2017 Speakers

Abramson is an author and senior lecturer at Harvard University. She served as executive editor of the Times from 2011 to 2015 and was the first woman to serve as executive editor, managing editor and Washington Bureau Chief. Previously, Abramson served as deputy Washington bureau chief and as an investigative reporter covering money and politics for the Wall Street Journal.

Adler has served as mayor since 2015. He has represented Austin in the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda, a network of 294 U.S. mayors focused on addressing climate change at the local level, and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, a similar international effort by 90 major cities. Adler previously practiced civil rights law and sat on the board of the Austin Ballet and The Texas Tribune.

Anchia, D-Dallas, has represented House District 103 since 2005. He serves as chairman of the House International Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee and sits on the Pensions Committee and the House Select Committee on State & Federal Power & Responsibility. Anchia also serves as chairman of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus and is a managing partner of Civitas Capital, a private equity firm.

Aronson-Rath has served as executive producer of FRONTLINE since 2015. She first joined FRONTLINE in 2007 as a senior producer and was later named deputy executive producer. Aronson-Rath has produced several FRONTLINE documentaries, including "News War," "Law & Disorder," and "Post Mortem." She has also worked for ABC News, The Wall Street Journal, and MSNBC.

Balz has contributed to the Post’s political coverage as both a reporter and editor since joining the paper in 1978, receiving the Robin Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting and the Gerald R. Ford Award for coverage of the presidency. Balz is also a regular panelist on PBS’ Washington Week and other public affairs programs.

Bass has served as executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation since 2016. Previously, he held numerous roles at TxDOT including chief financial officer, finance division director, budget analyst in the Budget and Forecasting Section and accounting clerk in the Finance Division’s Revenue Accounting Section. Bass began his career at TxDOT in 1985.

Bell is the publisher of Vox Media and co-founder of Vox.com. She leads Vox Media's Growth and Development team, which is responsible for brand expansion, developing audience-focused content plans, and engaging in innovative storytelling. Previously, Bell oversaw digital platforms at The Washington Post and helped launch Mint, a Wall Street Journal subsidiary in India.

Biedermann, R-Fredericksburg, has represented House District 73 since 2017. He sits on the House County Affairs and Juvenile Justice & Family Issues committees. In addition to serving in the Legislature, Biedermann also owns and operates Biedermann’s Ace Hardware in Fredericksburg.

Bouie is chief political correspondent for Slate Magazine and a political analyst for CBS News, where he covers elections, campaigns and national affairs. His work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New Yorker, The Nation, and other national publications. Prior to joining Slate, Bouie was a staff writer at The Daily Beast and a writing fellow at The American Prospect magazine.

Branch represented Texas House District 108 from 2003 to 2015. He ran for Texas attorney general in 2014. During his legislative tenure, Branch served as chairman of the House Higher Education Committee and was the author of the “Tier One Universities” bill, which incentivized emerging Texas colleges to compete for funding to become nationally recognized research universities.

Brazile is a veteran Democratic political strategist and served as interim chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee in 2016. She became the first African-American to manage a presidential campaign in 2000 after working on several Democratic campaigns since 1976. Brazile has been a regular contributor for several news outlets and is founder and managing director of Brazile & Associates, a consulting, advocacy and training firm.

Brinkley is a professor of history and Baker Institute fellow at Rice University, presidential historian for CNN and a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and Audubon. He is the author of several award-winning books, including "The Great Deluge" and "Cronkite." Brinkley also served as editor of "The Reagan Diaries."

Bruun has served on the Texas Water Development board since 2013 and was named chairman in 2015 by Gov. Greg Abbott. He also serves as the board’s designated appointee to the Texas Environmental Flows Advisory Group and the Western States Water Council. Additionally, Bruun serves as an ex-officio member of the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Council.

Bullock was first elected to serve as Montana’s governor in 2012, and was re-elected in 2016 after defeating Republican Greg Gianforte. Previously, he served as the state’s attorney general and as an adjunct professor at the George Washington University Law School. Bullock also worked as an attorney in private practice for Steptoe & Johnson.

Burkett, R-Sunnyvale, has represented House District 113 since 2011. She chairs the House Redistricting Committee and sits on the Transportation, Local & Consent Calendars, and Public Health committees. Burkett previously served as a legislative aide and deputy regional director to former state Sen. Bob Deuell. She is also the president and co-owner of Highline Enterprises.

Burruss joined Metrocare Services, Dallas’ largest nonprofit provider of mental health and developmental disability services, in 2013. Prior to joining Metrocare, he served as executive medical director for affiliates and as associate professor of psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Burruss also served as chief of psychiatry at Ben Taub General Hospital in Houston.

Bush was elected Texas land commissioner in 2014. He is also chairman of the Texas Veterans Land Board, where he oversees the administration of veterans benefits and housing loans. Previously, Bush served as an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, co-founded an investment firm focused on oil and gas transactions, and worked as a lawyer and public school teacher.

Buttigieg has served as mayor of South Bend since 2012. He is president of the Indiana Urban Mayors Caucus and was a candidate for chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 2017. Buttigieg is also a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserve and took a leave of absence for a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan in 2014.

Capriglione, R-Southlake, has represented House District 98 since 2013. He serves as vice chairman of the House Government Transparency & Operation Committee and sits on the Appropriations, Local & Consent Calendars, and General Investigating & Ethics committees. He also chairs the Subcommittee on Budget Transparency and Reform. Additionally, Capriglione is president of Texas Adventure Capital LLC, which provides management services to small businesses.

Castro, D-San Antonio, was first elected in 2012 to represent Texas’ Congressional District 20. He serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. In 2013, Castro was elected president of the freshman Democratic class. Previously, Castro served for 10 years in the Texas Legislature.

Chambers has led Alief ISD since 2011. As superintendent, he has played an active role in education legislation, helping the Texas House develop House Bill 5 in 2013, which revamped the state’s curriculum and graduation requirements. Chambers also helped the House develop HB 22 in 2017, which reformed the state’s A-F school rating system.

Chesney serves on the faculty of the University of Texas School of Law and is director of the Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law. He is also a faculty member at the LBJ School of Public Affairs. His work focuses on U.S. national security policies and institutions. Chesney is a co-founder and contributor to the national security blog Lawfare and is a senior editor for the Journal of National Security Law & Policy.

Cillizza joined CNN in 2017, where he covers national politics including the White House and Congress and is founder of CNN Politics’ daily news analysis, The Point with Chris Cillizza. Previously, Cillizza spent a decade at The Washington Post, where he founded The Fix, a daily political blog, and was a political contributor for MSNBC.

Coleman, D-Houston, has represented House District 147 since 1992. He serves as chairman of the House County Affairs Committee and sits on the Public Health Committee. In the 85th Legislative Session, Coleman authored the House version of the Sandra Bland Act, requiring more training for jailers on mental health issues of prisoners.

Colloff joined ProPublica and the Times in March 2017 after serving as an executive editor and staff writer for Texas Monthly. At Texas Monthly, she earned a National Magazine Award in Feature Writing for her 2012 story, "The Innocent Man." Colloff was awarded the Louis M. Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism by the Nieman Foundation in 2014.

Cooke is the editor of National Review Online. His work focuses on Anglo-American history, British liberty, free speech, the Second Amendment and American exceptionalism. Cooke co-hosts the "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" podcast and is a regular guest on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher." He has also written for the New York Times, The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times.

Cortez advises Mayor Adler on transportation, land use and workforce development policy. He previously served as community involvement manager for Capital Metro and on the City of Austin Planning Commission. Cortez has served on the board for the Center for Public Policy Priorities and as a member of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees.

Cox is a political columnist and culture critic. She conducts the “Talk” interviews featured in The New York Times Magazine. Since starting the political blog Wonkette in 2004, she has contributed to a variety of outlets, including Time magazine, GQ and The Guardian. Previously, Cox was a senior political correspondent at MTV News and an editor at Mother Jones.

Cruz, R-Texas, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012 and ran as a Republican candidate for president in 2016. He serves on the Senate Judiciary, Rules & Administration, Armed Services, and Commerce, Science & Transportation committees. Previously, Cruz served as solicitor general of Texas and worked as a top litigator for Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.

Curtis is editor at large for The Ringer, a website covering sports, technology and pop culture. Previously, he served as a national correspondent at Newsweek and The Daily Beast, and was a columnist at Play, the New York Times’ sports magazine, as well as Slate and Texas Monthly. Curtis’ work has also appeared in Grantland, The New York Time Magazine and GQ.

Cabeza de Vaca has served as the governor of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, which borders Texas from Webb County to Brownsville, since 2016. He previously served as mayor of Reynosa, a border city across from Hidalgo, Texas, and as a federal senator. As governor, Cabeza de Vaca has advocated for greater cooperation between Texas and Tamaulipas.

Dowd serves as chief political analyst for ABC News and is the founder of Paradox Capital, a social impact venture fund. Previously, he served as chief political strategist to former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006 and President George W. Bush in 2004. Most recently, Dowd is author of A New Way: Embracing the Paradox as We Lead and Serve.

