Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants to export religious and conservative values that have reshaped the Texas public education system, tax policy and college campuses to the rest of the country.
Patrick, who controls the state Senate agenda, framed the election in November as a choice between Godless communists and those who love God. He told fellow Republicans in Dallas that Texas gets it right.
The pitch: Republicans have faced unchallenged political leadership in Texas, and the state has seen sustained economic and population growth. It’s a result of conservative policymaking, including low taxes and a prohibition on income tax, which have attracted investment and residents from California and other “blue-state failures.”
The target: Patrick said voters this fall are not choosing a candidate or a political party. It’s a battle for the soul of American politics.
The line: “In Texas, we have a saying, ‘We have to get it right because there’s not another Texas to move to.’ In November, we have to get it right because there’s not another America to move to,” Patrick said.