AUSTIN – After getting a much-coveted endorsement from President Donald Trump, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced Friday his reelection bid for 2026.
Patrick leads the Texas Senate, making him the most powerful lawmaker in the Capitol, and a fourth term would allow the Houston Republican to continue dictating the legislative agenda through 2030.
“The campaign will begin soon enough, but with seven weeks still to go in the Legislative Session, my focus remains on the work to be done at the Capitol for the people of Texas,” Patrick said in a statement.
Since taking office in 2015, Patrick has steered the Senate rightward by working to unseat those he deemed insufficiently conservative or disloyal to his agenda. He’s championed increasing homestead exemptions, dismantling university DEI programs and adding voter ID requirements.
Patrick tightly controls the Senate, where Republican members hold a 20-to-11 advantage over Democrats. It’s allowed him to pass GOP-favored policy with little deliberation or compromise.
While running for a third term, Patrick, now 75, said that he would not seek a fourth term. He reversed course shortly after his inauguration. Still, several at the Capitol continued to speculate that this year’s legislative session might be his last.
“Walking away from it’d be pretty hard to do,” said Bill Miller, a veteran lobbyist and political consultant. “He likes the legislative process. He’s taken control of it. So, what’s not to like?”
Patrick has touted this year’s Senate wins that include red-meat GOP policy, such as protections for prayer in schools, requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in every classroom and proof of citizenship requirements for voter registration.
Patrick won reelection in 2022 after beating Democrat Mike Collier by 10 percentage points. No prominent Democrat has thrown their hat into the 2026 race so far. Any Democrat would face a steep challenge against Patrick even if 2026 emerges as a favorable midterm for liberals.
“Down in Texas, I think that there’s enough of a red cushion that you don’t worry about that,” said Cal Jillson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University.
Any opponent would enter the race at a financial disadvantage to Patrick, who had $33.5 million in his campaign coffers, according to his latest campaign finance report. Democrats, who have not won a single statewide race in Texas since 1994, would likely be unable to match that financial support.
“They’ve been beaten so many times that their donors are no longer willing to put up the money,” Jillson said.
Trump kick-started Patrick’s reelection campaign Thursday when he announced his endorsement on social media among a slate of other candidate endorsements. A Trump endorsement is no surprise – Patrick chaired Trump’s Texas campaign in 2016 and 2020 – but almost certainly was welcomed.
“Trump is kingmaker in Texas, and although Patrick himself has a lot of sway, Trump definitely can motivate Republican voters and be a big boon for the leading Republicans,” said Brandon Rottinghaus, a University of Houston political scientist.
Trump said Patrick would be a strong ally to his administration and its policy goals for border security, immigration, taxes and the use of public dollars for private school education.
“Dan Patrick has my Complete and Total Endorsement – He will never let you down!”
Gov. Greg Abbott has said he will seek a fourth term in 2026. Meanwhile, Attorney General Ken Paxton is challenging Sen. John Cornyn for the Republican nomination to the U.S. Senate seat.
That’s set off what could be a bruising Republican primary for two prominent statewide seats.
Republican Comptroller Glenn Hegar is not seeking reelection after his selection as the sole finalist for chancellor of the Texas A&M University System.
