Gov. Greg Abbott and challenger Lupe Valdez spar over arming teachers, Harvey recovery in debate
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and his Democratic challenger, Lupe Valdez, held their first and only debate Friday night in Austin. 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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![An audience watches the only Texas gubernatorial debate between incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott and Democratic challenger Lupe Valdez, in Austin, Texas on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Redistricting group led by Eric Holder to invest $250K in Texas House races
The National Democratic Redistricting Committee, the group led by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, has dedicated a quarter-million dollars to the effort this fall to add more Democrats to the Texas House. Full Story
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![Empty House chamber from the gallery on July 28, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
In age of Trump, Republican U.S. Rep. Will Hurd's independence again on the ballot in 23rd District
U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, is looking to hold on to the 23rd District once more as Democrats argue he is not as much of an outlier in his party as his image suggests. His opponent this time is Gina Ortiz Jones, a former Air Force intelligence officer. Full Story
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![Left: U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, speaks at a town hall in Alpine on Sept. 16, 2018. He stopped in the city as part of his annual end-of-summer swing through the district. Right: Gina Ortiz Jones, the Democratic nominee challenging Hurd, smiles as she is introduced during a Women at the Top Rally in San Antonio on Sept. 23, 2018.]()
Credit: Patrick Svitek: Hurd/Robin Jerstad: Ortiz Jones -
Ted Cruz and Beto O'Rourke clash over immigration, Trump, guns during intense debate
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Democratic opponent Beto O'Rourke held a feisty debate Friday evening at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Full Story
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![Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, during their debate at McFarlin Auditorium on the SMU campus in Dallas, on Friday, September 21, 2018.]()
Credit: Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News/Pool -
How Texas Democrats lost a state Senate seat amid talk of a blue wave
Republican Pete Flores defeated Democrat Pete Gallego on Tuesday in a state Senate district that Hillary Clinton won by 12 points, prompting Democratic soul-searching less than two months before the midterms. Full Story
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![Peter Flores thanks his supporters after his victory over Pete Gallego in a special election to succeed former state Senator Carlos Uresti, on Sept. 18, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Republican Pete Flores upsets Democrat Pete Gallego in race for Uresti seat
Democrat Gallego has conceded to Flores in the race to replace convicted former state Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, in a Democratic-leaning district. Flores will become the first Hispanic Republican to serve in the state Senate. Full Story
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![Texas Senate candidate Pete Flores applauds early returns that show him ahead of Democrat Pete Gallego in SD-19 race to replace disgraced Sen. Carlos Uresti on Sept. 18, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Ted Cruz leads Beto O'Rourke 54 to 45, new poll says
The new Quinnipiac University poll surveyed likely voters instead of registered voters like it did in past iterations. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso (left), is challenging Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera: O'Rourke/Bob Daemmrich: Cruz -
GOP determined to flip Democratic-friendly state Senate seat in overtime round
The special election runoff Tuesday pits Republican Pete Flores against Democrat Pete Gallego for the seat formerly held by convicted state Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio. Full Story
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![Former U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego (left), a Democrat, and Republican Peter Flores are running for state Senate District 19.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich: Gallego/Campaign website -
Trump endorses Dallas congressman Pete Sessions for re-election
President Donald Trump on Saturday tweeted that Sessions, R-Dallas, had his "full and complete endorsement." Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, and President Donald Trump.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson: Sessions/REUTERS/Leah Millis: Trump -
Cruz, O'Rourke agree to 3 debates
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Democratic opponent Beto O'Rourke have reached an agreement in their long-running negotiations over a debate schedule. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso (left), and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera: O'Rourke/Robin Jerstad: Cruz