Dan Patrick Touts Trump Love in Launch
of Bid for Same Job He's Had for 12 Years
Capitol Inside
April 11, 2025
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick ended speculation about his future in politics on Friday when he announced a re-election campaign for 2026 with a full-throated plug from President Donald Trump as the first endorsement in the bid to keep the same job he's had for nearly a dozen years.
The Republican state Senate leader touted Trump's support in a post on X that included a pitch from the president on his Truth Social page.
"As Texas Chair of our Presidential Campaigns in 2016, 2020, and 2024, Dan has been an incredible friend to our Movement, helping us WIN BIG in the Primaries and General Elections," Trump wrote. "In his next Term, Dan will fight tirelessly alongside of us to Secure the Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Champion School Choice, Support our Great Military/Vets, Restore American Energy DOMINANCE, and Strongly Protect our always under siege Second Amendment."
Patrick actually has a 2-1 record as the Trump campaign chief in the Lone Star State - with victories in 2016 and 2014 against a bitter defeat in 2020 when he was ousted from the White House by Democrat Joe Biden. But Patrick has a perfect mark as the actual candidate in races for a Texas Senate seat and the presiding officer's post.
While Trump is the gold-standard endorsement for MAGA loyalists, it has the potential to be a liability if the White House stays the current course on a trade war that the president initiated with tariffs that will set the stage for a recession and send prices for goods in the U.S. soaring. Candidates who wrap themselves in Trump could be at a greater risk than some may imagine as a consequence of unprecedented anxiety and insecurity American senior citizens are experiencing as a result of Elon Musk attacks under the banner of DOGE on Social Security and Medicare. Trump's approval ratings are starting to sink as a function of the chaos that he's triggered around the nation and across the globe.
But Patrick knows that he would have been a prohibitive favorite to win a fourth, four-year term in his current post without the need for the president to prop him up. Patrick hasn't faced anything resembling serious competition in a GOP primary election since his debut Senate race almost 20 years ago. The Senate boss had a campaign surplus that had surpassed $33 million at the start of 2025.
Patrick can expect his only potential test with a Democratic opponent in the general election next year if Trump's popularity doesn't rebound. Patrick defeated Democrat Mike Collier in the general election in 2022 by 10 percentage points after a closer call in 2018 when the incumbent beat the same challenger by less than 5 points.
As someone who celebrated his 75th birthday last week, Patrick's age could be a factor in the 2026 election to some degree. Patrick has appeared to be relatively healthy and fit for his age despite some concerns over missed time during the regular session in 2023.
Barring unforeseen developments, however, Patrick appears to be safer in his current position than any other elected state leader in Texas with the exception of Governor Greg Abbott as far as primary opposition is concerned. The praise from the president is good for an ego boost and scrapbook clip even if the Trump endorsement won't have any effect on the share of the vote Patrick receives in 2026.
more to come ...
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