Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick brought his re-election campaign to Lubbock Wednesday, urging local Republicans to vote early, while discussing top voter concerns and addressing the opposing party.
Patrick spoke Oct. 21 at Million Air, a full-service fixed base operations and aircraft maintenance provider at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport. Patrick is on a bus tour of rural Texas aiming to “keep Texas red." He faces Democrat State Rep. Vikki Goodwin in the Nov. 3 general election. Early voting runs Oct. 19 to 30.
During a news conference, Patrick criticized the Democratic candidates running for statewide office while emphasizing his support for rural Texas. He cited state legislative victories including increased salaries for school teachers
and police officers, funding for regional water projects, a larger state budget allocation for Lubbock ISD, and new mental health facilities in Lubbock, Amarillo and Midland.
“But I love rural Texas. I put more money into rural Texas than any lieutenant governor or governor or legislature in the history of Texas,” Patrick said.
When asked about data centers, Patrick said people have a right to be frustrated. He stated that no data center should be built unless the local community approves it with their local officials.
If re-elected, Patrick plans to implement guardrails for these data centers into law. He said this is one of the key issues he will bring to the Texas Senate if he's re-elected.
Patrick also addressed concerns about banning books in school libraries. He stated that this is a topic that is often misreported, so he wished to clear the air.
“There is no list of books. There is no list,” Patrick said on the topic.
His comments come as school districts across the state, including Lubbock ISD, have fielded complaints from private individuals and groups challenging whether certain books and materials should be in school libraries in line with the recently passed SB 13 from the 89th Texas Legislature.
Patrick clarified his stance on school libraries, asserting that officials are “not banning books.” While any citizen can purchase the materials at a private bookstore, Patrick said taxpayers should not fund explicit or inappropriate books on elementary school shelves.
Patrick said high turnout from rural voters is how Republicans have won historically and "how we will win in the future." His strategy relies on these smaller counties to offset Democratic margins in big cities like Houston and Dallas.
“And so we need every Republican to turn out and vote this time more than ever,” Patrick said.
Hailey Stromberg is a reporting intern for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal in Texas. Have a news tip for her? Email our newsroom at newmedia@lubbockonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lt. Gov. Patrick stresses love for rural Texas in Lubbock election stop
