'Dems are angry': Red state lt. gov predicts 'tough time' for GOP to hold state House

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) warned that Republicans will have a "tough time" holding the state House in 2026.

During the Texas Policy Summit on Wednesday, Patrick devoted a third of his keynote address to the possibility that Democrats could do well in the midterm elections.

"I can come out here and be rah, rah, rah," the Texas Republican explained. "Because if Democrats are in charge, guess what? You have nothing to do next year."

Patrick noted that one Republican recently lost a special election after being endorsed by President Donald Trump.

"And America cannot survive without Texas being red," he argued. "The Democrats are angry! They do have Trump's syndrome. They don't like what we've done in Texas."

Patrick pointed to the race between Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sen. John Cornyn as a problem area for Republicans.

"John Cornyn, if you lose, you need to endorse Ken Paxton and get your voters to support Ken Paxton," he remarked. "And Ken Paxton, if you lose, you need to endorse John Cornyn and get your voters to support John Cornyn. Because if 10 to 15% of either of their sides don't turn out and vote, James Talarico is going to win."

"Because I don't think we're going to lose. I'm just saying there is a pathway there," Patrick added. "And make no mistake, because of the race that we lost, the Democrats and George Soros will pour hundreds of millions of dollars. We're going to have a tough time holding the Texas House."

"You're going to have to help House members. You're going to have to fight for everything we've accomplished this year."