Rick Perry (Texas)
James Richard Perry is the former secretary of energy. He was the 14th person to serve in the position. Perry was chosen by President Donald Trump for secretary of energy on December 13, 2016. The Senate confirmed Perry on March 2, 2017, by a vote of 62-37, and he was sworn into office on the same day.[1][2]
On October 17, 2019, Fox News reported that Perry planned to submit his resignation to President Trump by the end of the year.[3] He resigned on December 1, 2019.[4]
Perry is the former governor of Texas. He assumed office in December 2000 when President George W. Bush, then the president-elect, resigned as governor of Texas to prepare for his inauguration as President of the United States. Perry was elected to full terms in 2002, 2006, and 2010. Perry retired from the governorship in 2014.[5][6]
The secretary of energy is responsible for overseeing an "agency tasked with maintaining a safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrent and reducing the threat of nuclear proliferation, overseeing the United States’ energy supply, carrying out the environmental clean-up from the Cold War nuclear mission, and the 17 National Laboratories," according to the department's website.[7]
Perry ran for president twice, in 2012 and 2016. He suspended his 2012 campaign on January 19, 2012, and endorsed candidate Newt Gingrich in the Republican primary.[8] He announced his 2016 campaign on June 4, 2015, and suspended his campaign on September 11 of that same year. He said, "We have a tremendous field -- the best in a generation -- so I step aside knowing our party is in good hands." He later endorsed Ted Cruz in the Republican primary.[9][10]
Biography
Perry is a fifth-generation Texan. He grew up in Paint Creek, Texas, on his family's ranch. He was active in Boy Scouts, eventually earning the Boy Scouts of America's Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. While a student at Texas A&M University, he joined the Corps of Cadets and was elected as a yell leader. During college, Perry also worked selling books door to door.[11]
After graduating, Perry accepted a commission in the United States Air Force. He completed pilot training and flew tactical airlifts in Europe and the Middle East through most of the 1970s. He retired in 1977 as a captain and returned to Texas to work on his family's cotton farm.[11]
Perry entered politics in 1984, winning election to the Texas House of Representatives for District 64. At the time, Perry was a Democrat.[12]
In 1989, Perry switched his affiliation to the Republican party.[13] The following year, he won election as agriculture commissioner of Texas. He was re-elected to a second term in 1994. In 1998, he ran successfully for lieutenant governor of Texas, becoming the first Republican to hold the office. Perry succeeded to the governorship in 2000 when predecessor President George W. Bush resigned to begin his first term as President of the United States.[14]
Political career
Secretary of Energy
| Nomination tracker | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate: Rick Perry | ||
| Position: Secretary of Energy | ||
| Confirmation progress | ||
 | Announced: | December 13, 2016 |
| Hearing: | January 19, 2017 |
| Committee: | Energy and Natural Resources Committee |
| Reported: | January 31, 2017 17-6 |
| Confirmed: | March 2, 2017 |
| Vote: | 62-37 |
On December 13, 2016, Perry was selected by President Donald Trump to serve as secretary of energy. The United States Senate confirmed Perry on March 2, 2017, by a vote of 62 to 37.[1]
Governor of Texas (2000-2015)
- See also: Governor of Texas
Perry was the longest-serving governor in Texas history, holding the office for over 14 consecutive years.[5] He was first sworn in as governor on December 21, 2000, replacing Governor George W. Bush, who had recently been elected President of the United States. Perry was elected to a full term as governor in 2002 over Democrat Antonio R. "Tony" Sanchez, Jr., a Laredo businessman.
As governor, he was a member of the National Governors Association, the Western Governors' Association, the Southern Governors' Association, and the Republican Governors Association.
An analysis of Republican governors by Nate Silver of the New York Times in April 2013 ranked Perry as the 10th most conservative governor in the country.[15]
Perry became the longest-serving governor in Texas history midway through his time in office. He eventually served over 14 consecutive years in the position. The record was previously held by Governor Bill Clements, who served eight years over two non-consecutive terms, and Allan Shiver, who had seven and one-half years of consecutive service.[16]
Lieutenant Governor (1999-2000)
In 1998, Perry ran for lieutenant governor to succeed the retiring Democrat Bob Bullock. Perry won 1,858,837 votes (50.04 percent) to the 1,790,106 (48.19 percent) cast for Democrat John Sharp of Victoria. Libertarian Anthony Garcia won another 65,150 votes (1.75 percent).[17]
Texas Agriculture Commissioner (1991-1999)
In the 1990 race for commissioner of agriculture, Perry unseated Democrat Jim Hightower.[18]
As agriculture commissioner, Perry was responsible for promoting the sale of Texas farm produce to other states and foreign nations and supervising the calibration of weights and measures, such as gasoline pumps and grocery store scales.