Duran has served in the Colorado House of Representatives since 2010 and was elected speaker in 2016. She represents House District 5 in Central Denver and served as the House Majority Leader in the 2015 and 2016 legislative sessions. Duran is the recipient of the 2016 Emily’s List Rising Star Award.

Eavenson has served as sheriff of Rockwall County since 2001. Prior to his election, he founded and managed Harold Eavenson & Associates, a consulting firm and investigative company. Eavenson also spent 8 years as director of security for InterFirst Bank Dallas, where he oversaw the bank’s security program and coordinated its executive protection program.

Escobar is currently serving her second term as El Paso County judge. Previously, she served as county commissioner for Precinct 2 and as a member of numerous boards and commissions in El Paso, where she focused on border policy, education and youth leadership development. In August, Escorbar announced her candidacy for Texas' 16th Congressional District.

Fahrenthold has been with The Post since 2000. Most recently, he was awarded a 2017 Pulitzer Prize in National Reporting for his coverage of Donald Trump, the Trump family and their business interests. Previously, Fahrenthold served as the Post’s New England correspondent and covered environmental issues, federal bureaucracy, Congress and the D.C. police.

Flores has led Round Rock ISD as superintendent since 2013. Previously, he served as superintendent of Harlingen CISD and as assistant superintendent for both Pflugerville ISD and Round Rock ISD. Flores also worked as executive assistant for special projects for the Texas Association of School Administrators.

Fowler heads Texas Appleseed, a nonprofit that focuses on promoting social and economic justice for all Texans. She is a nationally recognized expert in school discipline and juvenile justice issues, having authored three major reports on the school-to-prison pipeline in Texas. Previously, Fowler served as Texas Appleseed’s deputy director and has worked as a judicial clerk and supervising attorney.

Frank, R-Wichita Falls, has represented House District 69 since 2013. He serves as vice chairman of the House Human Services Committee and sits on the Local & Consent Calendars and Natural Resources committees. In the 85th legislative session, Frank sponsored House Bill 5 and House Bill 6 to reform Child Protective Services and its parent agency, the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Garza served as the U.S. ambassador to Mexico from 2002 to 2009. Before his appointment, he served as the Texas secretary of state and as chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission. He is currently counsel in the Mexico City office of White and Case and chairman of Vianovo Ventures, a management consulting firm specializing in cross-border business development.

Gilmer co-founded Drillinginfo in 1999 and currently serves as executive chairman. In 2016, he was elected chairman of the Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association, one of the largest oil and natural gas groups in the United States. Previously, Gilmer worked as an independent oilman and later joined Marathon Oil as a geophysicist working in research, seismic acquisitions and South American exploration.

Gold has been a reporter in Texas for The Wall Street Journal since 2000. He covers fracking and the U.S. energy industry and is the author of the book The Boom: How Fracking Ignited the American Energy Revolution and Changed the World. Gold has previously worked for the San Antonio Express-News and The Philadelphia Inquirer.

González, D-Clint, has represented House District 75 since 2013. She serves as vice chairwoman of the House Agriculture & Livestock Committee and sits on the Appropriations Committee. Previously, González worked for state Reps. Paul Moreno and Richard Peña Raymond, at the National Hispanic Institute and as the assistant dean for student multicultural affairs at Southwestern University.

Groves leads a team of policy analysts at the CPPP specializing in education and economics. He is a former Senior Policy Analyst for the National Governors Association, focusing on workforce, post-secondary education and economic development policies. Groves also worked for the Office of Policy Development and Research at the U.S. Department of Labor and oversaw the evaluation of education and training programs.

Haberman was a columnist and correspondent for The New York Times from 1977 to 2014. He served as The Times’ foreign correspondent for 13 years, reporting from Tokyo, Rome and Jerusalem. Haberman returned to New York in 1995, where he wrote the popular NYC Column until 2011.

Hall joined Texas Monthly in 1997, where he has won two Texas Gavel Awards from the State Bar of Texas and three Stephen Philbin Awards from the Dallas Bar Association. He has written for Trouser Press, Third Coast Magazine, the Austin American-Statesman, and the Austin Chronicle. Hall was named the City and Regional Magazine Association's Writer of the Year in 2015.

Hamby first joined Snapchat as head of news in 2015. He is the host of Good Luck America, Snapchat’s self-produced political news show, which launched in 2016. Before joining Snapchat, Hamby was a national political reporter for CNN and was a fellow at the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University.

Hebner leads the Center for Electromechanics at UT-Austin, which develops advanced technology in the areas of power and energy. Previously, he served as acting director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Hebner also worked in the Office of Management and Budget to prepare technology portions of the Bush Administration’s 1990 budget.

