Fallon served in the Texas Senate for two years before running for Congress. He won’t see reelection in the U.S. House.
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 2023
Texas House committee advances school voucher bill, overcoming key hurdle
The committee action means school voucher legislation is poised to get its first House floor vote in recent history. Gov. Greg Abbott said if the Legislature fails to pass it this time, he will continue to call them back into session until they do.
Posted in
Politics
Senate fast-tracks passage of vouchers and border security legislation
The Senate revved to life Thursday, holding committee hearings with little advance notice and advancing four bills that satisfy Abbott’s agenda.
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Politics
Texas’ part-time Legislature has been at it all year. Now they’re heading into a rare fourth special session
A full 30-day session amounts to about $1 million in per diem payments to lawmakers, which are meant to cover their expenses in Austin.
Posted in
Politics
Tony Buzbee, Mary Nan Huffman advance to runoff for Houston City Council race
Buzbee is a high-profile lawyer who led the defense team in Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial. He is challenging Huffman, the incumbent council member.
Posted in
Politics
Jill Dutton, Brent Money advance to runoff for Texas House special election
Five Republicans and one Democrat were on the ballot for the ruby-red seat, but most of the drama has focused on two GOP candidates, Dutton and Money.
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Politics
Judge pauses Ken Paxton whistleblower lawsuit
Former top aides to the Texas attorney general are seeking damages for their firings after they reported Paxton to the FBI. The Legislature opted not to authorize a $3.3 million settlement in the lawsuit.
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Politics
State Sen. Drew Springer will not seek reelection in 2024
The Republican, who represents a north Texas district, is the first member of the state Senate to announce ahead of the Nov. 11 start of the filing period that he won’t be running.
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Politics
State Rep. Craig Goldman announces run for U.S. Rep. Kay Granger’s North Texas seat
Goldman chairs the Texas House Republican Caucus and has served in the House since 2013.
Posted in
2024 Texas Elections
Trump pitches 2024 election as most important for nation’s future during Houston campaign stop
Former President Donald Trump said the acquitted attorney general should not have been impeached but that he was happy to have helped the state’s top civil lawyer.