TEXAS — Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, according to a statement from his campaign.

What You Need To Know

  • Texas Lt. Gov Dan Patrick on Saturday tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement from his reelection campaign

  • This marks the second time Patrick has tested positive for the disease. His campaign reports he is experiencing mild symptoms and is continuing to work while isolating at home 

  • Patrick, 72, is seeking reelection and in November will face Democratic challenger Mike Collier. Collier in 2018 came within 4 percentage points of defeating Patrick 

  • The Texas Department of State Health Services on Sunday reported 9,393 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 as well as 2,989 new probable cases

The 72-year-old is fully vaccinated and received a booster shot last fall. He currently has mild symptoms, his campaign reports.

He plans to continue his duties, working from home and self-isolating while recovering from the virus.

Patrick also had a mild case of COVID-19 in January. Despite testing positive for the virus twice now, Patrick, like Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, has opposed nationwide vaccine mandates.

Patrick, a Republican, is seeking reelection and in November will again face Democrat Mike Collier. Collier, finance chair of the Texas Democratic Party, in 2018 came within 4 percentage points of unseating Patrick. Patrick has received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. 

Patrick has created some controversy when it comes to his opinions about COVID-19. In August 2021,  appearing on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle,” Patrick addressed the spread of COVID-19 in the state and elsewhere and placed the blame for an uptick in cases on Democrats and the Black community.

"Most of the numbers are with the unvaccinated and the Democrats like to blame Republicans on that. Well, the biggest group in most states are African Americans who have not been vaccinated,” Patrick said. “The last time I checked over 90% of them vote for Democrats in their major cities and major counties."

In March 2020, Patrick, appearing on Fox News, suggested that older Americans should fend for themselves during the coronavirus pandemic in order to keep the economy running.

Appearing on Fox News about a month later, Patrick doubled down on his earlier statement, telling host Tucker Carlson, “And what I said when I was with you that night, there are more important things than living, and that’s saving this country for my children and my grandchildren, and saving this country for all of us.”

“I don’t want to die. Nobody wants to die,” Patrick continued. “But, man, we gotta take some risks and get back in the game and get this country back up and running."

Patrick's positive diagnosis isn't surprising given COVID-19's recent resurgence in Texas.  

The Texas Department of State Health Services on Sunday reported 9,393 new confirmed cases of the virus as well as 2,989 new probable cases. Twelve additional deaths attributed to the disease were reported.

There are currently 3,506 Texans hospitalized with the virus, of whom 538 are in intensive care and 173 are pediatric patients.