Four candidates are running for Texas lieutenant governor—the second-in-command to the governor—in the Nov. 3 election.
What's happening
Libertarian Anthony Cristo, Democrat Vikki Goodwin and Green Party candidate Kevin McCormick are challenging Republican incumbent Dan Patrick, who is seeking a fourth term.
The lieutenant governor leads the Texas Senate and can exercise the powers of the governor if the governor dies, resigns, is removed from office or is absent from the state, according to the Texas State Historical Association.
Patrick won his Republican primary race in March, while Goodwin advanced to the general election after beating another Democrat in a May primary runoff, Community Impact reported. Cristo and McCormick were selected as their parties' candidates during nominating conventions in April.
Write-in candidates may also appear on the ballot; however, Community Impact does not send questionnaires to write-in candidates.
Something to note
Patrick's campaign did not fill out Community Impact's questionnaire, and instead shared the following statement: "Texans know where Lt. Gov. Patrick stands on the issues that matter to the people of Texas, including those you raise in your questionnaire. The most current information about his positions is available on his campaign website, www.danpatrick.org, as well as his official website, www.ltgov.state.tx.us."
Preparing for the polls
Early voting runs from Oct. 19-30, and Election Day is Nov. 3. In addition to eight statewide races, the following state and federal seats are up for election this fall:
38 U.S. House seats (by congressional district)
Four seats on the Texas Supreme Court (statewide)
Three seats on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (statewide)
Three seats on Texas' 15th Court of Appeals (statewide)
16 state Senate seats (by legislative district)
150 state House seats (by legislative district)
Eight State Board of Education seats (by SBOE district)
For more coverage of local and state races, visit communityimpact.com/election.
Zooming in
Community Impact's goal with election Q&As is to provide a side-by-side, equitable resource for Texas voters to review candidates' perspectives before they head to the polls.
To ensure that candidates are the ones defining their positions, if candidates did not complete the questionnaire after multiple attempts to contact them, Community Impact's website reads "candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time." Candidates were informed of this policy.
Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been minimally edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.