Heffernan is a journalist, critic and author. In addition to co-hosting Slate's Trumpcast, she serves as a contributing editor at Politico and a columnist at FastCompany. Heffernan wrote "The Medium," a weekly column about internet culture for The New York Times, from 2008 to 2012 after spending four years at The Times as a television critic.

Hegar is a retired Air Force officer and recipient of the Purple Heart. In 2012, she successfully sued the Department of Defense to repeal the Ground Combat Exclusion Policy, which prevented women from serving in combat positions. Hegar is the author of the bestselling memoir Shoot Like a Girl and is a Democratic candidate for Texas Congressional District 31.

Henson directs the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin. He is a founder and co-director of the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll, the only open-source statewide survey of public opinion in Texas. Henson is also the co-author of a Texas politics web-based textbook used at several universities throughout the state.

Hicks is a frequent writer and lecturer on U.S. foreign policy; national security strategy, forces and budget; and strategic futures. Previously, she served in the U.S. Department of Defense as principal deputy undersecretary for policy, where she assisted in the development and oversight of global and regional defense policy, strategy and operations.

Hinojosa, D-McAllen, has represented Senate District 20 since 2003. He serves as vice chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and is a member of the Sunset Advisory Commission. He also serves on the Transportation, Natural Resources & Economic Development, and Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs committees. Previously, Hinojosa served in the Texas House and in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.

Hinojosa, D-Austin, is in her first term representing House District 49. She sits on the House Economic & Small Business Development, Homeland Security & Public Safety, and Administration committees. Previously, Hinojosa served on the Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees and practiced law, specializing in workforce discrimination and wage theft.

Hollier is a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Texas Children’s Hospital, where she specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases during pregnancy. She also serves as chairwoman of Texas’ Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force, which studies cases of pregnancy-related deaths and makes policy recommendations to reduce maternal morbidity.

Howard, D-Austin, has represented House District 48 since 2006. She serves as vice chairwoman of the Calendars Committee and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Budget Transparency & Reform. She also sits on the Administration, Higher Education and Appropriations committees. Howard also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Article III, which handles education funding.

Huberty, R-Houston, has represented House District 127 since 2011. He serves as chairman of the House Public Education Committee and sits on the Pensions Committee. In the 85th regular legislative session, Huberty helped carry House Bill 21, which aimed to overhaul the state’s school finance system. Previously, he served as president of the Humble ISD school board.

Huffines, R-Dallas, has represented Senate District 16 since 2015. He serves as vice chairman of the Senate Veteran Affairs & Border Security Committee and sits on the Administration, Education, Intergovernmental Relations, and Natural Resources & Economic Development committees. Huffines is the co-founder of the Huffines Communities, a real estate land development company.

Hull has led Grand Prairie ISD since 2007. She has been an educator for 37 years, serving as a superintendent for more than two decades and in five school districts. In 2005, she was named Texas Superintendent of the Year. Hull was appointed to the State Board of Educator Certification in 2015 by Gov. Greg Abbott.

Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, has represented House District 45 since 2011. He sits on the House Energy Resources and Urban Affairs committees. Isaac has been active in water regulation legislation, sponsoring Senate Bill 1198 in the 85th Legislative Session, which converted the Hays water agency into a water authority. Isaac is the founder of the Hill Country Caucus in the House.

Jenkins has served as County Judge since 2011. Previously, he served as a lawyer on President Obama’s 2008 campaign and a former clerk with the Texas Supreme Court. Jenkins is the President of Jenkins & Jenkins, his Dallas-based law firm. Jenkins is also a member of the Dallas Criminal Justice Advisory Board Executive Committee.

Jones is co-founder and executive director of The Afiya Center, which focuses on reproductive health access for black women. She is a member of the Texas Equal Access Fund Board of Directors and serves on several national boards. Jones is also a steering member of the National Women AIDS Coalition and co-chair of the Texas Black Women Initiative’s Dallas Team.

Kerger has served as President and CEO of PBS since 2006, overseeing nearly 350 member stations. During her tenure, she has focused on expanding PBS’ audience across genres and digital platforms. Kerger is also president of the PBS Foundation, which raises private sector funding for PBS. She previously served as executive vice president and CEO of the Educational Broadcasting Corporation.

Krause, R-Fort Worth, has represented House District 93 since 2013. He sits on the House Culture, Recreation & Tourism and Land & Resource Management committees. Krause is a constitutional attorney, professor of American history and government, and public speaker. Krause and his business partner also consult organizations on ways to creatively reward and retain key employees.

