Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has been named Donald Trump's Texas state chairman -- the same position he held for Ted Cruz before Cruz dropped out of the presidential race.
Patrick is a tea party favorite who has vowed to secure the Texas-Mexico border above all else. He feuded with Cruz in 2012, but eventually became an outspoken Cruz supporter during the Republican presidential primary.
After Trump clinched the GOP nomination, however, Patrick quickly and whole-heartedly endorsed him -- while Cruz and Gov. Greg Abbott didn't.
Patrick's reward was Friday's announcement that he will lead Trump's Texas operations. Trump should win Texas easily, despite polls suggesting the race with Hillary Clinton could be tightening up.
“Lieutenant Governor Patrick is a passionate conservative who has been a good friend to our campaign. He shares my commitment to make the border secure, grow the economy, fix our schools, protect the Second Amendment and Make America Great Again,” said Mr. Trump. “I am happy to have him aboard.”
Patrick, who has campaigned in Texas with the Republican nominee several times in past months, said he was honored to take an official role as Texas Chairman of the Trump campaign.
“My primary goal is to unite our party in Texas. I want to ensure a solid Trump win and to remind Republican voters, and the new Trump voters who came out in the primary, to support the entire Republican ticket from the White House to the Court House,” Patrick said.
