James Richard "Rick" Perry (born March 4, 1950) is a Republican politician and the current Governor of Texas.

Elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998, he assumed office as governor in December 2000 when Governor George W. Bush resigned before his inauguration as President of the United States. Perry was elected to two full terms in 2002 and 2006.

Perry served as chairman of the Republican Governors Association in 2008, succeeding Sonny Perdue of Georgia. He now serves as Finance Chair.