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Two state senators who want to be the next lieutenant governor of Texas will meet for their first debate Monday evening.
Leticia Van de Putte and Dan Patrick are expected to spar over immigration, education and healthcare.
Senator Van de Putte has her work cut out for her in what will likely be the only formal debate in the race for Lt. Governor. She’ll have to make a case as to how Senator Patrick’s key policy positions can harm Texas.
“She has to be able to identify how immigration restrictions within the state are harmful. She has to talk about how the education system has fallen behind other states. She has to talk about how Texans’ access to healthcare will be limited if we pursue Senator Patrick’s positions,” says University of Houston Political Science Professor Brandon Rottinghaus.
As for Senator Patrick, Rottinghaus says that with his lead in the polls, his number one job is simply to run out the clock until Election Day. The professor says the senator has to stay away from making vitriolic statements, particularly when it comes to immigration.
“And, in doing so, though, still maintain the message he’s been delivering across the state: and that is the immigration system needs to be repaired, and that there are other, sort of strategic, conservative ways to accomplish the state’s goals,” says Rottinghaus.
The debate will be held at the studios of KLRU in Austin. You can hear it, starting at 7 o’clock this evening, here on News 88.7. You can also see it on TV-8 and on HoustonPublicMedia.org/debate.
Early voting in Harris County begins on October 20th. Election Day in Texas is November 4th.
