Patrick Svitek, Texas Tribune

Patrick Svitek

Texas Tribune

San Antonio, TX, United States

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Recent:
  • Unknown
Past:
  • Texas Tribune
  • WFAA TV
  • Houston Public Media
  • PeoplesWorld
  • Pacific Standard
  • NBC Charlotte
  • 10 News Tampa Bay

Past articles by Patrick:

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says he’ll run for reelection in 2026, reversing previous plan to retire

Patrick made the comments at a daylong conference in Austin hosted by The Texan, a political news site started by former GOP state Sen. Konni Burton. → Read More

No red wave, but Republicans continue inroads into long-Democratic South Texas

The GOP flipped only one of the three congressional seats it wanted this cycle. But the party made inroads down the ballot. → Read More

Greg Abbott reelected Texas governor, defeating Beto O’Rourke

The governor prevailed after a tumultuous period that included the pandemic, a statewide blackout, restrictions on voting and abortion and the Uvalde school shooting. → Read More

Republican confidence grows as they eye a South Texas congressional sweep

Democrats are spending big to stop Republicans from flipping two of the three key battleground seats that have historically gone blue. → Read More

Bernie Sanders tours Texas hoping to amp up progressive turnout, including in key South Texas race

The two-time Democratic presidential candidate visited Central Texas and South Texas amid concerns that young and working-class voters are not mobilized enough for the midterm election. → Read More

For Republicans, winning Hispanic voters will be a bigger fight than South Texas

Nearly half of Hispanic Texans live in the state’s five largest counties, a voting bloc Democrats cannot afford to lose as they struggle to compete in the state’s vast rural areas. → Read More

U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, prominent Trump ally, weighing U.S. Senate run in 2026

Jackson recently launched Spanish-language TV ads in his reelection campaign, which is not competitive, in an effort to raise his profile with Latino voters. → Read More

District director for U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores resigns amid sexual harassment allegations

Flores’ district director, Aron Peña, was accused of touching and kissing an intern without her consent. He denies any wrongdoing. → Read More

Gov. Greg Abbott leads Beto O’Rourke by 5 percentage points in new poll

The latest survey also gave Republican incumbents single-digit leads in two other statewide races. → Read More

Democratic state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. endorses Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for reelection

The endorsement comes after Patrick’s Democratic opponent, Mike Collier, received endorsements from two Republicans, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley and state Sen. Kel Seliger of Amarillo. → Read More

Gov. Greg Abbott, Beto O’Rourke agree to debate Sept. 30 in Edinburg

O’Rourke wants more debates, but Abbott has indicated this is the only one he is willing to do before the November election. → Read More

As his district gets redder, Uvalde’s Republican congressman faces heat for votes on guns and gay marriage

Gonzales broke with his party to support sweeping gun safety legislation that passed after the city’s tragedy. He drew backlash from GOP activists again after he voted to protect same-sex marriage. → Read More

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez and his wife defied property tax law for eight years by claiming two homestead exemptions

In Texas, married couples generally can claim only one such exemption, meant to provide some tax relief on properties considered “principal residences.” Homestead exemptions cannot typically be claimed on commercial properties, second homes or income properties. → Read More

Greg Abbott agrees to one debate with Beto O’Rourke, but O’Rourke wants more

The governor said Tuesday he has agreed to debate O’Rourke, his Democratic opponent, on Sept. 30 in the Rio Grande Valley. → Read More

Republicans, Democrats prioritize legislative races targeting Collin County and South Texas seats

The Republican majority in the Texas House appears safe in November — and the battlefield is smaller than it was in 2020 — but both sides says the races have high stakes. → Read More

With rural Texas watching, Greg Abbott and Beto O’Rourke dig in on school vouchers fight

O’Rourke is hammering Abbott over vouchers on the campaign trail in rural Texas, where Democrats know they need to do better and where vouchers are a political hot potato for Republicans. → Read More

To stay in Congress, Mayra Flores bets Democratic South Texas is ready for an outspoken conservative

A Mexican immigrant who worked in cotton fields to pay for school supplies, Flores is a source of hope for Republicans looking to gain ground in the Rio Grande Valley. But her staying power will be put to the test this November. → Read More

Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa fends off two challengers, wins another term

Hinojosa, who became party chair in 2012, was among those who were the target of Democratic frustration over the party’s lack of gains in Texas in the 2020 election. → Read More

At least 46 people found dead in 18-wheeler in San Antonio

The bodies were discovered at an intersection near Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus described the case as the deadliest human smuggling incident he could recall in the city. → Read More

The Texas Republican Party convention starts Thursday. Here’s what we’re watching.

Every two years, the convention is an opportunity for the GOP’s most devoted members to update its platform, craft its legislative priorities and elect party officers. → Read More