Dan Patrick may run against Greg Abbott
AUSTIN Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick brushed aside speculation of a 2018 gubernatorial run at the end of Texas last legislative session, insisting hed never challenge his close friend and fellow Republican Greg Abbott.
But more than 18 months after that declaration to reporters which came without anyone actually asking about a potential intraparty clash Patrick has meticulously moved to the governors right on many issues that GOP primary voters hold dear.
Patrick fully embraced Donald Trump before the election, while Abbott kept his distance. The lieutenant governor also has become Texas leading social conservative voice, promising to impose strict state transgender bathroom rules, promoting school vouchers and blaming Black Lives Matter for encouraging anti-police sentiment.
Patrick is a tea party-backed, fiery former conservative talk radio host, while the governor is a lawyerly, ex-Texas Supreme Court justice who appeals more broadly to traditional Republicans. Both are downplaying possible intraparty gubernatorial fight that could send shockwaves through Americas second-largest state, while also giving no indication they wont simply seek re-election to their respective posts in two years.
Read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/local-news/state-news/20161228-patrick-may-run-against-abbott.ece