Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who launched a 2016 presidential campaign last month, got a chance to show off his deep ties to Texas with a recent trip to the state.
Patrick Svitek
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.
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Politics
Perry’s Pitch: Governors Make Better Presidents
Launching his presidential bid, former Gov. Rick Perry warned of the perils of electing young, grandstanding U.S. senators to the nation’s highest office. The dart was aimed at more than one target, and looks to be a centerpiece of the Perry campaign.
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PerryTracker: Follow Perry on the Campaign Trail
On Thursday, former Gov. Rick Perry announced he was entering the 2016 campaign for president, the second time he has run for the White House. The Texas Tribune is compiling Perry’s public events — past and future — since his official launch.
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Politics
Pro-Perry Super PAC to Go on the Air in Iowa
A super PAC supporting Rick Perry’s presidential campaign is wasting no time going on the air in early-voting Iowa, launching the first major ad buy of its kind for the primary season.
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Politics
Meet the People Who Want to Put Rick Perry in the White House
A mix of veteran hands and relative newcomers are set to help former Gov. Rick Perry as he launches his second bid for the White House.
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Politics
Perry to Embark on 2016 Run With Razor-Thin Margin for Error
He’s been teeing up the ball since leaving the governor’s office, and on Thursday Rick Perry is set to take the first official swing in his 2016 presidential bid. He will enter the race with decided disadvantages and little room for mistakes.
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Criminal Justice
Clinton to Call for More Early Voting, Target Texas’ Voter ID Law
In a Houston speech Thursday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to call for expanded early voting across the country, and criticize states like Texas that have passed restrictive election laws.
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Criminal Justice
Indictment Cuts Both Ways for Perry Bid
Former Gov. Rick Perry will formally step into the presidential race still under indictment for two felonies. The case, which once made Perry a cause célèbre in some circles, has become more of a headache as he seeks money and votes in a crowded GOP field.
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Politics
Straus Files for Another Term as Speaker
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus has filed the paperwork to officially seek another term presiding over the lower chamber. If he wins, it will be his fifth.
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Politics
Intrigue Swirls Around Eltife’s Senate Seat
State Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, has not yet said whether he is running for re-election in 2016, but that has not stopped a number of potential candidates from eying his seat, awaiting his final decision.
