Texas began its changing of the guard this morning as Dan Patrick was sworn in as the 42nd Lieutenant Governor of the Lone Star State. Receiving the oath of office from his son, a state district judge from Houston, Patrick will take the position alongside Gov. Greg Abbott and a completely new executive branch.
In his remarks after swearing in, Patrick said, “In my campaign I pledged to: secure the border; lower property and business taxes; prioritize, reform and improve education; build our infrastructure and protect life, family, and the second amendment. That is what I pledged to do as a candidate and what I will do as Lieutenant Governor.”
Patrick began his career as a TV broadcaster before transitioning into talk radio. It was from there that he campaigned for and won his seat in the Texas Senate where he consistently pushed for conservative policy reforms in both law and procedure, namely the 2/3 rule which he attacked session after session to no avail.
However, this session is expected to be different. As lieutenant governor, Patrick now serves as the presiding officer of the Texas Senate. Patrick will now be able to wield not just the gavel, but a healthy dose of clout as well in enacting his policy agenda. Taking center stage in this reform-minded agenda is continuing to defund the Travis County Public Integrity Unit led by disgraced Districy Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, school choice, and tax reform take center stage.
To win the office he was just sworn into, Patrick challenged sitting Republican Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst who he assailed as being too liberal and moderate. He attacked Dewhurst from the right and cited his ineffective management of the Senate chamber that enabled Democrats to block conservative items such as Voter ID and for his failure to halt Wendy Davis in her abortion filibuster. The blows rang true and Patrick demolished the crowded Republican field and unseated Dewhurst in a runoff.
