Anna M. Tinsley of the Fort Worth Star Telegram reports that Dan Patrick takes an insurmountable lead in lieutenant governor’s race, and several major outlets have declared him the winner giving the tea party an victory over an incumbent Republican.
Anna Tinsley asserts this has been one of the nastiest races in the country.Following weeks of personal attacks, accusations — even the unveiling of one candidate’s private medical history to reveal a brief stay in a psychiatric hospital three decades ago — Patrick drew nearly 62 percent of the vote to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst’s 38 percent, according to early results provided by the Texas Secretary of State.
“Ronald Reagan said, ‘I don’t have enemies, I have opponents,’” Patrick said before the polls closed Tuesday. “And you’ve heard me say so many times, I’m a Christian first. I’m trying to walk that talk.
“Someone with a record of vile, toxic rhetoric is simply unfit to lead our great state,” said Emmanuel Garcia, communications director for the Texas Democratic Party.
Dewhurst has been an 11-year incumbent while Patrick is a radio talk show host.
Many saw this race as the prototypical battle between "establishment Republicans versus grassroots Tea Party members.
Patrick will now run against "Democratic state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio in November’s general election."