Joe Biden's campaign names first Texas hires for general election
The announcement comes as polls continue to show a close race in Texas between the presumptive Democratic nominee and President Donald Trump. 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 presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden spoke during a campaign stop in Dallas in March.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill for The Texas Tribune -
Despite promising to step aside after racist Facebook post, Keith Nielsen becomes Harris County GOP chair
Nielsen said earlier this summer that he would forfeit the job amid condemnation for sharing a graphic on Facebook that juxtaposed a Martin Luther King Jr. quote with a banana. Full Story
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![Keith Nielsen.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott will skip Republican National Convention to deal with coronavirus
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will instead chair the Texas delegation to the pared-down convention later this month in North Carolina. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at a joint press conference on the lawn of the Governor’s Mansion on Jan. 9, 2019. Newly-elected House Speaker Dennis Bonnen was also present.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune. -
Raul Reyes seeking recount in Republican runoff against Tony Gonzales for U.S. Rep. Will Hurd’s seat
Reyes was U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's choice in the race. President Donald Trump backed Gonzales. Full Story
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![From left, Raul Reyes and Tony Gonzales are running for the Texas Congressional District 23 seat that is being vacated by U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Trump rallies oil and gas workers in the Permian Basin against Democrats ahead of the November election
President Donald Trump's comments doubled as part campaign speech, part policy announcement, as polls continue to show a close competition with presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the once-solidly red state. Full Story
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![U.S. President Donald Trump signs presidential permits for energy development during a tour of the Double Eagle Energy Oil Rig in Midland on July 29, 2020.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott extends early voting for November election by six days, starting Oct. 13
The early voting period for the Nov. 3 election will start Oct. 13 instead of Oct. 19. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott adjusts his mask after giving an update on the categories of medical surge facilities at a press conference at the Texas Department of Public Safety on Tuesday, June 16, 2020.]()
Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell/Pool via Austin American-Statesman -
Texas Republicans face tough 2020 election after a rocky 12 months
The state's Republicans have had to weather a monthslong series of distractions while preparing for a November election that is now clouded by President Donald Trump's declining poll numbers and the coronavirus pandemic. Full Story
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![The Republican Party of Texas office in downtown Austin.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. Lorraine Birabil concedes after primary runoff defeat
The Dallas Democrat won a special election runoff earlier this year to finish the term of Eric Johnson, now the Dallas mayor. Full Story
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![State Rep. Lorraine Birabil, D-Dallas, and Democratic challenger Jasmine Crockett.]()
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Former Florida congressman Allen West unseats James Dickey to become Texas GOP chairman
West defeated Dickey, who was running for a second full term, early Monday morning at a tumultuous virtual state convention. Full Story
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![Allen West, former Florida congressman and candidate for chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, speaks at the Texas Public Policy Foundation's policy orientation meeting in Austin on Feb. 9, 2018.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas GOP convention chaos prompts delegates to create a second gathering for unfinished business
The original convention still kept going overnight, though, as delegates met to vote on key leadership positions — including the state party chairmanship. Full Story
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![Texas Republican Convention in Fort Worth in 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune