Sen. Seliger: The Odd Man Out Faces Tough Re-Election Campaign

I think Lt. Gov. Patrick believes theres a good chance a rival can unseat Sen. Seliger. Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas When Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick unveiled the list of endorsements for his re-election campaign in mid-October it included 19 of Texas 20 State GOP Senators as well as Gov. Abbott and U.S. Senators Ted Cruz & John Cornyn. Texas State Sen. Kel Seliger was the only Republican Senator noticeably absent. Lt. Gov. Patrick also a Republican is the Texas Senates presiding officer. Seliger has been a member of the Texas Senate since 2004. Politicos in Austin believe the move hinted at a deep divide between Seliger and Patrick who are both up for re-election in 2018. The two it is thought had been at odds on key legislative issues including local control and school choice programs. Mark Jones a political science fellow at Rice University said Seligers absence from Patricks endorsement list signas something:

I think Lt. Gov. Patrick believes theres a good chance a rival can unseat Sen. Seliger. If he thought Seliger was a sure-thing for re-election we wouldnt see this type of behavior.

It seems pretty clear that while Dan Patrick is quite happy with 19 of the Republican senators he isnt happy with one and thats Sen. Seliger.

Lt. Gov. Patrick is not going to be a neutral actor in Sen. Seligers re-election effort" Jones said.

Seliger is facing two opponents in his re-election bid:

1. Former Midland Mayor Mike Canon who after running a lack-luster campaign in 2014 lost a nailbiter against Seliger by 5 and
2. Amarillo restaurateur Victor Leal (left) who says Seliger has been there so long hes no longer in touch with the conservative grassroots folks that hes supposed to be representing."

Leal who has hired the same campaign consultant as Patrick seized upon Lt. Gov. Patricks recently released endorsement list and issued a press release offering his own endorsement of Patrick.

If Kel Seliger wants to ostracize himself from the Republicans in the Texas Senate then thats his prerogative. But when the people of West Texas suffer as a consequence of his ineffectiveness then shame on him said Leal.

We have important issues that must be addressed such as property taxes education border security transportation and job creation. Unfortunately his personal vendetta against leading Texas conservatives will limit his effectiveness."

Seliger has butted heads with Patrick since Patricks 2014 election said Jones.

During the 2015 session Seliger resisted immigration and anti-sanctuary cities proposals that were backed by the Lt. Governor. During the 2017 Legislative Session Seliger voted against two key bills one was to restrict the process by which local property taxes can be increased and the second created a small program to test school choice.

Seliger voted against requiring cities and counties to get voter approval before raising taxes by 4 or more siding with mayors and county judges who saw the measure as too restrictive. Seligers no" votes won him praise from local government backers and public school advocates and he often refers to his independence as a lawmaker as an example of one of his strengths. But September when Patrick announced his list of appointments to the Joint House & Senate Committee on Higher Education Funding that list also excluded Seliger who serves as chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee. Patrick also excluded all of the senators on Seligers standing committee. Seliger has thwarted Patricks efforts to develop Republican Party unity in the Senate said Brandon Rottinghaus a political science professor at the University of Houston. Patrick has sought to consolidate power using his powers to appoint allies as committee chairs and shape the flow of legislation Rottinghaus said. Now it seems like party takes precedence over the personal sense of place. The politics now shift more towards developing party unity as opposed to developing policies to help constituents and that has been the major war within the Republican Party" said Rottinghaus in October. When asked at the time if he thought he would retain his higher ed chairmanship if re-elected in 2018 Seliger said There are no expectations. I voted against two of his 30 priorities. Theyre his priorities and he wanted to see them all pass and they did pass. I stood in the way of nothing. Like I say I voted my district." In interviews at the time Patrick released his list of endorsements Seliger said he had no plans to make any endorsements and was simply focusing on his own re-election bid against two Republican challengers. Asked if he supported Patricks re-election Seliger said I cant imagine why not. I can guarantee you this I will not endorse anybody in the Republican Party running against him." The Texas primary elections will be held March 6 2018.