Dan Patrick - Ballotpedia

Lt. Governor - The Texas State Senate

Dan Patrick is originally from Maryland. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from University of Maryland. Patrick lives with his wife, Jan, and they have two children and eight grandchildren.

Dan currently works as the lieutenant governor of Texas and serves as the president of the Texas State Senate. He previously worked as a conservative talk radio host, television anchor, radio station owner, and founder of Talk Radio KSEV in the Houston/Galveston area, and he also founded the Lone Star Times. Patrick also operated a sports bar chain before transitioning into media.

Dan currently serves as the lieutenant governor of Texas. He was first elected in 2014 and is serving his third term. Patrick previously served as a Texas state senator for District 7. He served two terms from 2007 to 2015.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick formally launches 2026 re-election campaign

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick: Home

As state senator, cut the franchise tax by 25%.

Supports lowering property taxes as a central economic policy.

Supported a $100,000 homestead exemption for property taxes.

Presents the $100,000 homestead exemption as a nonnegotiable part of tax relief.

As lieutenant governor, delivered an $18 billion property tax cut.

Supports reducing business taxes and regulatory burdens to promote economic growth.

As a state senator, supported the $100,000 homestead exemption as part of the $18 billion property tax cut.

Supports legislative priorities focused on economic expansion.

- Supports lowering property taxes as a central economic policy.
- Presents the $100,000 homestead exemption as a nonnegotiable part of tax relief.
- Supports reducing business taxes and regulatory burdens to promote economic growth.
- Supports legislative priorities focused on economic expansion.

Economy

Dan Patrick - Wikipedia

Opposes abortion and has supported legislation restricting access.

Opposes pathways toward recreational marijuana legalization.

- Opposes abortion and has supported legislation restricting access.
- Opposes pathways toward recreational marijuana legalization.

Healthcare

Wants to "strengthen our grid by adding additional reliable dispatchable power."

Supports oil and gas production and policies protecting the industry.

Supports strengthening the electric grid through additional reliable power.

- Supports oil and gas production and policies protecting the industry.
- Supports strengthening the electric grid through additional reliable power.

Energy & the Environment

Dan Patrick secures third term as Texas lieutenant governor

Supports increased law enforcement resources and public safety funding.

Supports stronger criminal penalties for firearm-related crimes while backing gun rights.

Believes violent video games are a contributing factor to mass shootings.

- Supports increased law enforcement resources and public safety funding.
- Supports stronger criminal penalties for firearm-related crimes while backing gun rights.
- Believes violent video games are a contributing factor to mass shootings.

Public Safety

Supports expanded border security measures and enforcement funding.

- Supports expanded border security measures and enforcement funding.
- Supports military members and veterans.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick plans to run for reelection

Supports providing a high-quality education for all.

Supports school choice, including using state dollars for nontraditional schooling, while arguing rural schools can be protected.

Supports school voucher programs, which allow parents to use public funds to enroll their children in schools beyond their local options, including private schools.

Supports legislation to end the teaching of critical race theory and abolish diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in universities.

Supports raising teacher pay and providing additional payments to retired teachers.

Wants to reform tenure practices in higher education.

- Supports school choice, including using state dollars for nontraditional schooling, while arguing rural schools can be protected.
- Supports legislation to end the teaching of critical race theory and abolish diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in universities.
- Supports raising teacher pay and providing additional payments to retired teachers.
- Wants to reform tenure practices in higher education.

Education

Criticized the impeachment process used against Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Previously expressed support for term-limit principles but later indicated plans to seek reelection.

- Criticized the impeachment process used against Attorney General Ken Paxton.
- Previously expressed support for term-limit principles but later indicated plans to seek reelection.

Voting & Elections

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Dan Patrick

Dan currently works as the Lieutenant Governor of Texas and serves as the president of the Texas State Senate. He previously worked as a conservative talk radio host, television anchor, radio station owner, and founder of Talk Radio KSEV in the Houston/Galveston area, and he also founded the Lone Star Times. Patrick also operated a sports bar chain before transitioning into media.