Perry was re-elected agriculture commissioner in 1994. He earned 2,546,287 votes (61.92 percent), defeating Democrat Marvin Gregory's 1,479,692 votes (35.98 percent). Libertarian Clyde L. Garland received 85,836 votes (2.08 percent).[19]
Texas State Legislature (1984-1990)
In 1984, Perry was elected to the Texas House of Representatives as a Democrat from a district that included his home county of Haskell. He served on the Texas House Appropriations and Calendars Committees during his three terms as a state legislator, where he was known as one of the "Pit Bulls," a group of Appropriations members who sat on the lower dais in the committee room (or "pit") who pushed for austere state budgets during the 1980s. In 1989, The Dallas Morning News named him one of the most effective legislators in the 71st legislature. In 1989, Perry announced that he was joining the Republican Party.[20]
Issues
Trump administration's energy agenda
- On January 24, 2018, discussed the Trump administration’s “Energy Dominance” agenda, which is aimed at increasing the domestic production of fossil fuels. He said, “The United States is not just exporting energy, we’re exporting freedom. We’re exporting to our allies in Europe the opportunity to truly have a choice of where do you buy your energy from. That’s freedom. And that kind of freedom is priceless.”[21]
Presidential preference
Perry had previously endorsed Ted Cruz, who ended his presidential campaign on May 3, 2016.[22]
2016 presidential endorsement
✓ Perry endorsed Donald Trump for the Republican primary in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.[23]
- See also: Endorsements for Donald Trump
| 2016 Presidential Endorsements by Former Presidential Candidates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Candidate | Date | Source |
 Carly Fiorina |
Ted Cruz (primary) |
March 2016 | Politico |
| Ted Cruz |
Donald Trump |
September 2016 | CNN |
| Jim Gilmore |
Donald Trump |
September 2016 | Politico |
 Bernie Sanders |
 Hillary Clinton |
July 2016 | CNN |
| Martin O'Malley |
Hillary Clinton |
June 2016 | |
| Rick Santorum |
Donald Trump |
May 2016 | Reuters |
| Mike Huckabee |
Donald Trump |
May 2016 | |
| Rick Perry |
Donald Trump |
May 2016 | CNN |
| George Pataki |
John Kasich |
April 2016 | ABC News |
| Jeb Bush |
Ted Cruz |
March 2016 | Politico |
| Ben Carson |
Donald Trump |
March 2016 | Politico |
| Carly Fiorina |
Ted Cruz |
March 2016 | Politico |
| Bobby Jindal |
Marco Rubio |
February 2016 | Tampa Bay Times |
| Lindsey Graham |
Jeb Bush |
January 2016 | NBC News |
Elections
2016
Perry ran for president in 2016. On June 4, 2015, Perry announced his run for President of the United States, releasing a video on his campaign website before speaking in front of a crowd of supporters in Addison, Texas.[24] He announced on September 11, 2015, that he had suspended his campaign.
