The week after Election Day, some Texas races remain in limbo
Counties still say they’re tallying their final votes, but here’s a roundup of races where the outcomes remain in limbo. Full Story
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Patrick Svitek
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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
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![More than a week after the General Election, several Texas races are still being contested. Clockwise from top left: Gina Ortiz Jones and U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes; state Rep. Mike Schofield, R-Katy and Gina Calanni; Adam Milasincic and state Rep. Dwayne Bohac, R-Houston; and Joanna Cattanach and state Rep. Morgan Meyer, R-Dallas.]()
Credit: Facebook campaign pages -
How the race between Ted Cruz and Beto O'Rourke became the closest in Texas in 40 years
Two years ago, Beto O'Rourke was a little-known congressman from El Paso and Ted Cruz's re-election was considered a foregone conclusion. Then everything changed. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso (left), and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz at their respective election night rallies on Nov. 6, 2018. O'Rourke was in El Paso. Cruz was in Houston.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre: O'Rourke/Bob Daemmrich: Cruz -
State Sen. Sylvia Garcia resigns, Gov. Abbott sets Dec. 11 special election
The Houston Democrat won a U.S. House seat Tuesday. Full Story
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Ted Cruz defeats Beto O'Rourke in difficult re-election fight
The race between Cruz and O'Rourke emerged as one of the hottest in the country, with Democrats hopeful that O'Rourke could break the Texas GOP's iron grip on statewide offices. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz gives his victory speech after defeating Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke, in Houston on Nov. 6, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
With more competitive races than usual, Texas saw deluge of outside spending
A hotly contested U.S. Senate race and an expanded congressional battlefield attracted a flood of super PAC spending to Texas in the general election. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Emily Albracht -
With days to go, contest for attorney general shows signs of a competitive race
Attorney General Ken Paxton has run a mostly under-the-radar re-election campaign, but new ads and big donations in the final days suggest Republicans aren't taking anything for granted. Full Story
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![Houston lawyer Justin Nelson (left) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.]()
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Cruz, O'Rourke blitz state in final weekend of campaigning
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and his Democratic rival, U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke of El Paso, made their closing arguments Saturday as they embarked on their last weekend of campaigning in the hotly contested race. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso (left), and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, both campaigning on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, O'Rourke in Dallas, Cruz in Victoria.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson: O'Rourke/Bob Daemmrich: Cruz -
Democratic super PAC injects $2.2 million into Texas House races in closing days
The investment by Forward Majority reflects Democratic optimism about significantly expanding their ranks in the Texas House come Tuesday. Full Story
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![View of the Texas House floor during the budget debate on House Bill 1 on May 29, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
21st District race to test boundaries of Democrats' expanded congressional battlefield in Texas
The race for Texas' 21st Congressional District pits Democrat Joseph Kopser against Republican Chip Roy for the seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio. Full Story
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![Chip Roy (left) and Joseph Kopser are the Republican and Democratic nominees for U.S. Congressional District 21, currently held by outgoing U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad: Chip Roy/Marjorie Kamys Cotera: Copser -
Beto O'Rourke camp says spending highlighted in Project Veritas video went to charity, will be "appropriately reported"
After a controversial conservative group released an undercover video featuring O’Rourke’s staffers, his campaign said that those staffers "took it upon themselves" to use campaign funds to donate supplies to an El Paso nonprofit. Full Story
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![Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Beto O'Rourke speaks at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Sept. 29, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
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