GOP state Sen. Van Taylor of Plano makes congressional run official
Taylor will seek the seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Plano, in Texas' 3rd Congressional District. 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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![State Sen. Van Taylor, R-Plano, lays out SB20, the sunset legislation under consideration in the special session at the State Capitol in Austin on July 19, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Angela Paxton, Texas attorney general's wife, eyes Texas Senate run
Angela Paxton, a guidance counselor and the wife of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, is considering a run for state Senate, according to people familiar with her thinking. Full Story
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![Angela Paxton, wife of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, sings "Pistol Packin' Mama" at a NE Tarrant Tea Party gathering in 2016.]()
Credit: Ken Paxton Campaign -
Texas leaders offer mixed responses to UT-Austin's late-night removal of Confederate statues
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick criticized the overnight removal of several Confederate statues from the University of Texas at Austin’s campus while U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz called the decision "the university’s prerogative." Full Story
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![A crew takes down Confederate statues on the UT-Austin campus just after midnight on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Primary race to challenge U.S Rep. Will Hurd draws two more Democrats
Two more prominent Democrats are joining the race to challenge U.S Rep. Will Hurd, whose sprawling 23rd Congressional district runs across much of the Texas border. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, speaks at the Border Unity Rally on March 25, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. Matt Shaheen passes on Texas Senate run
State Rep. Matt Shaheen, R-Plano, has decided not to run for Texas Senate, passing up what could have been a marquee race in the 2018 primary season. Full Story
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![State Rep. Matt Shaheen, R-Plano.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Abbott: Removing Confederate monuments "won't erase our nation's past"
Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday weighed in on the renewed debate over Confederate monuments in Texas, saying that removing them "won't erase our nation's past, and it doesn't advance our nation's future." Full Story
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![Gov. Abbott announces he's running for governor in San Antonio on July 14, 2017.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Trump to fundraise in Dallas in September
Hosts of the Sept. 27 fundraiser in Dallas include senior RNC officials as well as some Texas donors and bundlers who supported Trump in his 2016 campaign. Full Story
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![Then a candidate for president, Donald Trump rallied a crowd of veterans at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 28, 2016 — just ahead of that state's presidential caucuses.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
In special session rubble, spotlight shines bright on Straus
Following a bruising special session that ended a day earlier than expected, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus drew sharp criticism from some fellow Republicans as well as questions about his future as head of the lower chamber. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, emerges smiling from a caucus of Republican members after the 85th Legislature adjourned sine die on Aug. 16, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Gov. Abbott slams House, doesn't rule out second special session
Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday put blame on the House — particularly Speaker Joe Straus — for the shortcomings of the special session and left the door open to calling another one. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott lays out items for a special session at a press conference on June 6, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Legislature ends special session without passing property tax measure
The Texas Legislature closed out the special session Tuesday night amid a stalemate on property tax reform, leaving unfinished Gov. Greg Abbott's top priority. Full Story
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![The Texas House abruptly gaveled out Sine Die – the formal designation meaning the end of a session – on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune