DALLAS - Texas voters will decide who serves as the state’s lieutenant governor while at the ballot box on Tuesday.
Republican incumbent Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is seeking a fourth term in the role, and is facing Democratic State Rep. Vikki Goodwin.
The winner will serve as the state’s second highest-ranking official for the next four years and will have a considerable influence over state legislation and the budget.
The Libertarian Party and Green Party also have candidates running for the position.
Initial precinct counts will start rolling in soon after the polls close at 7 p.m. This story will be updated with the official results.
Where the candidates stand on issues
Dig deeper:
Patrick has been a close ally of President Donald Trump. On his campaign website, Patrick describes himself as a "preeminent voice for principled conservative policies both in Texas and across the nation."
He listed some of his top issues as providing high-quality education, securing the border, supporting law enforcement, protecting life and religious freedom, and the Second Amendment.
Goodwin is serving her fourth term in the Texas Legislature and said on her website she has her "sights set on returning sanity to Texas government and restoring a collaborative and cooperative spirit."
Her campaign has focused on investing in public education, as well as clean water and energy, and creating affordable housing, comprehensive healthcare, and a regulatory framework for THC.
Controversy on the campaign trail
Two AI attack ads generated controversy between the candidates during the lead up to the midterm elections.
The ads featured AI-generated images portraying Goodwin wearing a shirt that read "taxes" instead of "Texas" at a University of Texas football game.
Goodwin filed a criminal complaint against Patrick over the ads, claiming that they violated state law on deepfake videos.
Patrick later deleted the ads from social media. However, a spokesperson for Patrick told the New York Times they were "obvious parody produced to entertain."
The Source: Results are provided by the Associated Press. Race calls are made by the Associated Press. Information on results comes from the Texas Secretary of State's Office and are preliminary until certified by that office.