87th LegislatureElections 2022Issues17 Texas House Democrats Endorse Collier for Lt. Gov. After Beckley’s Call for Him to Drop Out

On Monday, Collier announced that 17 Democratic state representatives endorsed his runoff campaign. The following names are on the list.

• Rep. Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas)
• Rep. John Bucy (D-Austin)
• Rep. Terry Canales (D-Edinburg)
• Rep. Alex Dominguez (D-Brownsville)
• Rep. Donna Howard (D-Austin)
• Rep. Ana Hernandez (D-Houston)
• Rep. Ann Johnson (D-Houston)
• Rep. Armando Martinez (D-Weslaco)
• Rep. Terry Meza (D-Irving)
• Rep. Joe Moody (D-El Paso)
• Rep. Victoria Neave (D-Dallas)
• Rep. Ron Reynolds (D-Missouri City)
• Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin)
• Rep. Jon Rosenthal (D-Houston)
• Rep. James Talarico (D-Round Rock)
• Rep. Gene Wu (D-Houston)
• Rep. Armando Walle (D-Houston)

“We know Mike and Mike knows us. That is why I am proud to endorse Mike Collier for Lieutenant Governor,” Bucy stated in a press release by Collier’s campaign. “He has consistently been in the fight — working alongside us for years to bring much needed change to the leadership in Texas.”

Collier is focusing his criticisms on Patrick, accusing the incumbent of engaging in “political theater” and asserting that defeating Patrick will take a “unified coalition.”

Previously, Collier received the endorsement of U.S. Reps. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-07), Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16), and Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-35).

On the Thursday following primary day, the Houston Chronicle reported that Beckley stated in an interview that Collier should withdraw his candidacy because “he doesn’t inspire the base.”

In the Democratic primary, Collier finished first with 42 percent of the vote while Beckley made the runoff with 30 percent of the vote. A third candidate, Texas Democratic Party Vice-Chair Carla Brailey, came in third with 28 percent of the vote.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick easily won the GOP nomination with more than three-fourths of the vote.

Patrick previously defeated Collier in the 2018 general election with 51 percent of the vote. That victory was the first time Patrick had faced general election voters since former President Trump’s inauguration.

It was the same year Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) defeated Beto O’Rourke, who is currently the Democratic nominee for governor.

Last summer, Beckley announced a candidacy for Congress against U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX-24) but dropped out of the race after the legislature redrew the 24th Congressional District to be more favorable to Van Duyne. Lawmakers had also excluded Beckley’s residence from the district.

Beckley launched her campaign for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor after dropping her bid for Congress.

Kronda Thimesch is the GOP nominee for House District (HD) 65, the seat that Beckley currently represents. HD 65 is rated R-58% on The Texan’s Texas Partisan Index. Much to Beckley’s disadvantage, the legislature altered the seat during the redistricting process to lean Republican.

In an analysis of the voting records of Texas House members, political scientist Mark P. Jones ranked Beckley the most liberal member of the chamber. She boasts having a rating of F from the National Rifle Association and was commended by Planned Parenthood as a “legislative champion.”