Abbott Vetoes Four Criminal Justice, Public Safety Bills
Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed four criminal justice and public safety bills, bringing to eight the total number of vetoes he has issued in the aftermath of the 84th legislative session. 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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![Gov. Greg Abbott in Pflugerville, Texas, for signing of open-carry bill on June 13, 2015.]()
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Prosecutor: Grand Jury to Hear Paxton Case in July
A case against Attorney General Ken Paxton is heading to a grand jury next month, according to one of the special prosecutors investigating him. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaking at the Texas Public Policy Foundation's opening of its new building on April 21, 2015.]()
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George P. Bush Steps Into Role as Dad's Surrogate
Land Commissioner George P. Bush made his debut this week as a surrogate for his dad's presidential campaign. The younger Bush hit the campaign trail in early-voting Nevada, making a pitch for his father in personal and political terms. Full Story
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![Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush speaks with Nevadans before a meet-and-greet on June 17, 2015, in Reno. He spent the day in the state stumping for his father, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.]()
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Collier Joins Texas Democratic Party as Fundraiser
Mike Collier, a former candidate for comptroller, is taking a job with the Texas Democratic Party. He will serve as a finance co-chair for the party. Full Story
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![Mike Collier, then-Democratic nominee for Texas comptroller, at the state Democratic convention in Dallas on June 27, 2014. Collier is running for lieutenant governor in 2018.]()
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Catch Up on Law & Order Issues From This Session
During the 84th legislative session, lawmakers passed open carry and campus carry legislation and voted to make cannabis oil available to epilepsy patients. Find more details on these and other law and order issues on the Texas Legislative Guide. Full Story
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5 Ways Jeb's Campaign Runs Through Texas
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush enters the 2016 presidential race with perhaps more ties to Texas than any other candidates in the field besides the two who live here: former Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. Full Story
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![Jeb Bush puts his hand on his son George P. Bush's knee during a light moment in the younger Bush's swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 2, 2015, as Texas land commissioner. At right is George P. Bush's wife, Amanda Bush.]()
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A San Antonio Wake-Up Call for Democrats
"At the end of the day, we needed 3,000 Democrats to get off their asses and go vote, and they didn’t," observes one Democratic consultant, summing up why Ivy Taylor narrowly defeated Leticia Van de Putte in the San Antonio mayoral runoff. Full Story
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![San Antonio Mayor-elect Ivy Taylor]()
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Eltife Not Running for Re-election in 2016
State Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, has reportedly decided not to run for re-election in 2016, bringing to a close more than two decades in public service and setting off a potentially crowded GOP primary to replace him. Full Story
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![Texas Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, at his desk in the Senate chamber on May 28, 2015. Eltife, who has a history of challenging his party on fiscal policy, has not said whether he's running for reelection in 2016.]()
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Taylor Claims Win in San Antonio Mayoral Runoff
Declaring victory at her election night party, Interim Mayor Ivy Taylor asked supporters if they realized they had "defeated a political machine," by edging out former state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte in the San Antonio mayoral runoff. Full Story
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![San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor (left) and former state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte are set for a runoff for the city's top job.]()
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Failed Attempt to Rebuke Lawmakers Riles GOP
The Texas GOP has abandoned an effort to issue an official statement on the 84th legislative session, divided over a proposed resolution that would have accused individual lawmakers of standing in the way of gun rights legislation. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
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