2014
- See also: Texas gubernatorial election, 2014
Perry chose not to seek re-election to a fourth term as governor of Texas in the 2014 election.[25][26]
On July 8, 2013, Perry said, "I remain excited about the future and the challenges ahead but the time has come to pass on the mantle of leadership."[27]
2012
Perry formally announced on August 13, 2011, that he was running for the 2012 Republican U.S. presidential nomination. Speaking to a group of conservative bloggers in Charleston, South Carolina, he went directly after President Barack Obama for his "failed western European social values" and criticized Obama's economic policies for trying to "win the future by selling it off to foreign creditors."[28] "We don't need a president who apologizes for America. We need a president who protects and projects those values," he said.[28]
Perry announced his presidential run on the same day as the Iowa Straw Poll. While his name was not on the ballot, Perry placed sixth in the poll as a write-in candidate, beating former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney whose name was on the ballot.[29]
On January 19, 2012, Perry suspended his campaign for the Republican nomination, choosing instead to endorse Newt Gingrich.[30]
Race background
Perry began hinting at a potential 2012 bid for the presidency in May 2011. Reversing his previous insistence that he was not interested, Perry said on May 27, 2011, "I'm going to think about it. I think about a lot of things."[31] The governor stated he wanted to wait until the Texas State Legislature adjourned before making a decision on a presidential run.[31][32]
When asked by the Des Moines Register in July 2011 about his plans to run, Perry said, “I’m not ready to tell you that I’m ready to announce that I’m in. But I’m getting more and more comfortable every day that this is what I’ve been called to do. This is what America needs.”[33]
Another sign towards a Perry presidential campaign surfaced on July 26, 2011, when the fiscally conservative group GrowPac announced its support for Perry by launching a radio campaign in Iowa urging people to write in Perry on the August 13th Ames Straw Poll.[33] The 60-second radio ad read:
| " | Hi, I’m David Malpass. As an economist and father of four, I’m appalled at Washington’s out of control debt. President Obama is making things worse. We need a president who will stop this. Texas Governor Rick Perry has a proven track record of controlling spending and creating jobs. He succeeded in Texas by believing in less government, not more. Rick Perry understands the 10th amendment and has the backbone to bring an upheaval to Washington. Iowa has a chance to turn things around for America. At the Ames Straw Poll write in Rick Perry, he can win and make America secure again. I worked for Ronald Reagan and I know how countries create growth and jobs. Let’s give Rick Perry a chance. GrowPac is responsible for the content of this advertising. Paid for by GrowPAC and not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee. Visit David Malpass’ GrowPac.Com[34] | ” |
| —David Malpass[33] | ||
Perry formally announced he was running for president on August 13, 2011.
Endorsements
A total of 51 elected officials endorsed Rick Perry for the 2012 presidency before he left the race.
For a full list see: Endorsements by state officials of presidential candidates in the 2012 election
2010
- See also: Texas gubernatorial election, 2010
Perry won re-election in 2010. He faced two challengers in the Republican primary: Kay Bailey Hutchison and Debra Medina. Perry was able to avoid a runoff, by receiving 51 percent of the votes cast on March 2nd. He faced ex-Houston Mayor Bill White (D), Katherine Youngblood Glass (L), and Deb Shafto (G) in the general election on November 2, 2010.[35]
| Governor of Texas, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Rick Perry Incumbent |
55% | 2,737,481 | |
| Democratic | Bill White | 42.3% | 2,106,395 | |
| Libertarian | Kathie Glass | 2.2% | 109,211 | |
| Green | Deb Shafto | 0.4% | 19,516 | |
| Write-In | Andy Barron | 0.1% | 7,267 | |
| Total Votes | 4,979,870 | |||
| Election results via Texas Secretary of State | ||||
2006
- See also: Texas gubernatorial election, 2006
In the 2006 November general election, Perry defeated former Congressman Chris Bell of Houston (D), sales consultant James Werner (L), outgoing Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn (I), and country singer Richard "Kinky" Friedman (I).
| Governor of Texas, 2006 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Rick Perry Incumbent |
39% | 1,716,792 | |
| Democratic | Chris Bell | 29.8% | 1,310,337 | |
| Libertarian | James Werner | 0.6% | 26,749 | |
| Independent | Richard "Kinky" Friedman | 12.4% | 547,674 | |
| Independent | Carole Keeton Strayhorn | 18.1% | 796,851 | |
| Write-In | James "Patriot" Dillon | 0% | 713 | |
| Total Votes | 4,399,116 | |||
| Election results via Texas Secretary of State | ||||
2002
- See also: Texas gubernatorial election, 2002
In the 2002 general election, Perry earned 2,632,591 votes (57.80 percent) to Sanchez's 1,819,798 (39.96 percent). Four other candidates shared 2.21 percent of the vote. In 2006, Perry earned a second term with 39 percent of the vote. While 61 percent of Texas voters opposed Perry, he won by plurality because his opposition was split four ways. Perry was the first governor since 1861 to be elected by a plurality of less than 40 percent. (There was also a similar plurality winner in 1853.)[36]
On November 5, 2002, Rick Perry won re-election to the office of Governor of Texas. He defeated Tony Sanchez, Jeff Daiell, Rahul Mahajan, Elaine Eure Henderson, and Earl W. (Bill) O'Neil in the general election.
