State Sen. Roland Gutierrez “very likely” to challenge Ted Cruz in 2024
Gutierrez has served in the Texas Senate since 2021 after previously serving over a decade in the House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bc0d50c1c7f14ce722635697f442876a/Gutierrez%20and%20Cruz%20TT.jpg)
Patrick Svitek
/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.
Past Contributions
-
![From left: State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Amid Slaton scandal, Texas Legislature moves to crack down on lawmakers who give alcohol to minors
The House passed a bill with a late amendment to make it a state jail felony for a “public officer” to give alcohol to a minor under any circumstances. Slaton voted for the amendment. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/af60d4585eb558dbaca0eb8a8380dc7b/Capitol%20Action%20April%2018%20JV%20TT%2010.jpg)
![State Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royse City, sits at his desk on the House floor in Austin on April 18, 2023.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Sen. Ted Cruz collects $1.5 million in first quarter to fuel his third Senate campaign
The Texas Republican has not yet drawn a serious challenger to his reelection bid. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3cbcfae8af8db2cf459001d8329b1f56/CPAC%20Cruz%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas on Aug. 5, 2022.]()
Credit: Zach Roberts/NurPhoto via REUTERS -
Ahead of primary, Rep. Tony Gonzales touts $1.3 million raised, 80 endorsements
After being censured by his party, the San Antonio Republican posts a strong fundraising quarter and district support. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9db577f59ecb47e500f76a17b6c90ce5/Tony%20Gonzales%20Presser%20REUTERS.jpg)
![U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, speaks at a Congressional Hispanic Conference press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.]()
Credit: Michael Brochstein/Sipa USA via REUTERS -
Complaint alleges Rep. Bryan Slaton had “inappropriate relationship” with an intern
The complaint came after an incident in which Slaton and the staffer allegedly met up at his Austin apartment last weekend. A separate staffer told The Texas Tribune that Slaton drank alcohol with an intern under 21 years old. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6e707634839fa8bae6d998ff6895f3d9/House%20Floor%20JV%20TT%20CROPPED%2021.jpg)
![State Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royse City, waits to speak from the back podium on the House floor on Tuesday, August 10, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
After House vote signaling opposition to school choice, Gov. Greg Abbott says the fight isn’t over
The House voted 86-52 on Thursday to amend the budget to ban state funding for “school vouchers or other similar programs.” Abbott has spent the past two months touring the state to build support for the proposal, spending tremendous political capital on trying to break through the rural Republican opposition to it. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/64d133fe80f8bb3fb877f7c8bfd1395a/0131%20Abbott%20Ed%20Savings%20BY%2015%20TT.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at Parent Empowerment Night at Annapolis Christian Academy in Corpus Christi on Jan. 31, 2023 to discuss parent empowerment and choice in their child's education.]()
Credit: Blaine Young for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate approves education savings account bill — but House signals a tough road ahead
A Texas House vote earlier in the day suggests Senate Bill 8 might be short of the votes needed to pass in the lower chamber. Senators also passed a bill on Thursday that would give teachers a one-time bonus. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e3b9f095d9fef387ef2d76fb948c161e/1014%20Hmschool%20League%20City%20AM%2007.jpg)
![Elementary students learn about amphibians at REACH Homeschool Co-op in Clear Lake, TX on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott is turning up the pressure on passing school choice. Will it pay off?
Passage of a school choice measure is anything but a sure bet, as there is little evidence that the governor has been able to convince rural Republicans in the Texas House — who have for years been a reliable firewall — to drop their opposition. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/add519bcebe85650231fa9f196e0de20/0131%20Abbott%20Ed%20Savings%20BY%20TT%2018.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at Parent Empowerment Night at Annapolis Christian Academy in Corpus Christi on Jan. 31, 2023 to discuss parent empowerment and choice in their child's education.]()
Credit: Blaine Young for The Texas Tribune -
Bills to expand gambling access in Texas clear House committee
Gaming advocates are pushing to legalize casinos and sports betting in Texas. The committee votes represent more progress than the proposals made last legislative session, when they got hearings in committee but were never voted out. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9aa084590318cd30a055164755226bdf/Casino%20REUTERS%20TT%2002.jpg)
![Gene Koonce plays on a craps table fitted with protective plexiglass panels during the reopening of Bellagio hotel-casino, closed since March because of COVID-19. Las Vegas, Nevada on June 4, 2020.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Steve Marcus -
U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is running for Houston mayor
Jackson Lee enters a mayoral contest that is already well underway. The early frontrunner is state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, and his competitors include Chris Hollins, the former Harris County clerk, and Amanda Edwards, a former City Council member. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e88058a96c6cec28fef8460a04b316b6/Generation%20Lockdown%20JN%20TT%2028.jpg)
![Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, speaks at a Washington D.C. rally in support of the Senate passing a federal assault weapons ban on Friday, March 24, 2023.]()
Credit: Julia Nikhinson for The Texas Tribune