With issues and poll numbers keeping midterm races tight, Democrats should make Dan Patrick 'public

With issues and poll numbers keeping midterm races tight, Democrats should make Dan Patrick ‘public enemy number one A,’ expert says


Midterm elections typically focus on Congress, and give the opposition party a chance to make gain. But in the Texas of 2022, after the deadliest school shooting in the state’s history, restrictive new abortion laws, concerns about the power grid and much more, Gov. Greg Abbott may be in for the political fight of his career, while other Republican officeholders down the ballot could also face close races.

It’s too early to say, for certain, but the flashing lights for the governor’s re-election team include tighter polling margins between Abbott and his key challenger, Democrat Beto O’Rourke, plus a record financial haul by O’Rourke. These successes have, at least temporarily, put some wind in the sails of Texas Democrats’ hopes to win a statewide office for the first time in nearly 30 years.

Gromer Jeffers is a political writer for the Dallas Morning News. He told Texas Standard that the governor’s race is typically the driver of turnout in elections like this year’s midterm. But Jeffers says if Texas Democrats want to really have power in the statehouse, ousting Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick should be a top priority. Listen to the interview above or read the transcript below.

This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity:

Texas Standard: We’ve talked about some of the campaign cash pouring into the governor’s race and some of the tightening polls there. What about those down ballot races? Lieutenant governor, attorney general, ag commissioner? How are Democrats faring there?

Gromer Jeffers: Well, look, the governor’s race is the driver of turnout typically in these situations. But when you look at, say, the lieutenant governor’s race, Dan Patrick, the incumbent, the powerful president of the Senate – has basically been the prime motivator of most of the conservative legislation that has gone through Texas since he’s been there. He’s seeking a third term. And so it stands to reason that he would be, if not public enemy number one, public enemy number one A for Democrats. And the rematch with Mike Collier, I think will be interesting. It was a five-and-a-half point race in 2018. That’s pretty close. When you think about the powerful incumbent with O’Rourke at the top of the ticket. I think we’re looking at another race, at least less than seven or eight points, and who knows? So it’ll be another competitive race. I’m not saying Collier will win, but it’s one to watch.

Read more: https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/with-issues-and-poll-numbers-keeping-midterm-races-tight-democrats-should-make-dan-patrick-public-enemy-number-one-a-expert-says/