For my penultimate column to describe the important statewide races on the November 8 ballot and the Democratic vision for that office, I’ll review the position of Lieutenant Governor (Lt. Gov.).
According to the Texas Tribune, the Lt. Gov. “is often regarded as the most powerful statewide elected office because of its role in the Texas Legislature. In the Senate, the lieutenant governor is in charge of the agenda and standing committees and has the deciding word if there’s a tie or a procedural question.” The Lt. Gov.’s other responsibilities include co-chairing the Legislative Budget Board and serving on several other important committees. The Lt. Gov. assumes the powers of the Governor’s office when the Governor is out of state or otherwise unable to discharge the office.
A Democrat in the Lt. Gov.’s office will work to fully fund Texas public schools and pay educators so that every child can have aspirations as big as Texas. And that means fully funding Texas public schools—not vouchers and private charters. Democrats will fight for Texas to have the best schools in the nation by investing in smaller class sizes, more special education support, and great teachers.