Facing state Rep. Vikki Goodwin, Marcos Vélez has landed the Texas AFL-CIO’s endorsement and support from a donor trail that leads back to the state party’s top campaign partner.

Democrats could be more competitive financially in the U.S. Senate race, but their comparatively small fundraising hauls for state office leave them with fewer resources to reach voters.

During his time in the Texas Senate, the moderate Republican tackled major issues such as school finance and ethics reforms.

Patrick has twice defeated Collier, who was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2018 and 2022.

Patrick has made no qualms in the past about bending arms or using public pressure to get other state officials — including Gov. Greg Abbott — to go along with his plans.

Here’s a rundown of how a bill becomes a law, how the Texas Legislature works and the power players who keep things moving under the Pink Dome.

Patrick will get another four years leading the Texas Senate, one of the state’s most powerful positions.

The lieutenant governor, the second-highest executive in the state, presides over the Texas Senate.

Patrick’s campaign strategy in rural Texas may suggest he’s trying to shore up the party’s most reliable base of voters in an area that both Beto O’Rourke and Mike Collier have spent considerable resources to win over this election cycle.

For example, members of the Railroad Commission don’t deal with railroads. Here’s what the many officials elected statewide do with the power voters give them.

The endorsement comes after Patrick’s Democratic opponent, Mike Collier, received endorsements from two Republicans, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley and state Sen. Kel Seliger of Amarillo.

Collier came within 4 percentage points of unseating the incumbent in 2018. But this year, Democrats face even stronger headwinds in trying to unseat Texas Republicans.

The winner will face a tough challenge against Republican incumbent Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

See the full list of candidates in the Democratic and Republican primary runoffs, and find out who’s on your ballot based on where you live.

Mike Collier, Carla Brailey and Michelle Beckley are facing off for the Democratic nomination in the lieutenant governor race. Financially, the three candidates are outmatched by Dan Patrick’s $25 million war chest.

The Texas 2022 primary will take place March 1. See the full list of candidates statewide and find out who's on your ballot based on where you live.

Dowd said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has focused on “culture war” issues to divide and hurt Texans.