David Dewhurst and three fellow Republicans vying to replace him as lieutenant governor are squaring off in another debate.
Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and state Sen. Dan Patrick of Houston are all challenging the incumbent Dewhurst.
The four will share a stage Friday at the annual convention in Austin of the Texas Municipal League.
Tensions rose this week, after Patrick released a television spot saying he was the only lieutenant governor candidate who opposed current state law extending "in-state tuition for illegal immigrants."
Patterson called Patrick a liar and Staples and Dewhurst also say they have long opposed the 2001 law. It offers in-state tuition at Texas universities to some children of those in the country illegally, as long as they graduated from Texas high schools.
