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AUSTIN — Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has strengthened his lead over Democratic challenger Mike Collier to double digits and is the strongest Republican candidate on the prime of the ticket, according to a new poll.
A Dallas Morning News/University of Texas at Tyler poll launched Monday indicated that Patrick leads Collier 39%-28% amongst registered voters, a margin that elevated 3 factors from August ballot outcomes.
Libertarian candidate Shanna Steele was the selection of 8%, 5% answered “another person” and 20% had been undecided.
Patrick’s lead elevated by 3 proportion factors as extra undecided voters look like transferring in his route in contrast with August ballot outcomes, although barely extra respondents disapprove of how he’s dealing with his place in comparison with a month in the past.
Whereas there was some hand-wringing amongst Republicans after the overturning of Roe vs. Wade appeared to energise the Democratic base, the ballot outcomes recommend Patrick might be heading towards a comparatively simple victory in November.
Patrick’s help amongst Republicans remained very robust at 73% whereas Collier’s help amongst Democrats was a extra tepid 58%. The 2 had been splitting independents virtually evenly, which is the place Collier might want to make up floor so as to catch Patrick, UT-Tyler political scientist Mark Owens stated.
In contrast with earlier polls, Owens stated this one signifies that individuals who determine as Republicans are coalescing round their incumbents. Patrick additionally noticed features amongst independents, who had favored Collier in earlier polling.
“Much more individuals proper now are transferring towards their partisan desire,” Owens stated.
However with no candidate polling above 40%, a minimum of one-fifth of the voters stays up for grabs.
A kind of undecided voters is 34-year-old Denton resident Cody Holmes, who stated he doesn’t determine himself as a member of a political occasion.
“I’m not too aware of it,” Holmes stated of the race. “I determine because the election will get nearer I’ll look extra into it. I do know that it is among the most vital races.”
Holmes stated the financial system ranks as his No. 1 subject, however he stated he additionally wish to hear what Patrick and Collier would do to handle Texas’ energy grid.
“I’m curious what the candidates take into consideration nuclear energy,” he stated. “It’s comparatively protected and it produces quite a lot of power. That’s vital.”
Holmes additionally stated he could be turned off by partisan assaults or unfavorable campaigning.
In current weeks, Collier has leaned into his previous as a former Republican and has marketed in areas the place he hopes to choose up extra independently-minded male voters, reminiscent of on the Joe Rogan present.
Collier has additionally picked up the endorsement of two prominent Republicans, Tarrant County Choose Glen Whitley and Amarillo state Sen. Kel Seliger.
Patrick’s marketing campaign attacked the endorsements, calling Seliger and Whitley a part of a “dinosaur parade” and that the 2 retiring politicians had been “desperately looking for relevance.” Then the next day Patrick’s marketing campaign trumpeted its personal cross-party endorsement from retiring Democratic Sen. Eddie Lucio of Brownsville.
In current weeks, Patrick has hit the marketing campaign path with a 131-city bus tour that has taken him to diners, gasoline stations and factories throughout Texas.
Patrick maintains a major benefit in marketing campaign money. He had a war chest of $27 million to Collier’s $530,000, in accordance with mid-year marketing campaign finance reviews.
In keeping with information from AdImpact, Patrick’s marketing campaign has dedicated $3.8 million in promoting spending in Texas’ 4 largest metropolitan areas, together with $1.3 million in Dallas-Fort Value. Collier has not dedicated any money to advert buys.
As president of the Senate, the place of lieutenant governor in Texas is among the many strongest posts within the Legislature with the flexibility to dictate which payments are thought-about by the higher chamber. Patrick has been the chief of the Senate since 2015.
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