Abbott said he supports giving parents the option to attend private school “with state funding following the student.” Such measures have failed in the Legislature in the past.
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.
Posted in
Texas 2022 Elections
Democrat Jolanda Jones narrowly wins special election for state House seat in Houston
They were separated by a difference of 202 votes in unofficial returns, which means the election is eligible for a recount if Keys Bess petitions for one.
Posted in
Texas Abortion Restrictions
Texas Democrats hope threat to Roe v. Wade will energize their voters ahead of the midterm election
Democrats are hopeful that the looming threat of such a stunning political sea change could provide the strongest opportunity yet to energize their voters heading into an election year in which Republicans have been expected to dominate in Texas and beyond.
Posted in
Texas 2022 Elections
Campaigning for Henry Cuellar, a Democratic U.S. House leader says party shouldn’t shun abortion opponents
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn visited Texas to stump for Cuellar this week ahead of his runoff race. The trip fell two days after Politico published a leaked draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court that favors overturning Roe v. Wade.
Posted in
Texas Abortion Restrictions
The Supreme Court draft ruling puts Henry Cuellar in hot seat over abortion votes ahead of runoff election
The tight race between Cuellar, a moderate Democrat who famously opposes abortion, and Jessica Cisneros, a young progressive, represents the most vivid illustration of how the leaked opinion in favor of reversing Roe v. Wade could reshape a number of the fast-approaching runoffs.
Posted in
Texas 2022 Elections
In Democratic runoff for South Texas congressional seat, nonprofit backing a candidate is accused of campaign finance violations
Michelle Vallejo faces Ruben Ramirez in a runoff for the Democratic nomination in the 15th Congressional District. A nonprofit that supports Vallejo is accused of breaking campaign finance rules.
Posted in
Operation Lone Star
Some Texas Republicans push for Gov. Greg Abbott to use state personnel to deport migrants
Declaring an “invasion” under the U.S. Constitution is an incendiary idea that would spark immediate court challenges given that immigration law enforcement is a federal responsibility.
Posted in
Politics
Texas Democrats make moves to be early presidential primary state in 2024
The Democratic National Committee has decided to allow new states to bid for the coveted status, which has long belonged to places like Iowa and New Hampshire, in an effort to kick off the nominating process in states that better reflect the diversity of the broader electorate.
Posted in
Texas 2022 Elections
Pushing for “school choice,” U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz splits with Gov. Greg Abbott in his endorsements for Texas House runoffs
Typically political allies, two of the state’s top Republicans have endorsed different candidates in six GOP primary runoff races.
Posted in
Texas 2022 Elections
Beto O’Rourke carefully threads needle on border policy as Democrats grapple with the issue
For Democrats, especially in Texas, tackling border issues is difficult on the campaign trail as the party is not in agreement about various policies. O’Rourke has had to distance himself from President Joe Biden’s border policies, while going after Gov. Greg Abbott’s.