| Governor of Texas, 2002 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Rick Perry Incumbent |
57.8% | 2,632,591 | |
| Democratic | Tony Sanchez | 40% | 1,819,798 | |
| Libertarian | Jeff Daiell | 1.5% | 66,720 | |
| Green | Rahul Mahajan | 0.7% | 32,187 | |
| Write-In | Elaine Eure Henderson | 0% | 1,715 | |
| Write-In | Earl W. (Bill) O'Neil | 0% | 976 | |
| Total Votes | 4,553,987 | |||
| Election results via Texas Secretary of State. | ||||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
2016 Republican National Convention
- See also: Republican National Convention, 2016
| Rick Perry | |
| Republican National Convention, 2016 | |
| Status: | At-large delegate |
| State: | Texas |
| Bound to: | Ted Cruz |
| Delegates to the RNC 2016 | |
| Calendar and delegate rules overview • Types of delegates • Delegate rules by state • State election law and delegates • Delegates by state | |
Perry was an at-large delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention from Texas. Perry was one of 104 delegates from Texas bound by state party rules to support Ted Cruz at the convention.[37] Cruz suspended his campaign on May 3, 2016. At the time, he had approximately 546 bound delegates. For more on what happened to his delegates, see this page.
Delegate rules
At-large delegates from Texas to the national convention were selected by a state nominations committee and approved by the Texas State GOP Convention in May 2016. District-level delegates were elected by congressional districts at the state convention and then approved by the convention as a whole. At the national convention, all delegates were bound on the first ballot unless their candidate withdrew from the race or released his or her delegates. A delegate remained bound on the second ballot if his or her candidate received at least 20 percent of the total vote on the first ballot. On the third and subsequent ballots, all delegates were to become unbound.
Texas primary results
- See also: Presidential election in Texas, 2016
| Texas Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Delegates | |
| Jeb Bush | 1.2% | 35,420 | 0 | |
| Ben Carson | 4.2% | 117,969 | 0 | |
| Chris Christie | 0.1% | 3,448 | 0 | |
| Ted Cruz |
43.8% | 1,241,118 | 104 | |
| Carly Fiorina | 0.1% | 3,247 | 0 | |
| Lindsey Graham | 0.1% | 1,706 | 0 | |
| Elizabeth Gray | 0.2% | 5,449 | 0 | |
| Mike Huckabee | 0.2% | 6,226 | 0 | |
| John Kasich | 4.2% | 120,473 | 0 | |
| Rand Paul | 0.3% | 8,000 | 0 | |
| Marco Rubio | 17.7% | 503,055 | 3 | |
| Rick Santorum | 0.1% | 2,006 | 0 | |
| Donald Trump | 26.8% | 758,762 | 48 | |
| Other | 1% | 29,609 | 0 | |
| Totals | 2,836,488 | 155 | ||
| Source: Texas Secretary of State and CNN | ||||
Delegate allocation
Texas had 155 delegates at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Of this total, 108 were district-level delegates (three for each of the state's 36 congressional districts). District-level delegates were allocated on a proportional basis; a candidate had to win at least 20 percent of the primary vote in a district in order to be eligible to receive any of that district's delegates. If only one candidate met the 20 percent threshold in a district, he or she won all of the district's delegates. If two candidates met this threshold, the first place finisher received two of the district's delegates; the second place finisher received the remaining delegate. If no candidate won 20 percent of the vote, the top three finishers in a district each received one of the district's delegates. If a candidate won more than 50 percent of the vote in a district, he or she received all of the district's delegates.[38][39]
Of the remaining 47 delegates, 44 served at large. At-large delegates were allocated on a proportional basis; a candidate had to win at least 20 percent of the statewide primary vote in order to be eligible to receive any of the state's at-large delegates. If only one candidate broke the 20 percent threshold, the second place finisher still received a portion of the state's at-large delegates. If a candidate won more than 50 percent of the statewide vote, he or she received all of the state's at-large delegates. In addition, three national party leaders (identified on the chart below as RNC delegates) served as bound delegates to the Republican National Convention.[38][39]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
