Republicans are starting to pay more attention to Texas Senate District 27 — the only competitive Senate seat in November — but whether they will go all in remains an open question.
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
Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa fends off two challengers, wins another term
Hinojosa, who became party chair in 2012, was among those who were the target of Democratic frustration over the party’s lack of gains in Texas in the 2020 election.
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Texas 2022 Elections
Beto O’Rourke gets $2 million, his largest campaign donation yet, from Austin couple
It’s O’Rourke’s largest-ever donation as he runs for governor against Greg Abbott. Abbott, however, maintains a massive fundraising advantage and is no stranger to seven-figure contributions.
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Texas 2022 Elections
With $27.6 million haul, Beto O’Rourke sets a new fundraising record in Texas politics
Incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott entered this year with a much larger war chest and still has the financial upper hand in the race. He raised $24.9 million over the same time period.
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Politics
Eager for a statewide breakthrough, Texas Democrats will soon decide who will lead their party
Hinojosa, the chair of the Texas Democratic Party since 2012, is running for reelection against two challengers, Kim Olson and Carroll G. Robinson, at the party’s biennial convention this weekend in Dallas.
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Politics
Jill Biden apologizes for calling Latino community “unique as the breakfast tacos” in San Antonio
She made the comment during a speech Monday in San Antonio to a Latino civil rights group.
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Texas 2022 Elections
Beto O’Rourke to launch 49-day campaign tour of Texas
The Democratic gubernatorial challenger plans to hold 70 public events in more than 65 counties.
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Operation Lone Star
Gov. Greg Abbott empowers state authorities to return migrants to border crossings
Immigration law enforcement is a federal responsibility. Abbott appears to be testing the limits of state authority by empowering state law enforcement to bring migrants to the ports of entry — stopping short of using state resources to expel migrants from the country.
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Texas 2022 Elections
How the end of Roe and the Uvalde school shooting could reshape the race for Texas governor
A history-making spring in Texas is laying the groundwork for a contentious final four months in the race to lead the state, where Republican incumbent Greg Abbott remains the favorite but is confronting his toughest Democratic opponent yet in Beto O’Rourke.
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TribCast
TribCast: San Antonio tractor-trailer tragedy, the end of Roe v. Wade and the Jan. 6 hearings
For this week’s episode, Patrick speaks with Tribune reporters about the latest Texas headlines on immigration, abortion and the Jan. 6 investigation.
