young people brought to this country illegally as children, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.
In poll, few Texas voters say they're doing better economically than they were a year ago
Fewer than 1 in 5 Texas voters say they and their families are better off than they were a year ago, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. While 18% now say they’re better off, 41% gave that answer in the February 2020 poll that was conducted before the pandemic tightened its grip on the state and the country.
COVID-19 pandemic response tops Texas voters' legislative priorities, poll finds
Responding to the coronavirus tops Texas voters’ list of priorities for the current session of the Legislature, followed by border security, jobs and the economy, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Those were the top subjects mentioned in an open-ended question - one without suggested answers - in the survey.
Texas Voters Say They Believe Vaccines Work. Some Of Them Still Won't Get A COVID-19 Shot.
Shelby Tauber for the Texas Tribune Health experts estimate 75% to 90% of Texans would need to achieve immunity to COVID-19 for the state to reach herd immunity. Most Texas voters believe vaccines are safe and effective, but 28% do not plan to get a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available to them, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. A solid majority (61%) agree that “in general ... vaccines are safe.” That includes majorities of both Democrats (74%) and Republicans (54%).
Texas voters' views shifting on abortion, pot, gambling, Confederate monuments, poll finds
The primary issues before the Texas Legislature are clear enough: the pandemic, the state’s unreliable electric grid, the budget, voting laws and police. But voters also support changes to laws around a number of high-profile secondary issues, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.
Texas voters say they believe vaccines work. Some of them still won't get a COVID-19 shot.
Most Texas voters believe vaccines are safe and effective, but 28% do not plan to get a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available to them, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. A solid majority (61%) agree that “in general ... vaccines are safe.
Texas voters say they believe vaccines work. Some of them still won’t get a COVID-19 shot
Most Texas voters believe vaccines are safe and effective, but 28% do not plan to get a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available to them, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. A solid majority (61%) agree that “in general ... vaccines are safe.” That includes majorities of both Democrats (74%) and Republicans (54%). Asked whether vaccines are generally effective, 63% said yes, including 78% of Democrats and 56% of Republicans.
Poll: Texas Voters think election results are accurate, question U.S. results
By Ross Ramsey | Texas Tribune A large majority of Texas voters think the state’s official election results are just fine, but 30% think national election results are “very inaccurate,” according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.
Texans split over whether Trump should be allowed to hold office again
by: Ross Ramsey, The Texas Tribune Posted: Feb 26, 2021 / 06:47 AM CST / Updated: Feb 26, 2021 / 06:55 AM CST (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — Texas voters are almost evenly split on the question of whether Donald Trump should be allowed to mount a comeback, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.
Voters think Texas election results are accurate--but many question US results, poll finds
A large majority of Texas voters think the state’s official election results are just fine, but 30% think national election results are “very inaccurate,” according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. While 78% of registered voters said the Texas results were either “very” or “somewhat” accurate, only 52% said the same thing about the official election results in the U.
Digital divide
Time to read 2 minutes Body When Anderson County told residents not to assemble in groups with more than 10 people, officials got some pushback from churches. County Judge Robert Johnston said that was partly because residents wanted to meet on Sundays like they always have, but it was partly because they don’t have a way to meet online. “A lot of this county has no internet service,” he said. Many jobs can’t be done from home.
Analysis: A frustrating vaccine rollout in Texas that should've been smoother
Before you know it, attention will turn from “there aren’t enough vaccines for the people who want them” to “not all of the people who ought to be vaccinated are getting their shots. ” But not yet.
Ross Ramsey: A frustrating vaccine rollout in Texas that should’ve been smoother
Before you know it, attention will turn from “there aren’t enough vaccines for the people who want them” to “not all of the people who ought to be vaccinated are getting their shots.” But not yet. Texans are struggling with a gaping mismatch between supply and demand, a jangle made much worse by the state’s decision to open eligibility to millions more people before it had millions more doses of the vaccine.
A digital divide with dire consequences for Texas
By Ross Ramsey | The Texas Tribune When Anderson County told residents not to assemble in groups with more than 10 people, officials got some pushback from churches. County Judge Robert Johnston said that was partly because residents wanted to meet on Sundays like they always have, but it was partly because they don’t have a way to meet online. “A lot of this county has no internet service,” he said. Many jobs can’t be done from home.
Analysis: COVID-19 Vaccines are Coming to Texas, Along with a Ranking of Who's Most Essential
An employee opens an ultra-cold refrigerator filled with COVID-19 vaccines at a secret storage facility in the Rhein-Main area in Germany. Photo Credit: REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski Editor’s note: If you’d like an email notice whenever we publish Ross Ramsey’s column, click here. If you would like to listen to the column, just click on the play button below. (Audio unavailable. Click here to listen on texastribune.org.) Who gets the first batch of vaccines? And the second, and the third?
Muted holidays in Texas, as pandemic threatens and vaccines raise hopes
By Ross Ramsey The Texas Tribune That moment when the idea that the pandemic would be vanquished well before the holidays was replaced, somewhere along the way, by the thought that this “new normal” would be the norm for a long, long time. The holidays are here. What we once called the “novel coronavirus” is still here, too. The dangers of spreading the disease are painfully and obviously clear, as many of us held a quiet Thanksgiving without the usual crowd of family and friends.
TEXAS ANALYSIS: Muted holidays in Texas, as pandemic threatens and vaccines raise hopes
That moment when the idea that the pandemic would be vanquished well before the holidays was replaced, somewhere along the way, by the thought that this “new normal” would be the norm for a long, long time. The holidays are here. What we once called the “novel coronavirus” is still here, too. The dangers of spreading the disease are painfully and obviously clear, as many of us prepared for a quiet Thanksgiving without the usual crowd of family and friends.
Muted holidays in Texas, as pandemic threatens and vaccines raise hopes
That moment when the idea that the pandemic would be vanquished well before the holidays was replaced, somewhere along the way, by the thought that this “new normal” would be the norm for a long, long time. The holidays are here. What we once called the “novel coronavirus” is still here, too. The dangers of spreading the disease are painfully and obviously clear, as many of us prepare for a quiet Thanksgiving without the usual crowd of family and friends.
Analysis: Texans in many border counties voted for Donald Trump — and then for Democrats
All but one of the Republicans running statewide campaigns in Texas this year beat their opponents by 8 to 11 percentage points. The one? President Donald Trump, who beat Joe Biden by 5. 8 percentage points. Statewide, Texas Republicans outperformed the leader of their ticket. In several places along the Texas border, the opposite happened.
Analysis: Texans in many border counties voted for Donald Trump — and then for Democrats
All but one of the Republicans running statewide campaigns in Texas this year beat their opponents by 8 to 11 percentage points. The one? President Donald Trump, who beat Joe Biden by 5. 8 percentage points. Statewide, Texas Republicans outperformed the leader of their ticket. In several places along the Texas border, the opposite happened.
Texas voters still fly a red political flag
Texas is not blue, but after this latest election, its Democrats are. The party’s latest effort to turn Texas its way fell short on Tuesday. Democrats got no wins in statewide races from the presidency to the high courts, and the party’s elected officials remain in the minorities of the congressional delegation, the Texas Senate and the Texas House.
RAMSEY: The 2020 election's October surprise has been with us for months
This election’s October surprise is no surprise at all. It’s the novel coronavirus, and cases are rising as people are voting. Look no further than the nation’s 22nd-largest city — El Paso — effectively shut down because of a COVID-19 surge right in the middle of early voting. It’s not necessarily that people can’t vote — they’ve been told to go ahead, with caution — but about what’s likely to be on their minds as they fill out those ballots.
Sharp partisan and racial differences mark Texan voters' view of police, UT/TT Poll finds
Most Texas voters have favorable views of the police, but those overall numbers are driven by strong support from white voters that offsets the less favorable opinions from Black and Hispanic voters, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.
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