In 1982, Perry married Anita Thigpen, whom he had known since elementary school. The couple has two children.[11]
See also
- Donald Trump potential high-level administration appointments
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Governor of Texas
- Lieutenant Governor of Texas
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 NBC News, "Trump Picks Energy Department Opponent Rick Perry for Energy Secretary: Sources," December 13, 2016
- ↑ Decision Desk HQ, "Confirmation Vote of Rick Perry for Secretary of Energy," March 2, 2017
- ↑ Fox News, "Energy Secretary Rick Perry tells Trump he plans to resign, sources say," October 17, 2019
- ↑ The Oklahoman, "Senate approves successor to Rick Perry as energy secretary," December 2, 2019
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 CNN.com, "Rick Perry - Fast Facts," accessed March 2, 2013
- ↑ USA Today, "Texas Gov. Rick Perry says he won't run again," July 8, 2013
- ↑ Energy.gov, "About," accessed January 27, 2018
- ↑ Politico, "Rick Perry drops 2012 campaign for president, endorses Newt Gingrich," January 19, 2012
- ↑ CNN, "Rick Perry launches comeback White House bid," June 4, 2015
- ↑ Politico, "Rick Perry endorses Ted Cruz," January 25, 2016
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Biography.com, "Rick Perry," accessed June 30, 2012
- ↑ Houston Chronicle, "Meet Perry's loyal inner circle," September 25, 2011
- ↑ Huffington Post, "Rick Perry Began Political Career As Young Star For Texas Democrats," July 16, 2011
- ↑ Rick Perry, "About," accessed June 30, 2012
- ↑ New York Times, "In State Governments, Signs of a Healthier G.O.P.," April 16, 2013
- ↑ Austin American-Statesman, "Governor Views Longevity As Footnote To Tenure Focused On Economy, Conservative Values," December 15, 2008
- ↑ US Election Atlas, "1998 Lt. Gubernatorial General Election Results - Texas," accessed July 6, 2012
- ↑ Time.com, "A Texas Two-Step: When Rick Perry Backed Al Gore," July 16, 2011
- ↑ Star-Telegram, "Facts about Governor Rick Perry," August 13, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ PolitiFact, "Rick Perry says he switched to GOP at a younger age than Reagan did," August 30, 2011
- ↑ The Hill, "Perry: US ‘not just exporting energy, we’re exporting freedom,'" January 24, 2018
- ↑ CNN, "Rick Perry endorses Ted Cruz," January 25, 2016
- ↑ CNN, "First on CNN: Rick Perry endorses Donald Trump for president," May 5, 2016
- ↑ CNN, "Rick Perry launches comeback White House bid," June 4, 2015
- ↑ Associated Press, "Dad: George P. Bush eyeing Texas land commissioner," November 14, 2012
- ↑ The Dallas Morning News, "Term limit proposal goes down in the House," May 15, 2013
- ↑ NBC News, "Perry won't seek re-election as TX governor," July 8, 2013
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Texas Tribune, "Updated: Perry Announces 2012 Run, Attacks Obama," August 13, 2011
- ↑ LA Times, "Perry overshadows Bachmann's Iowa victory," August 13, 2011
- ↑ CNN Politics, "Perry drops out, endorses Gingrich," January 19, 2012
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 PolitiFact, "Perry on a presidential run: 'I’m going to think about it'," May 27, 2011
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Will Rick Perry run for president?" July 1, 2011
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 The Daily Caller, "Perry radio ad debuts in Iowa," July 26, 2011
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ MSNBC, "Governor Rick Perry wins GOP nomination for Governor of Texas," March 3, 2010
- ↑ The political guide, "Election Results – Governor, Texas," accessed June 30, 2012
- ↑ Texas GOP, "National Convention," May 19, 2016
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 Republican National Committee, "2016 Presidential Nominating Process," accessed October 6, 2015
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 CNN.com, "Republican National Convention roll call vote," accessed July 20, 2016
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ernest Moniz |
Secretary of Energy 2017-2019 |
Succeeded by Dan Brouillette |
| Preceded by George W. Bush (R) |
Governor of Texas 2000 - 2015 |
Succeeded by Greg Abbott (R) |
| Preceded by Bob Bullock |
Lieutenant Governor of Texas 1998-2000 |
Succeeded by Bill Ratliff |
| Preceded by - |
Texas Commissioner of Agriculture 1990 - 1998 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Texas House of Representatives 1984 - 1990 |
Succeeded by - |
| ||||||||||||||||
