In a video sent to voters in southeast Texas, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick blasted House Speaker Dade Phelan over the weekend on behalf of President Donald Trump.
Patrick was responding to Phelan’s claims in the media that he was a supporter of Trump. Phelan made that assertion following Trump’s endorsement of David Covey, who is challenging Phelan in the GOP primary.
Phelan said last week the endorsement was “retribution” for his role in seeking to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton is a close ally of the former president.
In a text message sent to House District 21 voters, Patrick wrote that despite his chairing Trump’s campaign in Texas for three elections, Phelan has “never offered to help.”
Accompanying the text message was a video from the lieutenant governor, asserting that Phelan is trying to fool voters by now claiming to support Trump.
“So why is Dade trying to fool you now? Because he knows he’s in trouble with the voters. Dade Phelan and can’t fool Donald Trump and Dade Phelan and will not be able to fool you,” said Patrick. “Donald Trump knows that David Covey is the real conservative in this race, and that’s why Donald Trump has endorsed David Covey to be your next state representative.”
Recent polling has shown Phelan is trailing Covey in the three-person GOP contest that includes businesswoman Alicia Davis.
