Texas lieutenant governor Dan Patrick prompted speculation Sunday with an announcement that he would make an announcement Monday about his election plans for 2018, raising the outside possibility that he could challenge incumbent governor Greg Abbott.
While it seemed likely that Patrick could simply be announcing for a re-election run, he also has positioned himself for a potential run to Abbott’s right, a recent Associated Press report noted.
Most prominently, Patrick this month lent his backing to a measure, the Texas Privacy Act, that would be a “bathroom bill” requiring that, in government buildings, use of locker rooms and bathrooms must be used based on biological sex. Patrick’s support for the measure drew some national headlines. A similar measure proved controversial in North Carolina.
Patrick also endorsed President-elect Trump, while Abbott initially was slow to back him.
Abbott remains popular among the general Texas populace, according to polling done by Morning Consult.