Announcement from National Editor Philip Rucker, Deputy National Editor Amy Fiscus, Senior Politics Editor Dan Eggen and National Politics Breaking News Editor John Wagner:
We’re delighted to announce that Patrick Svitek, who has delivered dominant coverage of politics in Texas at a consequential time in that state, is joining The Washington Post as a national politics breaking news reporter.
Patrick will join a team that plays a vital role covering the 2024 presidential campaign, the White House, Congress and national politics.
Patrick has been with the Texas Tribune since 2015, most recently serving as the publication’s primary political correspondent. Over the past decade, he has established himself as an authority on Texas politics with his prolific scoops and sharp enterprise on a highly competitive beat, and he is regarded as a relentless reporter and generous colleague. He has covered political trends and changing demographics in Texas and many national, state and local elections.
At the Tribune, Patrick chronicled the presidential campaigns of Ted Cruz and Rick Perry in 2016 and Julián Castro and Beto O’Rourke in 2020 – assignments that took him to early nominating states – and broke the news that Cruz was dropping out of the 2016 race. He also has covered campaigns for U.S. Senate, governor and other statewide offices. He took readers behind the scenes of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s unique relationship with former President Donald Trump, Gov. Greg Abbott’s unprecedented fundraising prowess and, more recently, Attorney General Ken Paxton’s historic impeachment trial. Patrick started covering Texas politics in 2014 for the Houston Chronicle’s Austin bureau.
Patrick’s move to The Post is a homecoming of sorts. He interned in our newsroom in 2014, during his senior year at Northwestern University, helping cover local and regional news, including politics, as part of the Medill School of Journalism’s residency program.
Patrick was born in Connecticut and grew up there and in Indiana. He lives in San Antonio with his wife, Camille, and their chihuahua, Murphy. He is an avid runner and enjoys hiking and cooking.
Please join us in welcoming Patrick to The Post.
Phil Amy Dan John
