Rounding up Lt. Governor Patrick's UT/TT Poll Numbers as a Long Shot Primary Challenger Emerges

As anticipated in political circles, Dallas businessman Scott Milder announced Thursday morning that he would contest Lt. Governor Dan Patrick's re-election effort in the 2018 GOP primary. For details, see Jonathan Tilove's story in the Austin American Statesman, as well as Lauren McGaughy's saltily headlined piece in the Dallas Morning News. (The AP picked it up, too, so it even made it to Newsweek.  That's a magazine. Or was.)

It doesn't violate any norms of fairness to note the obvious: this is very much a long shot challenge to Patrick given his strong standing among the conservative voters who make up the bulk of the GOP primary electorate in Texas, as well as the well-stocked war chest that comes with being the incumbent Lt. Governor. Patrick's job approval numbers among key groups in the October University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll underline the strength of his position with the primary electorate.