Vikki Goodwin defeated Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in his bid to serve his fourth term as lieutenant governor, according to Associated Press projections. As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, Democrats have won the Texas House, and Republicans have won the Texas Senate.
“We’ve done it,” Goodwin said. “For our teachers, our students, our families. I am so amazed at this outcome, and I am so excited to get started.”
Goodwin’s upset against Patrick means that she will preside over a Republican-controlled Texas Senate. While lieutenant governors have certain powers under the Texas Constitution, most of their power comes from Senate rules, which senators vote on each session. These rules gave Patrick the power to determine what legislation made it through the Texas Senate.
Democrats won their first majority in the Texas House since 2003 and are likely to oust state Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, from the speakership. A Texas House majority would allow the next speaker to influence which bills make it to the House floor for the chamber’s consideration.
The results mean that neither Democrats nor Republicans can pass legislation by themselves in the upcoming legislative session.
The Texas Legislature passes legislation on state issues and sets the state budget, which contributes about 10% of the University’s budget. They also passed legislation in 2025 increasing the authority of university boards of regents and designating certain university areas to allow limited public demonstrations.
