Landry: What Dan Patrick could learn from R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Since entering Texas politics, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has been a force to be reckoned with. His brazen, callous, rowdy, yet calculating political style made him the darling champion of Texas conservatism and a front-line figure in the overall conservative movement. While these garners favor from those in his camp, one must wonder if such leadership characteristics lost him any political gain.

If counting election victories is the measurement of such gain, then the answer is no. Patrick has not lost a Texas election. When campaigning, he comes across as a compassionate, but forceful conservative with whom anyone can enjoy a beer, and the appeal works. He won reelection in 2018 and again in 2022. Because of his continual success as a candidate, Patrick pledged to run for a fourth term in 2026.

While his Trump-like grandiose demeanor wins him election victories, it seems he has less than stellar success maintaining a good working relationship with House Speakers. Such relationship dysfunction dates back to former House Speaker Joe Straus. In the 84th Legislative Session, Texas Monthly published a piece covering what is now known as the “breakfast blowup.” During a weekly breakfast meeting among the governor, Lt. Gov., and House Speaker – a.k.a “The Big Three” – Lt. Gov. Patrick was tired of being picked on by Gov. Abbott and Speaker Straus while also complaining on the speed of House taking up bills passed by the Senate. In the next session, the Texas Observer chronicled the personality and leadership differences between Speaker Straus and Lt. Gov. Patrick and how those contrasting styles led to more legislative confrontations than collaborations.

In 2019, it seemed as if Patrick felt a wind of change. Patrick closely won reelection but entered the session with one less Republican in the Senate and twelve less Republicans in the House than the prior session. He also had a new legislative partner in House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, who had a no-nonsense reputation. Those new ingredients made for a less explosive, more functioning legislative session than ones previous. There were no reports of breakfast blowups or Patrick and Bonnen taking shots at one another in the media as it happened with Patrick and Straus. It honestly appeared as if Patrick respected Bonnen and his long legislative leadership resume. All of that, though, came to a crashing halt when the infamous “Bonnghazi” incident took place, which left a forceful and successful House Speaker in Dennis Bonnen emasculated, forcing him not to seek reelection. Due to that, the next session would have a new House Speaker.

With Dade Phelan at the helm to guide the Texas House in 2021 and 2023, it looked as though the old Dan Patrick returned. The calculated, boisterous style we saw in his first term as Lt. Gov. returned for the end of his second and beginning of his third terms. As the 2021 regular session ended with a Democratic walkout, the Lt. Gov. made no bones about why the session that was dubbed the most conservative in Texas history had an asterisk. Quoted by the Texas Tribune, Patrick said he “can’t even blame it on the other party for walking out. They got an opportunity to walk out because of the deadline.” He went on to say the “clock ran out on the House because it was managed poorly...”

That was last session; what about this session? One key item for this session was property tax relief. After all, Gov. Abbott made it an emergency item for this past regular session. As the session ended late last month, property tax relief was not passed by the legislature, and the Lt. Gov. knew only one person was to blame, House Speaker Phelan. In an event after the regular session ended, Patrick zeroed in on Phelan, criticizing his leadership abilities and even claimed House Democrats have “total control” of the House because of the way the lower chamber creates its rules.

As a power of the Lt. Gov., Patrick presides over the Senate and has a hands-on effect on the lawmaking process; thereby making him arguably the most powerful state leader. Let it be clear, Patrick rules the Senate with an iron fist. Nothing happens without his approval. But because the House does not operate to Patrick’s will like the upper chamber does, he is frustrated and lashes out.

In all honesty, this is nothing new. Past Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst was upset with Speakers Tom Craddick and Straus. Lt. Govs. Bullock, Perry, and Ratliff had their issues with House Speaker Pete Laney but the difference between the past and present is really one word, respect.

Patrick had little to no respect for Joe Straus and the same goes for Dade Phelan. But Texas House has a saying, “respect us or expect us.” As we have recently seen, The House has been expected. But despite his electoral victories, Patrick’s legislative inabilities with the other chamber may have been overcome by listening to Aretha Franklin more so than his conservative fringe supporters.

Drew Landry is an assistant professor of government at South Plains College.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Landry: What Dan Patrick could learn from R-E-S-P-E-C-T