Rick Perry: A Political Life

by Brandon Rottinghaus

How Rick Perry navigated and shaped Texas politics as the state’s longest serving governor. Rick Perry, the charming rancher, pilot, and politician from West Texas who was governor from 2000 to 2015, is one of the most important but polarizing figures in the state's history. Over the nearly forty years he spent in the political arena, his political instincts served as a radar primed to sense future political opportunities. Hugging the arc of Texas political change, he shifted from a rural, “blue dog” Democrat to one of the most conservative politicians the state had elected up to that time, overseeing the enactment of controversial redistricting, voting, and abortion measures. Yet his evolution was complicated and incomplete, as his stands on such topics as immigration, vaccine requirements, and the use of state funds to attract business ran into opposition from a growing and ever-more conservative wing of the Republican Party in Texas—and the nation. Rick Perry is both a biography of Perry as a politician and a study of the shifts in state politics that took place during his time in office. Demonstrating that Perry ranks among the most consequential governors in Texas history, Brandon Rottinghaus chronicles the profound ways he accumulated power and shaped the governorship.

376 pages, Hardcover

Published May 7, 2024

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible #TXLege history since the 1980s. I spotted some inaccuracies (eg: mixed up Morgan and Marcus Luttrell) but overall really well researched and put together. A fascinating read having experienced some of the recent history with the Perrys and now to know many of the members still serving in the Texas House and Senate. I really enjoyed all the quotes and different point of views from the many people who have served with and worked with him. Governor Perry is a legend, and Texas is very fortunate to have had his leadership!

[Laura Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve wondered just what’s been going on in the GOP over the last 20 years, this is a very insightful book.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This quote from the intro made this former Perry staffer smile: “…those who don’t like Perry don’t understand him, and in many ways that suggests a greater blind spot: ‘They may not understand Texas totally.’” It’s clear from the author’s language choices that he’s on the opposite side of the aisle, and certain criticisms indicate a lack of familiarity with how the Capitol community works, but in the whole this book is a detailed and remarkably balanced overview of Rick Perry’s political life. I do wish the author had focused more in later chapters on what’s gotten better over the course of his career instead of bemoaning statistics that could still be improved.