Patrick Seeks Fourth Term as Texas Lieutenant Governor
Republican incumbent Dan Patrick faces Democrat Vikki Goodwin in the November election for the state's second-highest office.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections
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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is asking Texas voters for a fourth term in the office, which presides over the Texas Senate. Democrat Vikki Goodwin gave up her Texas House seat to challenge him.
Why it matters
The lieutenant governor appoints committee chairs and controls the flow of legislation in the Texas Senate, giving the winner significant influence over state policy. The race pits Patrick's record on property-tax relief, school vouchers, abortion, THC products, school library materials and LGBTQ rights against Goodwin's platform for public school funding and expanded Medicaid access.
Patrick, 76, has held the lieutenant governor post for 12 years and has spent nearly two decades in state politics, while Goodwin has represented Austin in the Texas House since 2018. Polling and projections for the race are not yet available.
The players
Dan Patrick
Dan Patrick is the Republican lieutenant governor of Texas, a close ally of President Donald Trump, and is seeking a fourth term in the office.
Vikki Goodwin
Vikki Goodwin is a Democratic state representative from Austin who gave up her Texas House seat to challenge Patrick for lieutenant governor.
The details
Patrick is a close ally of President Donald Trump and points to property-tax relief, school vouchers and restrictions on abortion, THC products, school library materials and LGBTQ rights as key parts of his record. Goodwin campaigns for increased public school funding, regulation rather than prohibition of THC products and expanded Medicaid access.
Timeline
2018: Vikki Goodwin begins serving as state representative from Austin.
November 3, 2026: Voters decide Patrick's fourth-term bid against Goodwin.
Political Context
The race centers on the lieutenant governor's authority to preside over the Texas Senate and appoint its committee chairs, powers that have made the office a focal point of the state's policy direction. Goodwin's challenge puts Patrick's record on school vouchers, abortion and THC regulation before voters who have repeatedly supported him in statewide elections.
The outcome determines who controls the agenda in the Texas Senate, affecting taxes, school funding, and rules on abortion and THC products for residents across the state. Voters will decide the race on November 3, 2026.
The takeaway
The lieutenant governor's powers over the Texas Senate mean this November race will shape the chamber's direction, so voters weighing Patrick's record against Goodwin's platform should review how each candidate's positions on taxes, schools and health policy align with their own priorities.
Further reading
For more on how statewide offices are contested, see Elections coverage across Texas.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Dallas Morning News.
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