Senator Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo) is being criticized for being the only Republican senator to not endorse Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick's bid for re-election.
Patrick announced his endorsements today, showing support by nineteen of twenty Republican senators in the Texas Senate. Seliger was the only Republican senator to not endorse Patrick and has drawn fire from his opponents based upon his lack of endorsement.
Victor Leal, a local restaurateur and Republican candidate for senate, criticized Seliger for not endorsing Patrick. In a statement released this morning, Leal endorsed Patrick, while calling Seliger "the most liberal Republican in the Texas Senate."
"Earlier today, our conservative Lt. Governor released his endorsement list. That list contained every Republican State Senator except one – liberal Republican Kel Seliger," Leal wrote. "The fact that Lt. Governor Patrick got all those endorsements is unprecedented, but the fact that Kel Seliger decided to withhold his endorsement is disappointing."
Mike Canon, a Midland attorney and Seliger opponent, has not yet endorsed a candidate for lieutenant governor. Canon also has not made a statement on Seliger's lack of endorsement
Patrick has served as lieutenant governor since 2015. Patrick was first elected in 2014, defeating incumbent David Dewhurst in a primary and topping Democrat Leticia Van de Putte in the general election.
