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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.
Crenshaw, who mentioned the House Freedom Caucus while making the criticism, sought to clarify later that he largely was not referring to the group. Full Story
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The Republican Party of Texas announced Monday it had launched a new Local Government Committee to work with county parties on backing candidates for nonpartisan local offices. Full Story
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Current state party leader Gilberto Hinojosa has indicated he isn’t going anywhere. But that hasn’t stopped open discussion about leadership of the party with several months until convention delegates vote on the position. Full Story
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Taylor was a key player in the 2019 school finance overhaul that lawmakers passed. Full Story
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The actor said in a video Sunday that “political leadership” is a “path that I’m choosing not to take at this moment.” Full Story
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Crockett is running for the seat vacated by Johnson, who announced Saturday that she would not seek reelection in the 30th Congressional District after serving nearly three decades in Congress. The seat is solidly Democratic. Full Story
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O’Rourke has ground to make up after his own underwhelming performance with voters there in 2018 when he ran for U.S. Senate — and turning out more Latino voters has long been key to Democratic hopes statewide. Full Story
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Krause had been among the primary challengers to Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose legal problems have made him a target for both parties next year. Full Story
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Gohmert is at least the fourth GOP primary opponent that Paxton will face. At least three Democrats are also running for the job. Full Story
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Johnson, one of the longest serving members in Congress, had previously indicated that her current term would be her last. Full Story
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