Keynote | The Texas Tribune Festival

AT&T Center Salon C

Friday, 6:00 PM

One on One with U.S. Senator Ted Cruz

The Festival kicks off on Friday evening with a conversation between U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and the Tribune's co-founder and editor-in-chief Evan Smith. Cruz is serving his first term in Congress and is vice chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. One of the most outspoken members of the Senate, Cruz will discuss Texas' role in nationwide politics.

Ted Cruz

@tedcruz

U.S. Senator

Evan Smith (mod.)

@evanasmith

Editor-in-chief and CEO, The Texas Tribune

AT&T Center Salon C

Saturday, 8:30 AM

One on One with Speaker Joe Straus

Joe Straus

@SpeakerStraus

Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives

Jay Root (mod.)

@byjayroot

Reporter, The Texas Tribune

AT&T Center Salon C

Saturday, 9:50 AM

And the Next Attorney General of Texas Will Be…

Dan Branch

@texansfordan

State Representative; 2014 Candidate for Attorney General

Ken Paxton

@SenKenPaxton

State Senator; 2014 Candidate for Attorney General

Barry Smitherman

@SmithermanTX

Chairman, Texas Railroad Commission; 2014 Candidate for Attorney General

Reeve Hamilton (mod.)

@reevehamilton

Reporter, The Texas Tribune

AT&T Center Salon C

Saturday, 11:10 AM

One on One with First Lady Anita Perry

Anita Perry

@firstladyperry

First Lady of Texas

Evan Smith (mod.)

@evanasmith

Editor-in-chief and CEO, The Texas Tribune

AT&T Center Salon C

Saturday, 1:45 PM

One on One with Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst

David Dewhurst

@davidhdewhurst

Lieutenant Governor

Ross Ramsey (mod.)

@rossramsey

Executive Editor, The Texas Tribune

AT&T Center Salon C

Saturday, 3:05 PM

Texas in 2050: It's All Over for the Anglos

Steve Murdock

Former State Demographer; Former Director of the U.S. Census Bureau

AT&T Center Salon C

Saturday, 4:25 PM

What Does The Tea Party Want?

Dick Armey

@DickArmey

Former U.S. House Majority Leader

JoAnn Fleming

@teaparty_911

Executive Director, Grassroots America

Matt Krause

@RepMattKrause

State Representative

Julie McCarty

@NETarrantTea

President, NE Tarrant Tea Party

Debra Medina

@WeTexans

Executive Director, We Texans

Jonathan Stickland

@RepStickland

State Representative

Evan Smith (mod.)

@evanasmith

Editor-in-chief and CEO, The Texas Tribune

AT&T Center Salon C

Sunday, 9:15 AM

Turning Texas Blue

One of the final sessions of the weekend, this panel will discuss the prospects of a Democratic comeback in Texas.

Jeremy Bird

@jeremybird

Senior Adviser, Battleground Texas

Pete Gallego

@RepPeteGallego

U.S. Representative

Leticia Van de Putte

@leticiavdp

State Senator; Chairwoman of the Veterans Affairs and Military Installations Committee

Bill White

Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy; Former Houston Mayor; 2010 Democratic Nominee for Texas Governor

Evan Smith (mod.)

@evanasmith

Editor-in-chief and CEO, The Texas Tribune

AT&T Center Salon C

Sunday, 10:30 AM

One on One with State Senator Wendy Davis

In the Festival's last act, state senator and Democratic rising star Wendy Davis will participate in a conversation with the Tribune's CEO and editor-in-chief Evan Smith.