Dan Patrick

Dan Patrick
Born	Dannie Scott Goeb 4 4, 1950
Birthplace	Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, former radio and television broadcaster
Title	Lieutenant Governor of Texas
Known for	Lieutenant Governor of Texas, conservative legislative agenda, former sports radio host

Dan Patrick (born Dannie Scott Goeb, April 4, 1950) is an American politician and former radio and television broadcaster who has served as the Lieutenant Governor of Texas since January 2015. A member of the Republican Party, Patrick has become one of the most prominent figures in Texas politics, presiding over the Texas Senate and wielding significant influence over the state's legislative agenda. Before entering politics, Patrick had a lengthy career in media, working as a sports radio journalist and television broadcaster in the Houston market. He was elected to the Texas Senate in 2006, representing District 7, and subsequently won the race for lieutenant governor in 2014. He has been reelected to the position twice, in 2018 and 2022. In February 2026, former President Donald Trump endorsed Patrick alongside Governor Greg Abbott ahead of the 2026 election cycle, praising both Republican leaders for their roles in prior campaigns and their stances on key policy issues. Patrick has been a vocal advocate on issues including border security, property tax reform, school choice, and public safety, and has frequently drawn national attention for his legislative priorities and public statements.

Early Life

Dan Patrick was born Dannie Scott Goeb on April 4, 1950, in Baltimore, Maryland. He grew up in the Baltimore area and later legally changed his name to Dan Patrick. Details regarding his family background, upbringing, and childhood are limited in publicly available sourced material. Patrick relocated to Texas, where he would build careers in both media and politics, eventually settling in the Houston metropolitan area. He became a fixture in the Houston broadcasting scene before transitioning into public service.

Career

Broadcasting Career

Before entering politics, Dan Patrick established himself in the Houston media market as a radio and television broadcaster. He worked as a sports radio journalist and gained recognition as a host and commentator. His background in broadcasting provided him with a public platform and name recognition that would later prove advantageous in his political career. Patrick's media career spanned several years and included work in both radio and television in the Houston area.

Texas Senate (2007–2015)

Patrick entered electoral politics when he ran for the Texas Senate in 2006, winning the seat representing Senate District 7 in the Houston area. During his tenure in the Texas Senate, Patrick became known as a conservative voice on fiscal, social, and immigration-related issues. He served on multiple committees and was an active participant in legislative debates. His time in the Senate helped him build a statewide political profile and a base of support among conservative voters in Texas.

Lieutenant Governor of Texas

Election and Reelection

Patrick won the Republican primary and general election for Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 2014, taking office in January 2015. The lieutenant governor's office in Texas is considered one of the most powerful positions in state government, as the officeholder presides over the Texas Senate, controls committee assignments, and plays a central role in shaping the legislative agenda. Patrick was reelected in 2018 and again in 2022, consolidating his position as a leading figure in Texas Republican politics.

In February 2026, former President Donald Trump publicly endorsed both Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick ahead of the 2026 Texas election cycle. In his endorsement, Trump praised the two Republican leaders for their roles in past campaigns and outlined the issues he said they would continue to champion.

Legislative Priorities and Policy Positions

As lieutenant governor, Patrick has championed a range of conservative policy priorities. He has been a prominent advocate for enhanced border security measures, property tax reform, school choice initiatives, and restrictions on transgender participation in school sports, among other issues. Patrick has used his position as presiding officer of the Texas Senate to advance legislation on these topics and has frequently engaged in public advocacy on matters he considers central to Texas governance.

Patrick has also involved himself in matters of public safety and state regulatory oversight. In February 2026, he publicly urged the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) not to issue a license to Camp Mystic, a family-owned summer camp in the Texas Hill Country, pending further investigation into a catastrophic flooding event that occurred on July 4, 2025. The flood at Camp Mystic resulted in the deaths of 25 campers, two counselors, and the camp's executive director.

According to news reports, more than seven months after the flooding event, Camp Mystic was soliciting and accepting applications for the 2026 summer season. Patrick stated publicly that he would not send his own grandchildren to the camp under the current circumstances and called on state health officials to withhold the camp's operating license until the investigation into the flooding deaths was completed.

The Houston Chronicle reported that Patrick urged the Texas Department of State Health Services to deny the camp a license, describing the situation as one demanding accountability and thorough review before the camp could resume operations. Families of the victims had also filed lawsuits against state health officials over Camp Mystic's license, according to The Texan. The Camp Mystic issue drew significant media attention across Texas and highlighted the lieutenant governor's willingness to intervene publicly in regulatory matters involving public safety.

Role in the Texas Senate

As lieutenant governor, Patrick serves as the presiding officer of the Texas Senate, a role that gives him substantial control over the legislative process in the upper chamber. The Texas lieutenant governor assigns senators to committees, determines which bills are brought to the Senate floor for debate, and can influence the outcome of legislation through procedural authority. Patrick has used these powers to shape the legislative agenda during multiple regular and special sessions of the Texas Legislature.

Patrick's tenure has been marked by frequent engagement with both state and national political issues. He has been a prominent surrogate for conservative causes and has maintained a high public profile through media appearances and public statements. His endorsement by former President Trump in 2026 underscored his standing within the Republican Party at both the state and national levels.

Personal Life

Dan Patrick resides in the Houston metropolitan area. He legally changed his name from Dannie Scott Goeb to Dan Patrick. Patrick has referenced his grandchildren in public statements, including in his remarks about the Camp Mystic flooding tragedy, in which he stated he would not send his own grandchildren to the camp under the circumstances prevailing in early 2026.

Recognition

Patrick's endorsement by former President Donald Trump in February 2026, alongside Governor Greg Abbott, was covered by multiple Texas and national media outlets. Trump's endorsement cited both leaders' contributions to past campaigns and their positions on policy issues important to the Republican base in Texas. Patrick has been recognized as one of the most influential political figures in Texas, with the lieutenant governor's office considered among the most powerful in state government.