Lane has served as head of TSU since 2016. Previously, he served as executive vice chancellor of Lone Star College. He also served as vice president for student affairs at Tyler Junior College, where he directed a college-wide enrollment management team, and as the dean of students at University of Texas at Arlington, where he helped plan and oversee enrollment and retention initiatives.

Leach, R-Plano, has represented House District 67 since 2012. He serves as vice chair of the House Urban Affairs Committee and sits on the Economic & Small Business Development Committee. Leach practices law with Gray Reed & McGraw P.C., where he specializes in general business, real estate and construction law.

Levin works for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank. He is also an attorney and author on legal and public policy issues who has been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and The Texas Review of Law & Politics. Previously, Levin served as a law clerk for a federal judge on the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Liasson covers national politics for NPR, reporting regularly on All Things Considered and Morning Edition. She joined NPR in 1985 as a general assignment reporter and later served as NPR’s White House correspondent during the Clinton administration. Liasson also joined FOX News in 1997 and currently serves as a contributor and regular panelist on FOX News Sunday.

Livingston joined the Tribune in 2014 as the lead reporter in Washington, D.C. She has covered political campaigns, House leadership and Congress for Roll Call, the Capitol Hill newspaper. Previously, Livingston pitched and produced political segments for CNN’s John King, USA, worked as a TV editor for The Hotline and was a political researcher at NBC News.

Lozano, R-Kingsville, has represented House District 43 since 2011. He serves as chairman of the House Higher Education Committee and sits on the Environmental Regulation Committee. Previously, he served on the House Republican Caucus Policy Committee and as vice chairman of the House Energy Caucus.

MacLaggan has previously worked as a national correspondent for Reuters, writing and editing stories about Texas and nearby states and overseeing a network of freelance writers. Before joining Reuters, she covered Texas government and politics for the Austin American-Statesman. She has also worked in Mexico City, where she wrote for publications including the Miami Herald's Mexico edition.

Malewitz is an investigative reporter for the Tribune, and he also covers voting rights. He previously covered energy and environmental issues. Before arriving in 2013, he reported for Stateline, a nonprofit news service in Washington, D.C. A native of Michigan, he has an undergraduate degree from Grinnell College in Iowa and a master’s degree from the University of Iowa.

Marquez was appointed a public utility commissioner in 2013 by then-Gov. Rick Perry. Previously, she served as Gov. Perry’s chief of staff, director of the Budget, Planning and Policy Division and as deputy legislative director. Marquez also serves on the Nuclear Waste Storage Coalition and Texas Reliability Entity, which addresses cybersecurity, regional standards and enforcement issues.

Mckesson is a prominent activist within the Black Lives Matter movement and an outspoken voice against police violence. He began speaking out against police violence during the August 2014 protests in Ferguson, Mo. and has since amassed a large online following. In 2015, Mckesson co-founded Campaign Zero, a policy initiative aimed at ending police violence.

Menéndez, D-San Antonio, has represented Senate District 26 since 2015. He sits on the Senate Criminal Justice, Higher Education, and Intergovernmental Relations committees. In May 2017, he filibustered and successfully killed SB 715, a bill limiting cities’ annexation powers. Previously, Menéndez spent 14 years in the Texas House, representing House District 124.

Miller is currently a partner at Vianovo, a strategic advisory firm for brand, policy and crisis issues. He previously led the Department of Justice’s communications team under President Barack Obama and served as spokesman for U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. Miller also previously served as communications director for the House Democratic Caucus and for U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer.

Minjarez, D-San Antonio, has represented House District 124 since a 2015 special election. She sits on the House Human Services, Local & Consent, Calendars, and Transportation committees. She has her own private law practice where she represents child abuse victims in Child Protective Services cases. Previously, Minjarez worked as an assistant district attorney in Bexar County.

Moody, D-El Paso, has represented House District 78 since 2009. He serves as chair of the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, vice chair of the General Investigating & Ethics Committee and sits on the Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Committee. Previously, Moody served as a prosecutor in the El Paso County District Attorney’s office.

Morath was appointed education commissioner by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2016. In this role, he heads the Texas Education Agency, which oversees pre-kindergarten through high school education for more than five million Texas students. Morath previously served on the Dallas Independent School District board of trustees.

Morrison, R-Victoria, has served House District 30 since 1999. She serves as chairwoman of the House Transportation Committee and sits on the Higher Education Committee and the Select Committee on Texas Ports, Innovation & Infrastructure. In the 85th legislative session, Morrison was one of the authors of House Bill 100, which set statewide regulations on ridesharing services.

