Scott Milder, a former North Texas city council member and businessman who has been an outspoken advocate for public schools, has announced a long-shot challenge of tea party-backed Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
He came out swinging with his campaign Thursday morning.
"Somebody has to confront the bully or he is never going to stop picking on the little guy," Milder said.
Milder is hoping to upset Patrick in the Republican primary in March. He said in an interview Thursday that Patrick's "extreme" support for ultimately unsuccessful legislation like the "bathroom bill" targeting transgender Texans and school vouchers have alienated traditional, business-minded Republicans.
He says he made the decision to run after talking with business leaders.
"He totally ignored the business leadership community when they pleaded with him to stop the whole bathroom discussion," Milder said.
Milder founded "Friends of Texas Public Schools," an advocacy group opposing Patrick-supported vouchers that would provide public money to students attending private school. In May, he lost his re-election bid to the city council in the Dallas suburb of Rockwall. He served two terms, and that was his only elected position.
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"Nobody is every fully ready for their next job. It is always a leap. I am coming to this job with more experience than Dan Patrick had when he came to the job. I plan to surround myself with smart people," Milder said.
Allen Blakemore, campaign strategist for Lt. Gov. Patrick, said in a statement to NBC 5:
"Dan Patrick is unequivocally the hardest working, most effective, conservative leader in the history of the Texas Senate. He enjoys overwhelming support among Texas Republicans, including early endorsements from Governor Abbott, Senator Cornyn, Senator Cruz, major conservative grassroots leaders, a majority of Republican County Chairs and SREC Members, and a long list of Texas business leaders."
