Texas Governor Rick Perry has set the stage for a major political shuffle in the Lone Star State with his announcement yesterday that he will not to seek re-election next year.
“The time has come to pass on the mantle of leadership. Today I am announcing I will not seek re-election as governor of Texas.” Gov. Perry said in an announcement yesterday. “Any future considerations I will announce in due time, as I arrive at any decisions.”
Perry is the longest serving governor in the history of the state and his departure creates an opening for governor not seen in decades–the last time there was an open race for governor was in 1990.
How does this shift the political game in Texas? What does this say about Perry’s intentions for the 2016 presidential election?
Ben Philpott, a senior reporter for KUT in Austin, discusses the change and what the move means for Texas politics and the nation.
Stay updated on the latest from The Takeaway–become a Facebook fan & follow us on Twitter!
The story you just read is available to read for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, the reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.
When you make a gift of $10 or more a month, we’ll invite you to a virtual behind-the-scenes tour of our newsroom to thank you for being with The World.