Trump endorses Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for reelection

Austin, Texas – Incumbent Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick got a big endorsement on Monday for his 2022 reelection bid from none other than ex-President Donald Trump.

Donald Trump announced his endorsement of Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's 2022 reelection campaign.
Donald Trump announced his endorsement of Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's 2022 reelection campaign.  © Collage: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

On his personal blog, Trump had glowing words for the Texan conservative: "Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick is a great fighter for the people of Texas. [...] Texans should re-elect him! He is outstanding and has my Complete and Total Endorsement!"

The feeling of admiration seems to be mutual, as Patrick chaired Donald Trump's 2016 and 2020 election campaigns in the state, the Texas Tribune reported.

The second-highest-ranking executive official, the lieutenant governor has a very important job as president of the state senate and first in line to take over should anything happen to the governor.

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Patrick has used this power to defend conservative causes, including but not limited to supporting restrictive abortion bills, pushing to punish companies that seek to divest from fossil fuel firms, and banning critical race theory in public schools.

Patrick is running for a third term in 2022 but said it will be his last if he wins. He has vowed to "continue to lead the fight to make sure [Democrats] gain no ground – not an inch – in Texas."

Nevertheless, Patrick already has at least one probable Democratic challenger who believes he has a real chance at a win.

Mike Collier, who lost to Patrick in 2018 by just 5 percentage points and is expected to run again in 2022, said the tides are turning in the once-red state: "The math is clear: Dan Patrick and Donald Trump’s extremist politics is why Texas will flip in 2022."

"As we say in Texas, that dog don’t hunt," Collier added.

Cover photo: Collage: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

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