Nance is executive director of the Terror Asymmetrics Project, a nonprofit virtual defense research institute. He is a career counterterrorism and intelligence officer with over 33 years of experience with the U.S. Navy, Special Operations, Homeland Security and Central Intelligence agencies. Nance has authored several books on counterterrorism and has been a frequent guest policy analyst on several TV networks, including MSNBC.

Nash has served as Dallas County’s justice of the peace since 2007. Previously, she served as assistant general counsel for the State of Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection and as the Texas' solid waste enforcement attorney. Nash has also worked as in-house counsel for a construction management company, where she assisted with the City of Atlanta’s Wastewater Systems Improvement Program.

Nirenberg was elected mayor in June, defeating incumbent Ivy Taylor. Previously, he served on the San Antonio City Council, where he chaired the city’s Quality of Life and City Council Comprehensive Planning committees and served on the board of the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. Nirenberg also worked as a program director for the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

Nocera rejoined Buzzfeed in 2016 after having served as its senior congressional reporter from 2013 to 2015. She briefly stepped away from journalism at SKDKnickerbocker, a strategic communications firm and later as a senior editor in Vox’s branded content department. She covered Congress and health care for Politico after starting her career at The New York Daily News.

O’Connell was named CEO of the DNC in May 2017 and oversees the Committee’s day-to-day operations and political strategy. Previously, she served as executive director of EMILY’s List and as director of operations for Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign. O’Connell has also served as chief of staff and senior vice president of the Center for American Progress.

O’Rourke, D-El Paso, has represented Texas’ Congressional District 16 since 2013. He is the vice ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee and is a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. O’Rourke announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in March, challenging Republican incumbent Ted Cruz.

Paddie, R-Marshall, has represented House District 9 since 2013. He sits on the House Calendars, Licensing & Administrative Procedures, and State Affairs committees. Paddie authored House Bill 100, which set statewide regulations on ridesharing services. He previously served on the Marshall City Commission and as mayor of Marshall.

Palmieri served as communications director for President Obama from 2011 to 2015. Previously, she served as president of the Center for American Progress Action fund. Palmieri also served as director of communications for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and as national press secretary for John Edwards’ 2004 presidential campaign.

Parker served as mayor of Houston from 2010 to 2016. Previously, she served on the Houston City Council and was later elected city controller. Parker was one of the co-founders of the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda, a coalition of U.S. mayors committed to enacting local initiatives to combat climate change.

Pierce covers politics for Esquire, where he has worked since 2011. His work covering sports and politics has appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Sports Illustrated and The Chicago Tribune. Pierce is also a regular panelist on NPR’s game show Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me.

Price was first elected in 2011 to lead the city of Fort Worth. As mayor, she has led initiatives to promote fiscal sustainability and further develop the city’s urban city center. Previously, Price served as Tarrant County’s tax assessor for more than a decade and was a private business owner.

Pumphrey leads Just Liberty, a bipartisan coalition advocating for criminal justice reform. Previously, she served as the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition’s first-ever policy director, where she coordinated the organization’s research and policy work. Pumphrey also served as senior policy adviser for Texas House Speaker Joe Straus.

Ramsey is the executive editor and co-founder of the Tribune, where he writes regular columns on politics, government and public policy. Before joining the Tribune, he served as editor and co-owner of Texas Weekly and as a reporter for the Houston Chronicle and the Dallas Times Herald. He also served as associate deputy comptroller for policy and director of communications at the state comptroller’s office.

Rawlings was first elected Dallas' mayor in 2011. As mayor, he has led initiatives to increase economic development in southern Dallas and to increase the city’s international profile. Previously, Rawlings served as chairman and managing partner at CIC Partners, a private equity firm, and has also served as chairman of the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Reddy joined POLITICO in January 2017 after a decade in The Wall Street Journal's Washington bureau, where he was an economics editor directing coverage of U.S. and international economic news. Previously, Reddy worked as a Washington correspondent for the Dallas Morning News and covered the energy industry and business issues at the Texas Capitol.

Reyes has served as head of the city of El Cenizo, located along the U.S.-Mexico border, since 2004. He is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit filed against the state of Texas’ Senate Bill 4, a 2017 law that seeks to penalize law enforcement officials who do not comply with federal immigration policy.

Richards joined Planned Parenthood in 2006, where she oversees more than 600 affiliate health centers and advocates for reproductive rights. In 2011, she led a nationwide campaign to preserve Planned Parenthood preventive care through federal programs. Previously, Richards served as deputy chief of staff for House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and founded America Votes, a coalition aiming to maximize voter participation.

