Cruz Enters Fifth Republican Debate in Trump's Crosshairs
Don't get Trumped. That's the task facing Ted Cruz as he heads into the fifth Republican presidential debate in the crosshairs of the bomb-throwing billionaire. 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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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (left) and Donald Trump.]()
Credit: Graphic by Gage Skidmore / Todd Wiseman -
Hispanic Conservatives: Cruz "Perhaps Worse" Than Trump
After meeting with Ted Cruz's presidential campaign, Hispanic conservative leaders are expressing concern that the Texas senator is in favor of "self-deportation," an immigration position that helped defeat the last Republican nominee. Full Story
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![Hispanic conservative leaders express worry after meeting with Ted Cruz's presidential campaign Monday in Las Vegas. The leaders met with a number of leading GOP campaigns ahead of the fifth Republican debate Tuesday.]()
Credit: Patrick Svitek -
Gilmore, Pataki Miss Filing Deadline for Texas Primary
Two bottom-tier Republican presidential candidates have missed the filing deadline for the Texas primary. Full Story
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![Ballot-by-mail clerk Chaundra Grattan organizes ballot packages at the Travis County Elections Division in Austin on May 19, 2014.]()
Credit: Charlie Pearce for The Texas Tribune -
Trump on Cruz: "A Little Bit of a Maniac"
Donald Trump is expanding his criticism of Ted Cruz, once his closest ally in the Republican race for the White House. Full Story
![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (left) and Donald Trump.]()
Credit: Graphic by Gage Skidmore / Todd Wiseman -
Turner Wins Nailbiter of a Mayor's Race in Houston
State Rep. Sylvester Turner narrowly won the Houston mayoral runoff Saturday night against former Kemah Mayor Bill King, keeping Texas' largest city under Democratic control. Full Story
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![Sylvester Turner narrowly defeated opponent Bill King in a runoff to be elected mayor of Houston on Dec. 12, 2015.]()
Credit: Spike Johnson for The Texas Tribune -
In A First, Trump Goes On Offensive Against Cruz
Billionaire Donald Trump on Friday went on the offensive against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, putting an end to the most closely watched alliance in the GOP race for the White House. Full Story
![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (left) and Donald Trump.]()
Credit: Graphic by Gage Skidmore / Todd Wiseman -
Judge Denies Paxton's Motions to Dismiss Criminal Charges
A Collin County judge has thrown out Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's motions to dismiss the charges in his financial fraud case. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, right, looks at one of the special prosecutors during a pre-trial hearing at the Collin County Courthouse on Dec. 1, 2015. Paxton faces felony charges related to claims that he misled investors in business dealings before he took office as attorney general.]()
Credit: Jae S. Lee / The Dallas Morning News -
Obama Endorses Turner in Houston Mayoral Runoff
President Barack Obama has endorsed Sylvester Turner in the Houston mayoral runoff, a race expected to go down to the wire Saturday between the longtime state representative and former Kemah Mayor Bill King. Full Story
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![Rep. Sylvester Turner speaks to crowd on election night. Turner narrowly defeated opponent Bill King in a runoff to be elected mayor of Houston on Dec. 12, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Cruz Plans Another Major Southern Swing
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is planning another major swing through the South to show off his presidential campaign's organization deep into the primary calendar, visiting 12 cities over the course of a week. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks Tuesday in Olive Branch, Mississippi. The 2016 presidential candidate was visiting the area as part of a weeklong swing through seven southern states expected to make up the so-called "SEC primary" on March 1, 2016.]()
Credit: Patrick Svitek -
Mayoral Runoff Shines Light on Houston's Political Identity
Houston voters will get the final say Saturday on who their next mayor will be — Bill King or Sylvester Turner — capping a race that seems to have increasingly laid the city's political identity on the line. Full Story
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![Sylvester Turner, left, and Bill King.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera