Patrick told reporters the race comes down to a bigger question than the ads flooding airwaves right now. "But it really comes down to this. Who do we want to be as a state?" he said. His stop in East El Paso covered issues he says affect both the Borderland and the state as a whole.
Shortly after Patrick spoke, ABC-7 caught up with his Democratic opponent, State Representative Vikki Goodwin, who has represented an area southwest of Austin since 2019. Goodwin drew a sharp contrast with the incumbent, telling ABC-7 she sees herself as the candidate for regular voters, not powerful interests. "I feel like I'm representing the people," Goodwin said.
The exchange gives El Paso voters a preview of how the two campaigns plan to frame the race heading into November. One is leaning on a broad vision for the state, the other on a direct appeal to everyday constituents. A potential debate between the two is also on the table, though nothing is confirmed yet.
Five weeks out, the lieutenant governor's race is shaping up as a fight over who Texans trust to represent them, decided one word at a time.