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State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, has filed paperwork to run for lieutenant governor in subsequent yr’s midterm election, giving up a secure seat within the Texas Home to hunt one of many state’s strongest places of work.
Goodwin has lengthy been anticipated to run for the seat, presently held by Republican Dan Patrick, who has stated he’ll search reelection subsequent yr. The four-term Austin Democrat instructed the Tribune in 2023 she was mulling a run, and since then she has brazenly signaled her plans to allies.
She appointed a marketing campaign treasurer for her lieutenant governor bid on Monday, the primary formal step for a candidate to start out elevating cash.
Unseating Patrick can be a frightening activity for any Democrat. The lieutenant governor is sitting on a warfare chest of greater than $33 million, and he has many deep-pocketed conservative allies able to experience to the rescue if he finds himself endangered.
Texas Democrats have struggled to mount aggressive statewide campaigns lately, together with in 2022, when Patrick gained reelection by 10 proportion factors. However the celebration is hoping for extra favorable circumstances subsequent yr, pushed by backlash to President Donald Trump and the prospect of Lawyer Basic Ken Paxton — a Republican who has confronted varied authorized scandals — main the poll if he’s nominated for the U.S. Senate over incumbent John Cornyn.
In 2018, the primary midterm beneath Trump, Democrat Beto O’Rourke got here inside 3 proportion factors of defeating Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. Patrick gained reelection by practically 5 proportion factors that yr.
Democrats haven’t gained a statewide election in Texas since 1994.
Goodwin should make up vital floor financially, with simply over $150,000 in her marketing campaign account as of Dec. 31, the final date coated by public marketing campaign finance stories.
Goodwin, a 58-year-old actual property agent, has served within the Texas Home since 2019, representing a district that covers components of west and north Austin and the western aspect of Travis County, together with components of Bee Cave and Lakeway. She is seen as one of many extra liberal members of the state Home and presently serves on the chamber’s Appropriations and Insurance coverage committees.
With Goodwin working for lieutenant governor, Travis County Democratic Occasion Chair Pooja Sethi is looking for to fill the open seat. Sethi introduced she is stepping down as celebration chair in June, and he or she just lately filed paperwork to run in Goodwin’s district.
First spherical of TribFest audio system introduced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Price Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets at present!
