U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, led the effort to set a maximum 120-day timeline for the president to decide whether to approve a permit for new international bridge projects. The previous process could have taken years.
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
Ken Paxton and aides ordered to answer questions under oath in whistleblower case
The four whistleblowers asked the court last month to force the attorney general and his aides to sit for deposition, which would require them to answer questions under oath related to the allegations of bribery and corruption.
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Texas Legislature 2023
How Gov. Greg Abbott lost a yearlong fight to create school vouchers
The governor projected confidence throughout 2023 that vouchers would pass. But his insistence on universal eligibility ensured his failure to convince 21 House Republican holdouts.
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Energy
Texas Supreme Court declines to revive billionaire’s defamation lawsuit against Beto O’Rourke
Kelcy Warren, a Dallas pipeline billionaire, sued O’Rourke in early 2022, saying the Democrat defamed him with critical comments about his company’s windfall profits after the Texas energy-grid collapse in February 2021.
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Politics
Ken Paxton’s impeachment cost Texas taxpayers more than $4 million
The bulk of the costs came from bills from Rusty Hardin’s law firm, according to records released this week.
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2024 Texas Elections
Three court of criminal appeal judges up for reelection targeted by Ken Paxton’s political revenge machine
Paxton promised to go after the Republican judges over their 2021 ruling that struck down the attorney general’s ability to unilaterally prosecute voter fraud.
Posted in
2024 Texas Elections
The field for the Texas primary election is set — here’s what to watch for
With both Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton out for revenge, Republican members of the Texas House are the top target on the ballot.
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Politics
Sheila Jackson Lee files for reelection for U.S. House seat after losing in mayoral race
State Sen. John Whitmire, a fellow Houston Democrat, defeated Jackson Lee in a landslide Saturday.
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Politics
State Rep. Victoria Neave Criado challenges fellow Dallas Democrat Sen. Nathan Johnson
Neave Craido revealed her decision to the Dallas Morning News in an interview published Monday, saying Johnson has not fought hard enough to push back against the Republican agenda.
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Politics
Mary Nan Huffman declares victory over Tony Buzbee in Houston City Council race
Buzbee challenged Mary Nan Huffman, the incumbent, who was backed by the Texas GOP and local Republican officials.