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Mike Collier, the Democrat challenging Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in November, came out swinging at his opponent in his speech at the Texas Democratic Convention late Friday.
“Dan Patrick wants you to hate your fellow Texan,” Collier said. “Dan Patrick wants you to turn your back on your fellow neighbor, instead of having their back. Dan Patrick says what’s wrong with Texas is you.”
Collier focused on energy policy, as many in the crowd waved signs reading “fix the damn grid.”
“Texans froze, Texans died, and still Dan Patrick puts profits over people. That’s not just corruption, that’s deadly corruption, and it’s time we throw some scoundrels out,” Collier said.
Collier also hit Patrick on education, criticizing his plans for private school vouchers and teacher pay.
“Dan Patrick doesn’t care if your class is too big,” Collier said. “He doesn’t care if your pay doesn’t add up.”
Patrick, a former Houston sports broadcaster, is one of the state’s most outspoken conservative leaders, a strong ally of former President Donald Trump and someone many experts have expected would ultimately run for governor. He easily beat his Republican opponent in the May primary, while Collier eked his way to the top of a crowded Democratic field.
The former state senator was first elected in 2014 as lieutenant governor, a position many consider the most powerful in the Texas Legislature when it’s in session. November’s election is a rematch of 2018, when Patrick beat Collier by almost 5 percentage points.