Lieutenant Governor: who gets your vote?
What this role does
The lieutenant governor is next in line to be governor and takes over if the governor leaves office early. In some states, the lieutenant governor also leads the state senate. Some states elect the lieutenant governor separately, and others pair the lieutenant governor with the governor as a team. The lieutenant governor’s other jobs differ a lot from state to state.
The lieutenant governor can take over as governor if needed; daily effects are mostly indirect.
- Governor succession
Read about them. Then tap a button to pick one. You can change it later.
Data last updated: Oct 31, 2026 (state and local ballot sources). Verify approaching elections with your state election office.
Our reading of the duties, not an official requirement. Doesn't rank or recommend anyone.
Office role sources
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- National Lieutenant Governors Association: Frequently Asked Questions · Checked
- National Lieutenant Governors Association: Methods of Election · Checked
- Book of the States 2023, Table 4.1: The Governors: 2023 · Checked
- Book of the States 2023, Table 4.14: Lieutenant Governors: Powers and Duties · Checked
- Book of the States 2023, Table 4.12: The Lieutenant Governors: 2023 · Checked
- Ballotpedia: Lieutenant Governor (state executive office) · Checked
AI can make mistakes. Check the source links.
VIKKI GOODWIN
Running for Lieutenant Governor · Texas
StateDemocratic Party / Partido Demócrata
DAN PATRICK
Running for Lieutenant Governor · Texas
StateRepublican Party / Partido Republicano
Job fit
VIKKI GOODWIN
- Goodwin was first elected to the Texas House in 2018. Her House biography identifies her district as District 47 in western Travis County. 1
- Her House biography lists a BBA in Marketing and Government and a Master of Public Affairs from UT Austin, plus experience as a small business owner and real estate broker. 1
- Her House biography credits her with passing Cati’s Act, addressing drowning prevention in child care centers, and the Natalia Cox Act, strengthening domestic violence responses, in the 88th Legislative Session. 1
DAN PATRICK
- His official biography reports eight years in the Texas Senate, including chairing its Public Education Committee, and reelections as Texas lieutenant governor in 2018 and 2022. 2
- His official biography credits him with delivering an $18 billion Texas property tax cut in 2023 benefiting homeowners and businesses. 2
- His official biography credits him with increasing the homestead exemption to $200,000 for seniors and $140,000 for homeowners under 65. 2
Top issues
Picked for this office
VIKKI GOODWIN
- Her campaign lists priorities to invest in public schools, make Texas more affordable, expand healthcare, and protect the future of water and electricity. 3
DAN PATRICK
- His official biography says he pledged to eliminate school maintenance and operations property taxes for the average homeowner in the next two legislative sessions. 2
Record in office
We haven't found a record in office for either candidate yet.
Who pays them
VIKKI GOODWIN
What the source says
The Chronicle reported Goodwin raised $3.1 million from more than 36,000 donations averaging $84 each.
What the source says
The Chronicle identified Don Henley as Goodwin’s largest donor as of October 27, reporting about $229,000 in contributions.
DAN PATRICK
Wikipedia reports that Patrick donated nearly $175,000 to Texas Senate candidate Pete Flores during a 2018 special election. 5
Checks
No checks have run for either candidate yet.
Based on current data. May change in a future update.
Sources
- Rep. Goodwin, Vikki - Texas House of Representatives · checked 2026-10-31 used in: Experience
- About Dan Patrick Lieutenant Governor · checked 2026-10-31 used in: Experience, Top issues
- About Vikki — Rep. Vikki Goodwin · checked 2026-10-31 used in: Top issues
- Dan Patrick and Vikki Goodwin's biggest donors · checked 2026-10-31 used in: Money
- Dan Patrick (politician) · checked 2026-10-31 used in: Money
Show 2 more running
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View comparison ↑Pick any two candidates below. Your second selection updates the comparison automatically. “Shown above” marks the current cards, not a selection. Comparison selections do not change your pick.
VIKKI GOODWIN
Democratic Party / Partido DemócrataShown aboveGoodwin was first elected to the Texas House in 2018. Her House biography identifies her district as District 47 in western Travis County. 1
Her House biography lists a BBA in Marketing and Government and a Master of Public Affairs from UT Austin, plus experience as a small business owner and real estate broker. 2
Her House biography credits her with passing Cati’s Act, addressing drowning prevention in child care centers, and the Natalia Cox Act, strengthening domestic violence responses, in the 88th Legislative Session. 3
The Chronicle reported Goodwin raised $3.1 million from more than 36,000 donations averaging $84 each. 4
We haven’t finished researching voting records.
Her campaign lists priorities to invest in public schools, make Texas more affordable, expand healthcare, and protect the future of water and electricity. 5
Sources
1 Background: house.texas.gov · checked Oct 31
2 Background: house.texas.gov · checked Oct 31
3 Background: house.texas.gov · checked Oct 31
4 Money: houstonchronicle.com · checked Oct 31
5 Positions: vikkigoodwin.com · saved source
DAN PATRICK
Republican Party / Partido RepublicanoShown aboveHis official biography reports eight years in the Texas Senate, including chairing its Public Education Committee, and reelections as Texas lieutenant governor in 2018 and 2022. 1
His official biography credits him with delivering an $18 billion Texas property tax cut in 2023 benefiting homeowners and businesses. 2
His official biography credits him with increasing the homestead exemption to $200,000 for seniors and $140,000 for homeowners under 65. 3
Wikipedia reports that Patrick donated nearly $175,000 to Texas Senate candidate Pete Flores during a 2018 special election. 4
We haven’t finished researching voting records.
His official biography says he pledged to eliminate school maintenance and operations property taxes for the average homeowner in the next two legislative… 5
Sources
1 Background: ltgov.texas.gov · checked Oct 31
2 Background: ltgov.texas.gov · checked Oct 31
3 Background: ltgov.texas.gov · checked Oct 31
4 Money: en.wikipedia.org · checked Oct 31
5 Positions: ltgov.texas.gov · saved source
ANTHONY CRISTO
Libertarian Party / Partido LibertarioKLTV reported on October 16, 2026, that Cristo was a public school teacher and disabled veteran. 1
The Tribune’s September 2026 guide lists Cristo as a San Antonio high school teacher who lost congressional races in Texas’ 15th District in 2018 and 34th District in 2020. 2
The Tribune’s September 2026 guide reports $777 cash on hand and $1,694 raised since January 1 for Cristo’s campaign; it gives no reporting cutoff. 3
We haven’t finished researching voting records.
In October 2026, Cristo proposed cutting every government budget except education by 5%. 4
Sources
1 Background: kltv.com · checked Oct 31
2 Background: texastribune.org · checked Oct 31
3 Money: texastribune.org · checked Oct 31
4 Positions: kltv.com · saved source
KEVIN MCCORMICK
Green Party / Partido VerdeMcCormick received a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center in 1986, worked as a San Antonio high school math teacher, and lost his 2016 Texas congressional District 24 race. 1
The Tribune reported $94 in campaign cash on hand as of June 30, 2026, and $151 raised between January 1 and June 30. 2
We haven’t finished researching voting records.
In October 2026, McCormick proposed assessing property based on rental value and area income. 3
Sources
1 Background: texastribune.org · checked Oct 31
2 Money: texastribune.org · checked Oct 31
3 Positions: kltv.com · saved source