Politics
Patrick Backs Stripping Incoming Lt. Gov. Goodwin's Senate Powers After Democratic Sweep
Outgoing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says Senate Republicans should rewrite chamber rules to curb the authority of Democrat Vikki Goodwin, who defeated him on Nov. 3. The move follows a historic Democratic sweep of statewide offices and a House flip.
AUSTIN â Outgoing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said he would support changing Senate rules to limit the powers of the office he is set to hand over to Democrat Vikki Goodwin, arguing that the chamber's Republican majority should protect its influence even after losing the statewide race.
Patrick made the comments Monday on the "Mark Davis Show," days after Democrats won every statewide office on the Nov. 3 ballot, captured a U.S. Senate seat and flipped control of the Texas House. Goodwin defeated Patrick to become the first Democratic lieutenant governor since 1999; Patrick has held the office since January 2015.
"I think the Senate should do that," Patrick said when asked about curbing the lieutenant governor's authority. "Vikki Goodwin won, but she doesn't have the majority of votes on the floor. So I believe, and I support the Republicans standing up for their voters."
The lieutenant governor presides over the Texas Senate and is widely regarded as one of the most powerful positions in state government, with broad control over which bills reach the floor and who sits on committees. Republicans retained a 19-12 majority in the Senate in the election.
Patrick framed the proposal as a defense of the chamber's majority rather than a rejection of the election outcome. "We lost the election. We didn't lose Texas in terms of values and culture and economic issues," he said.
He also acknowledged the shifting political landscape, saying it would become "tougher and tougher and tougher for Republicans to continue to hold all the statewide offices." The Nov. 3 results marked the first time a Democrat has won a statewide race in Texas since 1994.
Patrick is not the first Republican to float limiting the powers of an office his party is about to lose. Last week, state Rep. Brian Harrison called on Gov. Greg Abbott to convene a special session to restrict the governor's emergency powers before Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa takes office. Harrison authored a similar bill in 2022 that did not advance.
Goodwin is set to assume the lieutenant governor's office in January and lead the Senate. She has begun announcing a transition leadership team and has said she intends to lay out her vision for the chamber.
The push to dilute the lieutenant governor's role raises questions about how much power the incoming Democrat will actually wield in a chamber where Republicans still hold the majority â and whether rule changes made before she takes office could set a precedent for future transfers of power.