/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.
Following President Donald Trump's latest unsubstantiated claim that voter fraud cost him the popular vote, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said "voter fraud is real" in an interview on Fox News Wednesday morning. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/10/24/PlanoEarlyVotes_004.jpg)
Gov. Greg Abbott said Wednesday that he and state lawmakers will pursue legislation that would "remove from office any officeholder who promotes sanctuary cities." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/23/Abbott_Hernandez.png)
Donald Trump's upset victory left many in both parties shocked, upending their best-laid plans for after the election. Among them are rising Texas Democratic stars Julián and Joaquin Castro. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/06/17/20160617_160329.jpg)
Gov. Greg Abbott is formally demanding that Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez reverse her new policy on cooperation with federal immigration authorities or lose state dollars, further escalating a showdown over "sanctuary cities" that have been in the crosshairs of Republican officials. Full Story
Two weeks after the high-profile legislation was unveiled in the Texas Senate, Gov. Greg Abbott maintained his largely neutral stance on the "bathroom bill" Thursday as pressure builds on him to weigh in. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/09/19/EduWorkForce157TT.jpg)
President-elect Donald Trump has picked former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue to be agriculture secretary, bypassing four Texans who had been seen as candidates for the job. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/17/Combs_Miller_Bonilla_Murano_TT.jpg)
Most of Texas' top state leaders tallied some formidable numbers in their latest campaign finance reports. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/01/Money-Capitol-3d-Budget.jpg)
On this week's TribCast, Patrick talks to Evan, Aman and Alexa about the latest politics of the "bathroom bill," Dawnna Dukes' indictment, the House and Senate budgets, and Donald Trump's inauguration. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/11/22/TTE-tribcast_leadart.png)
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus told the Texas Association of Business that the "bathroom bill," a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, was not his most urgent concern for the 85th Legislative Session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/10/Straus_SpeaksTT.jpg)
Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday pitched the "bathroom bill" to the Texas business community, which has vocally opposed the effort to regulate bathroom use. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/12/UP9A0118.jpg)