Border security overpowers school vouchers and Paxton impeachment in Republican Texas House primaries
Despite all the hubbub about vouchers and the attorney general’s impeachment, it’s still about the border. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ab66e33460d906e25f5160abf264f881/GOP%20Border%20Ads%20TT%2001.jpg)
Patrick Svitek
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/Patrick_Svitek_Aug_2021TT_03.jpg)
Patrick Svitek was the primary political correspondent for The Texas Tribune. Patrick covered elections, state leaders, the Legislature and political trends across the state from 2015 until 2024. He previously worked for the Houston Chronicle's Austin bureau. Patrick graduated in 2014 from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. He is originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Past Contributions
-
![Texas Republican state House ads touting the border as a central election issue. Clockwise, from top left: Mark LaHood, challenger for HD-121; Joanne Shofner, challenger for HD-11; Chris Spencer, challenger for HD-1; and Gary VanDeaver, HD-1 incumbent.]()
Credit: Campaign videos -
Houston-area Democrats line up in competitive primary to succeed John Whitmire in the Senate
Whitmire held the Senate seat for four decades. Six Democrats are now competing for the seat in the upper chamber. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1157822198c16e1d25975ed3335860c3/0831%20Senate%20Gallery%20BD%20TT%20133.jpg)
![The Texas Senate gallery as technical staff prepares communications for next week's start in the impeachment trial of Ken Paxton on September 5th. Paxton is accused of several ethics violations during his three terms as Texas Attorney General.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Once hesitant, Texas Republicans have united behind Donald Trump again
While polls once showed Trump and DeSantis tied in Texas, they now suggest the primary is all but over here. Trump leads Nikki Haley by a landslide. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/923f6bfa0b71e8146f6ac7f57051293b/0325%20Waco%20Trump%20Rally%20LS%20TT%2029.jpg)
![Former president Donald Trump holds his first 2024 campaign rally in Waco, Texas on Mar. 25, 2023.]()
Credit: Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribune -
Speaker Dade Phelan forcefully defends Ken Paxton impeachment in campaign ad
Facing heat for presiding over the impeachment of the attorney general, Phelan is addressing the issue head-on and citing an alleged Paxton extramarital affair. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b40e8c35af8788c889d7d2e38f8eb4c5/1117%20Lege%20School%20Vouchers%20TT%20JS%2009%20.jpg)
![House Speaker Dade Phelan beckons at another member of the House during a special legislative session at the state Capitol in Austin on Nov. 17, 2023.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribune -
Colin Allred outraises Ted Cruz campaign at end of 2023
Allred also dominated in fundraising over state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who had the second highest haul among the Democrats running Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d033e3563290db5dc04501a8a317e951/0128%20Dem%20Senate%20Primary%20Debate%20Austin%20MC%20TT%2052.jpg)
![From left: U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas; and state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio. The two men, running for the U.S. Senate in the Texas Democratic primary participate in a debate in Austin on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.]()
Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune -
In Texas House special election, big endorsements weren’t enough for Brent Money
Money fell short in the runoff for House District 2, despite winning the support of a who’s who of Texas Republican leaders. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/16bf383c30e741b8e9eb8f5bd97587e9/Jill%20Dutton%20and%20Brent%20Money%20FB%2002.jpg)
![From left: Jill Dutton and Brent Money. Dutton won the race to replace Bryan Slaton in HD-2, the state House district east of Dallas, but they'll face off again in the March primary.]()
Credit: Facebook campaign accounts -
Texas Republicans who defied Gov. Greg Abbott on school vouchers face mounting primary attacks
As promised, the governor is going after members of his own party after some of them tanked his top legislative priority. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c8c91efdb0ad40e462b48ae814603eb1/1007%20Boot%20Vouchers%20Rally%20JS%2041.jpeg)
![A protester, left, pauses to leave a boot at the steps of the Governor's Mansion during a rally to "boot vouchers" on Oct. 7, 2023. Hundreds gathered to protest two days before a special session was slated to begin on Oct. 9, 2023.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Supreme Court pauses depositions in Paxton whistleblower case
The ruling by the all-Republican court came after former President Donald Trump told justices to leave Paxton alone. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ac543fde15b1f1b8954b773cd5ad59b2/0915%20Paxton%20Trial%20Day%209%20SO%20SAEN%20TT%2004.jpg)
![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, center, speaks with defense attorney Dan Cogdell before starting the ninth day of his impeachment trial in the Senate Chamber at the Texas Capitol on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Austin.]()
Credit: Sam Owens/Pool via San Antonio Express-News -
Voters in northeast Texas choose Jill Dutton over Brent Money for special election runoff
The contest has served as a bellwether in the Texas GOP’s warring factions. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a4cd42f27b1908065347df1e0535c22f/Jill%20Dutton%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Jill Dutton, Republican candidate for House District 2, the seat formerly held by Brian Slaton, who was expelled from the Texas House.]()
Credit: Campaign website -
Texas GOP increasingly considers push to close its primaries
Presidential candidate Nikki Haley has talked openly about targeting states like Texas that have open primaries to get a boost over Trump. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d0937719f7f6143e72dba6f870aac824/Nikki%20Haley%20REUTERS%20TT%2002.jpg)
![Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks during a campaign event ahead of the South Carolina Republican presidential primary election, in Conway, South Carolina on Jan. 28, 2024.]()
Credit: Randall Hill/REUTERS