Dan currently serves as the Lieutenant Governor of Texas. He was first elected in 2014 and is serving his third term. Patrick previously served as a Texas State Senator for District 7. He served two terms from 2007 to 2015.

Identified violent video games as a contributing factor to mass shootings.

- Supports increased law enforcement resources and public safety funding.
- Supports stronger criminal penalties for firearm-related crimes while backing gun rights.
- Identified violent video games as a contributing factor to mass shootings.

Supports legislation addressing critical race theory, DEI, and tenure policies.

- Supports school choice, including using state dollars for nontraditional schooling, while arguing rural schools can be protected.
- Supports legislation addressing critical race theory, DEI, and tenure policies.
- Supports raising teacher pay and providing additional payments to retired teachers.

Dan Patrick currently serves as the Lieutenant Governor of Texas. He was first elected in 2014 and is serving his third term. Patrick previously served as a Texas State Senator for District 7. He served two terms from 2007 to 2015.

Supports lowering property taxes as a central economic policy

Presents the $100,000 homestead exemption as a nonnegotiable part of tax relief

Supports reducing business taxes and regulatory burdens to promote economic growth

Supports legislative priorities focused on economic expansion

- Supports lowering property taxes as a central economic policy
- Presents the $100,000 homestead exemption as a nonnegotiable part of tax relief
- Supports reducing business taxes and regulatory burdens to promote economic growth
- Supports legislative priorities focused on economic expansion

Opposes abortion and has supported legislation restricting access

Opposes pathways toward recreational marijuana legalization

- Opposes abortion and has supported legislation restricting access
- Opposes pathways toward recreational marijuana legalization

Supports oil and gas production and policies protecting the industry

Supports strengthening the electric grid through additional reliable power

- Supports oil and gas production and policies protecting the industry
- Supports strengthening the electric grid through additional reliable power

Supports increased law enforcement resources and public safety funding

Supports stronger criminal penalties for firearm-related crimes while backing gun rights

Identified violent video games as a contributing factor to mass shootings

- Supports increased law enforcement resources and public safety funding
- Supports stronger criminal penalties for firearm-related crimes while backing gun rights
- Identified violent video games as a contributing factor to mass shootings

Supports expanded border security measures and enforcement funding

- Supports expanded border security measures and enforcement funding
- Supports military members and veterans

Supports school choice, including using state dollars for nontraditional schooling, while arguing rural schools can be protected

Supports legislation addressing critical race theory, DEI, and tenure policies

Supports raising teacher pay and providing additional payments to retired teachers

- Supports school choice, including using state dollars for nontraditional schooling, while arguing rural schools can be protected
- Supports legislation addressing critical race theory, DEI, and tenure policies
- Supports raising teacher pay and providing additional payments to retired teachers

Criticized the impeachment process used against Attorney General Ken Paxton

Previously expressed support for term-limit principles but later indicated plans to seek reelection

- Criticized the impeachment process used against Attorney General Ken Paxton
- Previously expressed support for term-limit principles but later indicated plans to seek reelection

As of January 22, 2026, Dan Patrick’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- The lieutenant governor is elected statewide by voters and is the second-highest elected official in Texas.
- They run the Texas Senate, deciding which bills are considered and who serves on Senate committees. This gives them major influence over state laws.
- They can cast a deciding vote in the Senate if there is a tie.
- The lieutenant governor helps shape the state budget and policy priorities by serving on key budget and oversight boards.
- If the governor is out of state, temporarily unable to serve, or leaves office, the lieutenant governor takes over the governor’s duties. If the governor leaves office permanently, the lieutenant governor becomes governor.
- The lieutenant governor serves a four-year term and can run again with no term limits.
- The position pays the same base salary as a Texas state legislator (about $7,200 a year), plus additional daily pay during legislative sessions.