Latest Contributions

• Republican Texas House races become high-dollar affairs as Tuesday’s primary runoff nears

  by Patrick Svitek 2 hours ago

  The pricey fights illustrate how much of the action in Texas politics has shifted back to the primary after redistricting dramatically reduced the number of competitive seats. Full Story 

• Why Ken Paxton’s supporters in the Texas attorney general race are unbothered by his mounting scandals

  by Patrick Svitek May 18, 2022

  Paxton’s backers say they’re looking past the FBI investigation into Paxton and his felony indictment because he’s a a strong conservative advocate fighting the Biden administration. Full Story 

• West Texas rancher pours $2 million into Sarah Stogner’s underdog campaign for statewide oil and gas board seat

  by Patrick Svitek May 16, 2022

  Ashley Watt, who owns a 75,000-acre ranch in the Permian Basin, is helping bankroll a substantial TV ad buy in the final two weeks before Stogner faces the Railroad Commission’s chair, Wayne Christian, in the runoff. Full Story 

• South Texas Democrats fight to shape their party’s future in primary runoffs

  by Patrick Svitek May 16, 2022

  Democratic primary runoffs for two congressional districts and two legislative seats in South Texas highlight the candidates’ divergent visions for the party in a region the GOP is heavily targeting. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott voices clear support for school voucher program

  by Patrick Svitek May 10, 2022

  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. Full Story 

• Democrat Jolanda Jones narrowly wins special election for state House seat in Houston

  by Patrick Svitek Updated: May 9, 2022

  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. Full Story 

• Texas Democrats hope threat to Roe v. Wade will energize their voters ahead of the midterm election

  by Andrew Zhang, Patrick Svitek and Abby Livingston May 6, 2022

  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. Full Story 

• Campaigning for Henry Cuellar, a Democratic U.S. House leader says party shouldn’t shun abortion opponents

  by Patrick Svitek May 4, 2022

  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. Full Story 

• The Supreme Court draft ruling puts Henry Cuellar in hot seat over abortion votes ahead of runoff election

  by Patrick Svitek and Abby Livingston May 3, 2022

  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. Full Story 

• In Democratic runoff for South Texas congressional seat, nonprofit backing a candidate is accused of campaign finance violations

  by Patrick Svitek April 26, 2022

  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. Full Story