Rifai teaches civil and environmental engineering at the University of Houston. She specializes in groundwater flow and transport modeling, hazardous waste, and urban storm water quality. Rifai is also the co-director of the UH-Rice Severe Storm Prediction, Education & Evacuation from Disasters Center, which convenes faculty and regional experts in flood planning.

Rocha joined the Tribune staff as the multimedia reporter after working eight years in television and radio news. She has covered politics for stations in Florida and Kansas, and was most recently YNN’s lead political reporter in Austin. Rocha received bachelor’s degrees in journalism and Spanish from the University of Florida.

Rodríguez, D-El Paso, has represented Senate District 29, which includes more than 350 miles of the Texas-Mexico border, since 2011. He serves as vice chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs Committee and sits on the Natural Resources & Economic Development, Transportation, and Veteran Affairs & Border Security committees. Rodríguez also serves as chairman of the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus.

Root is an award-winning journalist and author of Oops! A Diary from the 2012 Campaign Trail, an insider’s account of Rick Perry’s gaffe-filled run for president. Since 2011, Root has been a senior political and investigative reporter at the Texas Tribune. Last year Root oversaw the Tribune’s award-winning Bordering on Insecurity project, a yearlong series of stories and multimedia focused on the hot-button issues of border security and immigration.

Roy directs the Center for the Tenth Amendment Action, which researches the constitutional balance between states and the federal government. Previously, he served as the first assistant attorney general of Texas and as chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. Roy also worked as a special assistant U.S. attorney and led Texas' Office of State-Federal Relations.

Saldaña has represented Council District 4 since 2011. He currently serves as vice chairman of the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and as chief engagement officer for KIPP San Antonio. Saldaña has worked on several education initiatives, including organizing the Books in the Barrio effort to attract and maintain a bookstore in South San Antonio.

Sandoval manages the Environmental Defense Fund’s grid modernization efforts and works with national and regional energy stakeholders to maximize opportunities for clean energy adoption. Previously, he worked for the energy firm Con Edison, where he led energy efficiency efforts and oversaw the safe operation of its transmission and distribution systems. Sandoval has held management positions in Con Edison’s electric, gas, and steam organizations.

Satija works for the Tribune and Reveal, a public radio program from the Center for Investigative Reporting. Previously, she was the environment reporter for the Tribune. Satija has also worked for a number of East Coast news outlets, including the New Haven Independent, the Connecticut Mirror and WNPR/Connecticut Public Radio.

Schmidt is a veteran Republican political strategist. He served as a top strategist for President George W. Bush’s 2004 reelection campaign and in his administration as his deputy assistant. Schmidt also worked on John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign; Woody Harrelson played him in the HBO film Game Change.

Shaub was appointed director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics by President Obama in 2013. Previously, he served as the office’s deputy general counsel and also as a supervisory attorney. Shaub also worked as an attorney focusing on federal employment law for a private firm. In July 2017, Shaub joined the Campaign Legal Center, which specializes in election law.

Short, who joined the University of Houston in 2012 as a distinguished professor and founding director of the Institute for Policy Research and Evaluation, was named senior vice president in 2013. Previously, she served as vice chancellor for academic affairs for the Tennessee Board of Regents and president of the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration.

Sitton was elected to his first term on the Railroad Commission in 2014. He is the co-founder of Pinnacle Advanced Reliability Technologies, an engineering and technology company focused on programs for the oil, gas and petrochemical industry. Sitton has also served on the board of the Texas A&M University Energy Institute.

Smith is the CEO and co-founder of The Texas Tribune. Previously Smith spent nearly 18 years at Texas Monthly, including eight years as editor and a year as president and editor-in-chief. He also hosts Overheard with Evan Smith, airing on PBS stations nationally.

Smith is a junior at Baylor University. She is an advocate for reforming the handling of sexual assault cases at Texas colleges and universities. In April, Smith shared her story as a sexual assault survivor before the House Higher Education Committee, testifying in favor a bill that aimed to prevent accused students from transferring schools without a record of their disciplinary violation.

Sorrell has served as president of Paul Quinn College since 2007. During his tenure, the college was named the historically black college or university (HBCU) of the year and Sorrell was recognized as HBCU Male President of the Year. Prior to his appointment, he was a member of the college’s board of directors. Sorrell has worked as a lawyer and a public affairs consultant.

Starr is a lawyer and judge who served as solicitor general under President George H.W. Bush, where he supervised and conducted government litigation before the U.S. Supreme Court. In the 1990s, he was appointed independent counsel to investigate the Whitewater controversy during President Bill Clinton’s tenure. Starr also served as President of Baylor University from 2010 to 2016.

