The Race For Lieutenant Governor

The race to defeat Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick is an uphill climb in a state where the conservative incumbent is a household name and Democrats haven’t won a statewide office in over thirty years. But three Democrats and three Republicans are taking that risk in the March 3 primaries.

As lieutenant governor, Patrick is the second most powerful elected official in the state, but can often rule like the first given the state's dynamics noted Brandon Rottinghaus, a political scientist at the University of Houston. “The Texas lieutenant governor is one of the top five most powerful in the country. Historically, the lieutenant governor is thought of as powerful, and sometimes more powerful, than the governor.”

Patrick indeed exercises a lot of power over the state Senate. Since defeating incumbent Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in 2014, he has dramatically upended traditions, such as decreasing the number of senators required to pass legislation and led the state to become one of the most conservative in the country. With his name recognition alone, he is expected to easily win his primary. He raised $1.4 million and has $37 million cash on hand.

Republicans running have nominal chances and broad agendas

But Patrick still has a primary, and he faces Navy veteran Timothy Mabry of Canyon Lake and two Austin-based Air Force veterans Esala Wueschner and Perla Muñoz Hopkins.

Mabry is a first-time candidate. He’s running on issues like affordability, which includes eliminating property taxes and improving the well-being of all Texans while putting his Christian faith first. Mabry also prioritizes the bipartisan concern that the state’s water, road and energy infrastructure isn’t keeping up with its rapid population growth.

He raised $21,000 and has $2,000 cash on hand.

Hopkins has run for office previously, including for the Texas Board of Education and the legislature. She lists  several policies on her website (eliminating property taxes and anti-abortion stances). But she’s best known as a “MamaBear,” a term adopted by conservative public school parents concerned about potential liberal indoctrination. She proudly mentions she was thrown out of a school board meeting.

Hopkins raised $170 and has $170 cash on hand.

Wueschner previously ran for Austin City Council, calls himself a citizen journalist who has exposed massive corruption and is actively campaigning against “Zionist influence” and the “Deep State.” He came in last in his nonpartisan city council bid.

Wueschner raised $100 and has $100 cash on hand.

Democrats see a chance to break tradition

Running in the Democratic primary are State Rep. Vikki Goodwin of Austin, Marcos Vélez of Pasadena and Courtney Head of San Antonio.

Goodwin is viewed by many political observers as as the Democratic frontrunner who has defied odds before. In 2018 the Austin Democrat defeated Rep. Paul Workman 52 to 48 percent. She was among the 12 candidates who flipped Republican seats in the Legislature. She then narrowly defeated police officer Justin Berry by 1,300 votes in 2020. After redistricting she was drawn into a safe Democratic district and cruised to reelection in 2022 and 2024.

Goodwin is a member of the House Progressive Caucus, known as a wonky representative interested in environmental stewardship, increasing funding for public education, Medicaid expansion and making access to reproductive healthcare easier.

She’s so far raised $372,000 and has $160,000 cash on hand. She’s garnered endorsements from numerous current and former elected officials, including Congressmen Greg Casar and Lloyd Doggett, former gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis as well as the American Federation of Teachers – Texas, Tejano Democrats, Asian Texans for Justice and swept the state’s major newspaper editorial boards.

Vélez is a labor union leader who has run a campaign focused on affordability, better wages and more funding for public schools. He’s endorsed by the AFL-CIO, Houston LGBTQ+ Caucus and the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas and San Antonio. He’s heavily leaning into his union background, which proved successful in Taylor Rehmet’s senate runoff earlier this year. Vélez has been making the argument that his background also makes him appealing for all working class Texans.

He’s raised $81,000 and has $46,000 cash on hand.

Head is a software developer who shares her opponent’s priorities on affordability and public education.

She raised $1,000 and has $3,500 cash on hand.

Mike Collier, a previous Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, is running in the November general election as an Independent. He is running as an Independent to distinguish himself from the two-party system. One of the main issues he has focused on is public schools.

The primary election in Texas is Tuesday, March 3. Early voting started February 17 and runs until February 27.