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 Radio talk show host Dan Patrick has a commanding lead for
Tuesday's election to be the new lieutenant governor, the most
powerful legislative position in a state with a $1.4 trillion annual
economy.
Ken Paxton, a Tea Party-backed state senator from the Dallas area,
is expected to handily win the attorney general's race, taking over
an office already at the national forefront in the fight against
abortion, illegal immigration and gun control.
He holds a strong lead despite legal problems for soliciting
investment clients without being properly registered with the state.
"This is a bad year for Democrats everywhere and in a state as red
as Texas, it isn't surprising that we are seeing the most
conservative candidates on the ballot running way out ahead," said
Republican strategist Bill Miller.
Despite holding solid majorities in both bodies, Republicans have
typically, but not always, reached some level of accommodation with
Democrats to help move legislation along in a statehouse that only
meets once every other year
But with Tea Party-aligned candidates predicted to dominate races
for the State Senate and House, there will be little room for
compromise, analysts said.
The influence of Democratic lawmakers will diminish if Patrick
carries through with a campaign pledge to make it harder for the
party to introduce legislation, according to Southern Methodist
University political science Professor Cal Jillson.
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"We are definitely going to see a push further toward the right,
even to the point of extremism," Jillson said.
Democrats have not won a statewide race in 20 years in Texas and are
set for another defeat for the top post of governor with state
Senator Wendy Davis posting a double-digit deficit in opinion polls
to Republican candidate Greg Abbott, currently the attorney general.
But, in the long run, the hard-right push could benefit Democrats,
who see the demographics of the state changing in a way that could
give the party the majority in the second-most populous state.
"This is still a very red state, and I don't think it can turn
around in one election cycle," Texas Monthly political writer Paul
Burka said.
(Writing by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Stephen Powell)
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