Texas GOP will stick with virtual convention, even though federal judge ruled in-person Houston event is an option
The ruling was a striking last-minute development as party officials have struggled to get a virtual gathering underway. 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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![The entrance to the 2016 Republican Party of Texas convention at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas GOP postpones convention a day due to technical problems
After struggling to kick off the virtual gathering Thursday, the party's executive committee has voted to wait until Saturday to resume business, hoping it can use the time between to smooth things out. Full Story
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![Republican Party of Texas Chairman James Dickey speaks at the RPT convention in San Antonio on June 14, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
With high-stakes election season looming, Texas GOP Chair James Dickey faces formidable opposition
Dickey is competing against Allen West, a former Florida congressman, and activist Amy Hedtke. Full Story
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![Republican Party of Texas Chairman James Dickey is being challenged by former Florida congressman Allen West.]()
Credit: Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott defends mask mandate to "frustrated" delegates at Texas GOP convention
The governor began the state party convention Thursday by addressing head-on the growing discontent with his orders to contain the pandemic. Full Story
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![Governor Greg Abbott exits the public memorial service of George Floyd at the Fountain of Praise Church in Houston on June 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Spurred by Gov. Greg Abbott's coronavirus handling, Democratic strategists launch PAC to defeat him in 2022
The group, the Beat Abbott PAC, will raise money that will benefit the eventual Democratic nominee against Abbott in 2022. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott declared a statewide emergency amid new cases of COVID-19 in the state on March 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas congressional candidate backed by Donald Trump remains in too-close-to-call runoff with Ted Cruz's pick
Tony Gonzales and Raul Reyes were separated by 7 votes in unofficial results for the Republican primary runoff to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes. Full Story
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![From left, Tony Gonzales and Raul Reyes are running for the Texas Congressional District 23 seat that is being vacated by U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas.]()
Credit: Texas Tribune -
MJ Hegar defeats Royce West in Democratic runoff for U.S. Senate
Hegar declared victory late Tuesday, but West did not concede until Wednesday morning. Full Story
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![State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, and MJ Hegar will face each other in the May runoff that will decide who will be the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson and Eddie Gaspar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas will extend time that schools will be allowed to stay online-only, Gov. Greg Abbott says
Schools had previously been told that they would need to limit online-only instruction to the first three weeks of the school year, or they'd lose state funding. Full Story
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![Cactus Elementary School in Cactus on Jan. 28, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Joe Biden to air first general-election TV ads in Texas as polls show increasingly close race against President Donald Trump
The ads address the state's coronavirus surge, which has become dire as hospitals and morgues scramble to respond to the rising number of infections and deaths. Full Story
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![Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to supporters at a campaign event at Texas Southern University in Houston, on March 2, 2020.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Donald Trump makes last-minute pitches for Tony Gonzales, Ronny Jackson in Texas congressional runoffs
The president held tele-town halls Monday night with the two candidates he has endorsed in two of Texas' most heated Republican primary runoffs. Full Story
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![Former White House doctor Ronny Jackson, left, and Tony Gonzales.]()
Credit: Texas Tribune