AUSTIN, Texas — While incumbent Dan Patrick easily won the Republican nomination for Texas lieutenant governor, none of the Democratic candidates won the nomination outright. Instead, Houston accountant Mike Collier will face state Rep. Michelle Beckley in the May runoffs.

Collier, who was the Democratic nominee in 2018, received 42% of the vote, while Beckley received 30%. Another candidate, Texas Democratic Party Vice Chair Carla Brailey, came in third.

Soon after those votes were tallied, Beckley called for Collier to drop out, saying he "doesn't inspire the base".

“I have no plans to drop out,” Collier said during an interview on Capital Tonight. “I came in first, not only statewide but in the vast majority of counties. I’m building a very diverse coalition around the state and I feel like I have a very good chance of success.”

If he wins the nomination, Collier will once again face Dan Patrick. In 2018, Collier came within 5 percentage points of beating the Republican incumbent. Collier says that he believes he only lost last time because he ran out of time and money.

“It’s true that I lost to Patrick in 2018. But not by much,” said Collier. “And that’s because there’s an awful lot of folks who, when they think of Dan Patrick versus Mike Collier, they don’t necessarily think of it as a bipartisan brawl, they think of it as who’s going to get out there and solve these problems?”

While Collier still needs to secure the nomination, he says he’s focused on how he could best beat Patrick in the general.

“I’ve asked many Texans, ‘Are we better off now than we were four years go? Is Dan Patrick’s leadership acceptable?’ The answer is no, absolutely not.”

The runoff primary will be held May 24.