Trump returns to Texas to see Hurricane Harvey recovery in Houston
President Donald Trump returned to Texas on Saturday to check in on the Hurricane Harvey recovery effort and meet with victims of the storm that ravaged southeast Texas. 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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![President Donald Trump speaks at First Church of Pearland, south of Houston, on Aug. 2, 2017. With him on the riser, left to right: Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, First Lady of Texas Cecilia Abbott, Gov. Greg Abbott, First Lady Melania Trump and U.S. Sen Ted Cruz.]()
Credit: White House -
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott: No special session needed for Harvey aid
Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday another special session of the Texas Legislature won't be necessary to deal with the response to Hurricane Harvey. The Legislature isn’t scheduled to meet again until January 2019. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott presides over a briefing at the Texas Division of Emergency Management in Austin on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Pete Gallego passes on second bid to reclaim old seat in Congress from Will Hurd
Former U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego, a Democrat, has decided not to try again to reclaim his old seat in Congress by launching a campaign against Republican U.S. Rep. Will Hurd of Helotes. Full Story
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![Former US Rep Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, concedes the 2016 Texas 23 Congressional District race to Will Hurd, a San Antonio Republican, on Nov. 9, 2016]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. Jodie Laubenberg not running for re-election
The Collin County Republican said she is "looking forward to the next chapter of my life." Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Pence, Perry visit Texas to see Harvey damage, meet with victims
Vice President Mike Pence and other members of President Trump's Cabinet — including Energy Secretary and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry — visited Texas on Thursday to see damage from Hurricane Harvey and meet with its victims. Full Story
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![Vice President Mike Pence on board Air Force 2 en route to survey damage from Harvey with Cabinet Secretaries Rick Perry (to Pence's immediate right), Elaine Chao, David Shulkin, Alexander Acosta and Acting DHS Secretary Elaine Duke.]()
Credit: Official Twitter feed -
State Rep. Larry Gonzales not running for re-election
"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve HD52 and this great state," Gonzales wrote Wednesday night on Facebook. Full Story
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![State Rep. Larry Gonzales, R-Round Rock, votes no on an amendment to the Texas Department of Transportation sunset bill in the Texas House in May 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas responds to Hurricane Harvey (podcast)
On this week's TribCast, Patrick talks to Aman, Jim and Brandon about the state's response to Hurricane Harvey, the latest in redistricting litigation and a number of immigration issues that are coming to a head in Texas. Full Story
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Credit: Emily Albracht / Todd Wiseman -
Trump visits Corpus Christi, Austin to see Harvey recovery
President Donald Trump was in Texas Tuesday to see the recovery efforts underway in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Full Story
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![President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive in Corpus Christi on Air Force One to survey damage from Hurricane Harvey on Aug. 29, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
El Paso County Judge Veronica Escobar begins campaign for Congress
El Paso County Judge Veronica Escobar filed paperwork Friday to begin a campaign for the U.S. House seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, a fellow El Paso Democrat. Full Story
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![Former El Paso County Judge Veronica Escobar.]()
Credit: Twitter -
As 2018 heats up, Will Hurd "bromance" puts Beto O'Rourke in awkward position
Will Democratic U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, at the top of the Democrats' statewide ticket, stand on the sidelines as his party goes all out to defeat his friend, U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, in 2018? Full Story
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![U.S. Reps. Beto O'Rourke (left), D-El Paso, and Will Hurd, R-Helotes, completed their road trip from Texas to Washington, D.C., on March 15, 2017.]()
Credit: Rep. Will Hurd's Facebook page
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