Latest Contributions

• Republicans Shelley Luther, Drew Springer head to runoff in special election to replace state Sen. Pat Fallon

  by Patrick Svitek Updated: Sept. 29, 2020

  Much of the drama in the rapid-fire race had centered on Luther, a Dallas salon owner, and Springer, a state representative. Full Story 

• Republican dissent over Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's pandemic response animates state Senate special election

  by Patrick Svitek Sept. 25, 2020

  As Dallas salon owner Shelley Luther and state Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, continue to spar ahead of Tuesday's election, Luther directs some of her harshest criticism at Abbott. Full Story 

• Texas Republicans sue to stop Gov. Greg Abbott's extension of early voting period during the pandemic

  by Patrick Svitek Sept. 23, 2020

  State party Chair Allen West, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and members of the Texas Legislature were among those who filed the suit against Abbott. Full Story 

• John Cornyn and MJ Hegar's race is competitive in Texas, but they're keeping a low profile compared to 2018's Senate contest

  by Patrick Svitek Updated: Sept. 23, 2020

  Incumbent John Cornyn is pitching himself as a "steady hand on the wheel." Democratic challenger MJ Hegar says that hand is driving Texas toward a cliff. Full Story 

• Conservative megadonor backs Shelley Luther for Texas Senate with $1 million loan

  by Patrick Svitek Sept. 18, 2020

  Luther, the Dallas salon owner who was jailed earlier this year over her refusal to close her business due to coronavirus restrictions, is running to replace state Sen. Pat Fallon, R-Prosper. Full Story 

• Democratic allies fighting to flip Texas House join forces for $1.1 million digital ad campaign

  by Patrick Svitek Sept. 17, 2020

  The campaign will benefit 11 candidates in some of the most pivotal races to take control of the lower chamber. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott loosens coronavirus restrictions for restaurants and other businesses in most regions of Texas

  by Patrick Svitek Updated: Sept. 17, 2020

  Restaurants, retail stores and office buildings will now be able to operate at 75% capacity, Abbott said. Three regions — the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo and Victoria — were excluded from the loosening of restrictions, however. Full Story 

• Texas Supreme Court rules 3 Green Party candidates should be added back to November ballot

  by Patrick Svitek and Alexa Ura Updated: Sept. 15, 2020

  Democrats successfully sued last month to remove from the ballot the Green Party nominees for U.S. Senate, Railroad Commission and the 21st Congressional District. Full Story 

• John Cornyn, MJ Hegar set for first debate, though Hegar wants two more

  by Patrick Svitek Sept. 15, 2020

  Cornyn previously said he's open to debating Hegar more than once, and his campaign said Tuesday it looks "forward to considering other opportunities." Full Story 

• Ted Cruz says he doesn’t want to join the Supreme Court after being shortlisted by Trump

  by Patrick Svitek Sept. 14, 2020

  Last week, President Donald Trump named Cruz and another Texan to a list of potential picks for the U.S. Supreme Court if he gets a second term. Full Story 

• Biden campaign adds more staff in Texas

  by Patrick Svitek Updated: Sept. 14, 2020

  The campaign has added 13 more members to its team in Texas, where polls continue to point to a close race against President Donald Trump. Full Story 

• Texas Democrats from the border team up for new PAC in effort to flip the state House

  by Patrick Svitek Sept. 11, 2020

  The group, Corazón de la Frontera PAC, is being organized by El Paso Rep. Joe Moody, the House speaker pro tem. Full Story 

• U.S. Sen. John Cornyn suggests Trump could've struck a better balance in discussing early coronavirus threat

  by Patrick Svitek Sept. 10, 2020

  Cornyn's comments Thursday came in response to the recent revelation that the president intentionally downplayed the severity of the pandemic. Full Story 

• Donald Trump says Ted Cruz is on his list of potential second-term Supreme Court picks

  by Patrick Svitek Updated: Sept. 9, 2020

  James Ho, a Texan who serves on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, is also on the list of 20 potential justices. Full Story 

• National Democratic group to spend $6.2 million in effort to flip the Texas House

  by Patrick Svitek Sept. 8, 2020

  The super PAC, Forward Majority, is pouring the money into 18 races that will likely determine which party controls the lower chamber in January. Full Story 

• In Texas, President Trump's team hits the road to shore up support

  by Patrick Svitek Updated: Sept. 3, 2020

  The president's reelection campaign launched a bus tour of the state Thursday, though surrogates said — strenuously — that they still don't see Texas in play. Full Story 

• Texas Supreme Court temporarily blocks Harris County from sending mail-in ballot applications to all its voters

  by Patrick Svitek Updated: Sept. 2, 2020

  The Harris County Republican Party had sued to stop the county from sending the absentee ballot applications. Full Story 

• Pandemic politics ripple through Texas races, forcing U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw to defend his coronavirus response

  by Patrick Svitek Sept. 1, 2020

  In Crenshaw's bid for reelection, the fight over masks and rhetoric has become particularly pitched, drawing in dozens of Houston-area doctors. Full Story 

• Four candidates join Shelley Luther, Drew Springer in race to replace state Sen. Pat Fallon

  by Patrick Svitek Aug. 28, 2020

  Springer, a state representative, and Luther, a Dallas salon owner who was jailed over her refusal to close her business due to the coronavirus pandemic, had previously announced their campaigns. Full Story 

• Texas Republicans had light presence at national convention amid debate over state's battleground status

  by Patrick Svitek Aug. 28, 2020

  Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who chairs President Donald Trump's reelection campaign in Texas, said the lack of Texas speakers showed Republicans were not worried about the state. Full Story