Beto O’Rourke to lay down initial $10 million on fall TV ads
The expenditure, which the Democrat’s campaign announced Friday, comes as GOP Gov. Greg Abbott has dominated the airwaves for over two weeks. 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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![Democratic candidate for governor Beto O'Rourke speaks at a rally in El Paso to kick off a 49-day campaign trip through Texas on July 19, 2022.]()
Credit: Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribune -
Beto O’Rourke confronts a formidable GOP firewall as he woos rural Texans
Despite its dwindling population, rural Texas has consistently helped protect GOP dominance in statewide races, even as Democratic support grows in the state’s populous metro centers and suburbs. Full Story
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![Gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke spekas to attendees at a town hall in Abilene on Aug. 16, 2022.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
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![From left: Gov. Greg Abbott in Corpus Christi and Beto O'Rourke in Fort Worth at their election night watch parties on March 1, 2022.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Republican effort to remove Libertarians from November ballot rejected by Texas Supreme Court
On Aug. 8, a group of Republican candidates asked the Supreme Court to remove 23 Libertarian opponents from the ballot, saying they did not meet eligibility requirements. The Republicans included Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and others in congressional and state legislative races. Full Story
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![A voter casts their ballot at a polling station at the El Paso Fire Department Fire Station No. 3 on election day in El Paso. Nov. 3, 2020.]()
Credit: Joel Angel Juarez for The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
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![District 23 Rep. Tony Gonzales speaks with a reporter at a Starbucks in San Antonio on Aug. 24, 2022.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee Beal for The Texas Tribune -
Beto O’Rourke intensifies campaign on abortion rights as trigger law goes into effect
Gov. Greg Abbott signed the “trigger law” last year, ensuring that Texas would automatically outlaw abortion if the U.S. Supreme Court ever overturned Roe v. Wade. That happened in June, mobilizing Democrats nationwide and giving O’Rourke’s campaign a burst of momentum. Full Story
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![Democratic candidate for governor Beto O’Rourke speaks at a rally in support of abortion rights in East Austin on Jun. 26, 2022.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott declares Dallas-Fort Worth deluge a disaster, freeing up state resources to help in recovery
The declaration covers 23 counties across the state and comes after some saw more than 10 inches of rainfall Monday. Full Story
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![Gov. Abbott gets briefing from members of the Texas Emergency Management Council on the flash floods and excessive rain across the state at the Texas State Emergency Operations Center in Austin on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022.]()
Credit: State government website -
Progressive fundraising group raising $25 million to boost Democrats this November and beyond
The list of the Texas Future Project’s beneficiaries includes groups like Annie’s List and Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, which work to elect more Democratic women who support abortion rights. Full Story
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![Coffee mugs were on sale at the Texas Democratic Convention at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas on July 15, 2022.]()
Credit: Kylie Cooper/The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, waves to the crowd during the July 4th parade in McAllen in 2017.]()
Credit: Douglas Young for The Texas Tribune -
Beto O’Rourke swears at Greg Abbott supporter who heckled him over Uvalde shooting
O’Rourke confronted a heckler at a campaign event Wednesday who laughed while he was talking about the Uvalde school shooting, telling the person, “It may be funny to you, motherfucker, but it is not funny to me.” Full Story
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![Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke speaks at a town hall over the shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde and gun reform, in Dallas on June 1, 2022.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune