Gov. Greg Abbott to receive COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 22
Abbott has stressed that the vaccine will not be required for Texans, and on Monday, he specifically said it will not be mandatory for the state's school children. 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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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference in Austin on Dec. 17, 2020, regarding COVID-19 and the Pfizer vaccines that have been sent to hospitals across Texas. Gov. Abbott was adamant that despite rising cases and deaths, he will not be ordering any shutdowns. Gov. Abbott also said he has not received the vaccine, but he will take it when the time comes.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. Drew Springer trumps Shelley Luther in Texas Senate runoff
The Muenster Republican prevailed over the Dallas salon owner who made headlines for refusing to shut down during the coronavirus pandemic. Full Story
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![State Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, spoke during a Texas Tribune panel in 2019.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Harris County elections were fair and secure, task force finds
The Election Security Task Force for Harris County said in a report released Friday that it "found no proof of any election tampering, ballot harvesting, voter suppression, intimidation or any other type of foul play that might have impacted the legitimate cast or count of a ballot." Full Story
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![Voters at the polling place inside the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center in Houston on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott campaigns hard for Drew Springer in Texas Senate runoff with Shelley Luther
Ahead of the 2021 legislative session — and the 2022 primary season — Abbott is determined to make an example out of Luther, who has become an avatar of his intraparty detractors. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott announced a strike force in charge of laying steps to re-open the Texas economy at a press conference in the capitol on April 17, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
El Paso Mayor Dee Margo loses reelection bid to Oscar Leeser
Margo told reporters he doubted any other mayor has had to endure the crises he has battled throughout his last term, and was hopeful the community would realize he did “the best I could to lead.” Full Story
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![Former El paso Mayor Oscar Leeser.]()
Credit: Courtesy of El Paso Inc. -
Hit hard by the coronavirus, El Pasoans will decide a mayoral runoff where the central focus has been handling the pandemic
Incumbent Dee Margo is considered the underdog as he fights for a second term leading the city in a Saturday runoff against his predecessor, Oscar Leeser, that has been dominated by management of the latest crisis. Full Story
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![El Paso Mayor Dee Margo is fighting for a second term in a Saturday runoff against his predecessor, Oscar Leeser.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Texas politicians flock to Georgia to aid in fight for U.S. Senate majority
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz; Texas GOP Chairman Allen West; U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston; and former presidential candidate Julián Castro have all traveled to the state — or plan to soon — to campaign in the Jan. 5 runoffs. Full Story
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![Senator Kelly Loeffler, R-Georgia, and Democratic challenger Raphael Warnock, participate in a debate in Atlanta for the U.S. Senate seat representing the state. Dec. 6, 2020.]()
Credit: Ben Gray/Pool via REUTERS -
GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson readies 2021 lobbying blitz to bring casinos to Texas
Adelson's Las Vegas Sands has built a stable of high-powered lobbyists for the session, which starts in January, and the company acknowledged Tuesday that it is serious about bringing casinos to Texas. Full Story
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![Sheldon Adelson sits onstage before a speech by U.S. President Donald Trump at the Israeli American Council National Summit in Hollywood, Florida. Dec. 7, 2019.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Loren Elliott -
Dan Patrick wants to change Senate rules so GOP keeps a key advantage, despite losing its supermajority
The lieutenant governor said Wednesday he wants the Senate to decrease the threshold required to bring legislation to the floor to 18 members, which would allow the GOP to continue sidelining Democrats. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick reminds senators to keep their testimonies short during a discussion on Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1663 relating to the removal, relocation or alteration of certain monuments or memorials, on the Senate floor on May 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
What went wrong with Texas Democrats' 2020 plans? State party leaders intend to find out.
The state party chair plans to do a "deep dive" after executive committee members asked for answers about the outcome of the November election and demanded reforms. Full Story
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![The main stage at the 2014 Texas Democratic Convention held at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, June 27, 2014.]()
Credit: Alyssa Banata for The Texas Tribune