Texas Republicans plan to strip lieutenant governor powers if Democrat wins

Texas Republicans are reportedly planning to strip the lieutenant governor of legislative powers if Democratic nominee Vikki Goodwin defeats incumbent Dan Patrick in next month's election, according to the Quorum Report. The proposal, confirmed by multiple sources, would involve state senators changing chamber rules to limit Goodwin's control over committee assignments and bill flow, as many of the office's powers are granted by the Senate rather than the Constitution. Goodwin has dismissed the threat, noting core constitutional powers like gubernatorial succession remain intact. The office was last held by a Democrat, Bob Bullock, from 1991 to 1999. Patrick recently faced a police complaint over AI deepfake images of Goodwin.