TEXAS — He came within 5 percentage points of beating Dan Patrick when he was the 2018 Democratic nominee for Texas lieutenant governor, and on Monday morning Mike Collier made it official that he will seek the office again in 2022. 

What You Need To Know

  • Democrat Mike Collier, as expected, announced his candidacy for Texas lieutenant governor on Oct. 4

  • Collier, the Democratic nominee for the office in 2018, came within 5 points of current Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick 

  • Collier will square off with former Bush strategist Matthew Dowd in a Democratic primary race 

  • The primary is slated for March 1, 2022

In a video announcing his candidacy, Collier, a Houston-area accountant, said “Folks, our fundamental rights are hanging by a thread, & we need leaders who will do right, & risk consequences for Texas.”

Before getting another shot at Patrick, Collier will need to contend with Democrat Matthew Dowd in a primary race.

Dowd, a former strategist for George W. Bush, announced his run in late September.

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“Today, I am announcing my candidacy because I believe Texas deserves a Lt. Governor who is committed to honestly solving problems. As a career-long auditor, energy expert, and financial watchdog, I’m eager to deliver solutions for the people of Texas — not create more problems,” Collier wrote in a news release announcing his candidacy. “The last few months have shown that our state faces a crisis of competent leadership, and Texas needs a proven business leader, not a radio shock jock zealot, at the helm of this great state.”

Collier, a University of Texas at Austin graduate, has worked for Exxon and PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

The Democratic primary is scheduled for March 1, 2022, and a primary runoff is slated for May 24, 2022.