The Texas Supreme Court earlier Tuesday ruled that Democrats who refuse to show up could be detained by law enforcement and brought back to the state Capitol.
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 Legislature 2021
Texas Democrats at odds with one another as some return to Legislature and others stay in Washington, D.C.
While the quorum-busting Democrats were able to maintain a largely united front during the first special session, which ended Friday, it was clear they reached a fork in the road when the second special session began a day later.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott asks Texas hospitals to delay nonessential procedures as COVID-19 patients strain capacity
Abbott’s request was one of several steps to address rising coronavirus case numbers and hospitalizations. He did not back down from his refusal to allow local mask mandates.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2021
Lawmaker relationships fray as Texas Democrats’ quorum bust to block voting bill drags on
“There’s been some significant — if not irreparable — damage to the relationships within the body,” said state Rep. Justin Holland, R-Rockwall.
Posted in
Politics
Special election to fill former state Rep. Jake Ellzey’s North Texas seat set for Aug. 31
Ellzey, a Waxahachie Republican, is in Congress after winning the special election runoff last month for the 6th Congressional District.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
As coronavirus rages again in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott resists statewide action, hamstrings local leaders
As cases and hospitalizations are reaching heights not seen since February, Abbott’s pandemic playbook in recent weeks has largely focused on blocking local mandates and committing to protecting the rights of the unvaccinated.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2021
Gov. Greg Abbott announces special legislative session starting Saturday, covering elections, federal COVID-19 funding, quorum rules
The governor said Thursday the second special session will get underway at noon Saturday, with a 17-item agenda.
Posted in
Texas 2022 Elections
Jessica Cisneros will again challenge U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar in Democratic primary for congressional seat
Cuellar’s campaign confirmed that the congressman, who has served since 2005, will seek another term in 2022.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2021
Two House Democrats who broke quorum missing from Washington, D.C., reportedly vacationing in Portugal
Their vacation does not affect the lack of quorum that the House has in Austin that prevents the chamber from passing an elections bill. But it is at odds with Democrats’ insistence that they would use their time away to advocate for federal voting rights legislation in the nation’s capital.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2021
With special session’s end looming, Texas Democrats and Republicans mull their next moves
Abbott has promised to call a second special session to pass the GOP’s priority voting bill, but the exact timing is uncertain. And House Democrats have not yet revealed what they have planned after the session ends this week.
