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Dan Patrick (born April 4, 1950) is the current lieutenant governor of Texas, serving since January 2015.
Before becoming the lieutenant governor he served two terms in the Texas Senate, worked as a television and radio broadcaster, and helped manage a chain of sports bars.
Lieutenant Governor of Texas
As lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick has led efforts to expand gun rights in Texas, including by legalizing campus carry, open carry, and ‘constitutional carry,’ also called permitless carry. Although Patrick is a supporter of school choice and vouchers, in 2019 he oversaw a push to increase public school teachers’ salaries by $5,000.
Patrick has backed a variety of socially conservative bills, such as SB 6 in 2017 to enforce single-sex bathrooms in schools and other public places. SB 6 passed the Texas Senate but never got a vote in the House.
Patrick’s tenure as lieutenant governor began in 2015 after his victory in the 2014 Republican primary, in which he challenged incumbent David Dewhurst. Patrick’s platform included an emphasis on education, securing the border with Mexico, and lowering property taxes.
Patrick led the four-candidate field in the primary with 41.5% of the votes. In the runoff election on May 27, 2014, he won 65.1% of the vote. On November 4, 2014, he won the general election against State Senator Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio.
Patrick ran for reelection in 2018, winning the Republican primary easily against Rockwall City Council Member Scott Milder, and more narrowly winning the general election with 51% of the vote to opponent Mike Collier’s 47%.
Texas Senate
Before becoming lieutenant governor, Patrick served three terms in the Texas Senate (2007-2015). He held committee assignments on criminal justice, finance, health, and other committees. He also served as chair of the education committee. Among Patrick’s legislative efforts as a senator was Senate Bill 186, which aimed to make abortion illegal in Texas.
Pre-Political Life
Patrick grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood in East Baltimore. He is the only child of the former Vilma Jean Marshall (1926–2016) and Charles Anthony Goeb (1926–2002), a Baltimore Sun newspaper vendor.
Patrick graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He is the first member of his family to graduate from college.
Patrick became a television broadcaster after college in 1977 and held positions in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. before moving to Houston. He changed his surname from Goeb to Patrick during his time as a television host.
In the 1980s, he opened a sports bar chain together with several investors, a venture that ended in personal bankruptcy.
In the 1990s, Patrick became a conservative talk radio host in the late 1980s. His success in this role led to him eventually owning two radio stations, and also contributed toward his political rise.
Presidential politics
Patrick endorsed Texas Senator Ted Cruz in the 2016 Republican presidential primaries. He also served as his Texas campaign chairman. After Donald Trump became the Republican nominee, Patrick endorsed Trump and eventually became Trump’s Texas state chairman. He supported Trump throughout his presidency.
Personal life
Patrick lives in the Houston suburb of Cypress with his wife Janetlea “Jan” Patricia Rankin, a former teacher. The couple was married in 1975 and they have two children, Ryan and Shane. Patrick is an evangelical Christian.
Recent News Coverage
Texas Museum Cancels Book Event ‘Forget the Alamo’ After Complaints from State Leaders, July 2, 2021
Phelan and Patrick Trade Blame Over Failure to Pass Election Law, June 4, 2021
Democrat Mike Collier Is Set to Challenge Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Again in 2022, April 5, 2021