Stokols joined The Wall Street Journal in April 2017, where he covers the Trump administration. Previously, he spent two years as a national political reporter for Politico, covering the 2016 Republican primaries. Stokols covered Colorado politics for KDVR-TV, a Fox affiliate based in Denver. He is a frequent contributor to MSNBC, Fox, and NPR.

Svitek covers politics for the Tribune. Previously, he worked for the Houston Chronicle’s Austin bureau and interned at The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, Huffington Post Politics and the Journal Gazette in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Svitek is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

Swisher is executive editor of Recode, a technology news site, and host of the weekly Recode Decode technology podcast. She co-founded Revere Digital, the previous owner of Recode, and co-produced and co-hosted D: All Things Digital, the Wall Street Journal’s high-tech conference. Previously, Swisher worked in the San Francisco bureau of the Wall Street Journal and authored the BoomTown column.

Tameez currently serves as managing director for Outreach Strategists, a global communications and public affairs firm. Previously, he served as a consultant to the Department of Homeland Security, specializing in countering violent extremism. In 2014, Tameez partnered with local Muslim leaders in Houston to create a community-based plan for combating extremism and promoting resiliency and engagement within the community.

Taylor, R-Plano, has represented Senate District 8 since 2015. He serves as vice chairman of the Senate Nominations Committee and sits on the Finance, Health & Human Services, Transportation and Education committees. Previously, he served in the Texas House. Taylor also works as the director of Churchill Capital Company, a real estate financing firm, and manages other small businesses.

Tumulty covers national politics for The Washington Post, where she has been since 2010. She previously served as national political correspondent for TIME Magazine, where she spent 15 years writing or co-writing more than three-dozen cover stories. Tumulty also worked for the Los Angeles Times, covering Congress, business, and economics.

Turner, D-Grand Prairie, has represented House District 101 since 2013. He also served as the district’s representative from 2009 to 2011. He sits on the House Higher Education, Insurance and General Investigating & Ethics committees, as well as the Select Committee on State & Federal Power & Responsibility. He also serves as chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.Turner also works as a communications consultant.

Van Duyne was appointed by President Trump to serve as a HUD regional administrator in May 2017. Previously, she served as mayor of Irving. Van Duyne was a member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Advisory Board, the Texas Municipal League and the North Central Texas Council of Governments.

Villalba, R-Dallas, has represented House District 114 since 2013. He sits on the House Business & Industry and Economic & Small Business Development committees. He is founder of the Freshman Delegation, a bipartisan group dedicated to building relationships through the legislative process. Villalba has also been a partner at Haynes and Boone, a Dallas law firm.

Watkins writes about higher education and the business of college sports for the Tribune. Previously, he covered local government as the Dallas County government reporter at The Dallas Morning News and was a staff writer at the Bryan-College Station Eagle, covering a variety of topics, including natural disasters and college football games.

Wear covers transportation for the Statesman, where he has worked since 1994 and held the transportation beat since 2003. He also teaches journalism as an adjunct professor at Austin Community College.

Webber is the Josey Centennial Fellow in Energy Resources and an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. He is also the co-director of the Clean Energy Incubator at the Austin Technology Incubator. Webber’s research focuses on policy and technology as they relate to energy and the environment.

White, R-Woodville, has represented House District 19 since 2010. He serves as chairman of the House Corrections Committee and sits on the International Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. Previously, White served as a professor of government at Angelina College. He is an alumnus of Prairie View A&M University.

Wilkison has served as executive director of CLEAT since 2014, where he oversees the largest law enforcement officers’ union and legal services provider in Texas. In this role, he manages the organization’s legislative efforts and serves as its chief lobbyist. Previously, Wilkison worked in the Texas Legislature.

Wilson has served as editor of the Dallas Morning News since 2015. Previously he worked for ESPN, where he helped launch the data website FiveThirtyEight, the Tampa Bay Times, where he eventually became managing editor, and the Miami Herald.

Workman, R-Austin, has represented House District 47 since 2011. He sits on the House Business & Industry and Natural Resources committees and the Subcommittee on Special Water Districts. Previously, he served 10 years in the U.S. Army Reserves. Workman is also the founder of Austin-based Workman Commercial Construction Services, Ltd.

Wu, D-Houston, has represented House District 137 since 2013. He sits on the House Appropriations and Human Services committees. In the 85th legislative session, Wu co-authored and passed House Bill 7, a CPS overhaul bill reforming court processes and procedure for child welfare suits. He is also an attorney in private practice, representing children and parents in CPS cases.