February 19, 2020      4:56 PM

SB: Texas Senate has options after Patrick doubled down on rules change

In renewing his promise to push for a simple majority threshold, Patrick admits his “team” may be smaller than the GOP Caucus; senators may fear Patrick’s role on the Legislative Redistricting Board but there is almost always a workaround when playing legislative chess

Out with the old and in with the new. As we prepare for the imminent free-for-all to fill the soon-to-be-vacated seat held by Sen. Kirk Watson, it’s appropriate to reflect on the environment in the Texas Senate and how it may be about to change.

Just after the filing deadline passed in December, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was proud of the fact that none of the GOP senators who serve in Austin had drawn a primary challenger. “These senators told the people of their districts what they were going to do – and they did it – which is why no one is challenging them,” Patrick said.

And why would any upstart candidate challenge them from the right? Senators had data on their side. During session, it was fairly well known that Patrick would provide senators with individualized polling results showing how voters in their districts felt about his priority bills right before those measures would be debated on the floor. A lack of GOP Senate primaries may mean Republicans are liberated to an extent. In short: Retribution for them can only be dealt out by Patrick, not the voters in safe Republican districts.

But Patrick doesn’t need to endorse primary challengers or fund insurgent campaigns – the way he exacted revenge on former Sen. Craig Estes – to find significant leverage with senators and keep them on his “team.”

By Scott Braddock

Copyright February 19, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved