Ex-Bush Strategist Announces Bid for Texas Lieutenant Governor—as a Democrat

Matthew Dowd, the chief strategist for former President George W. Bush's 2004 reelection campaign, announced in a YouTube video Wednesday that he intends to run as a Democrat for the office of Texas' lieutenant governor.

With the launch of his campaign, Dowd puts himself in competition with Texas' current Republican Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, a former Texas state senator and radio show host, who has served under Governor Greg Abbott since 2015.

In his two-and-a-half-minute announcement video, Dowd focused on issues within Patrick's legislative history that would stir concerns many in liberals and moderates. Dowd critiqued Patrick's handling of COVID-19, his support of a permitless gun carry bill, his backing of the new Texas abortion law and his support of Texas voting restations.

"Enough is enough. We need more officials who tell the truth, who believe in public services, in common sense with common decency for the common good. ... We need to expect more from our politicians," Dowd said in his announcement. "Dan Patrick believes in none of those and that is why I am running for the powerful office of lieutenant governor of this great state."

In an interview published Wednesday by The Texas Tribune, Dowd said he first started considering making a run for the seat after witnessing Trump supporters storm the Capitol building during the January 6 insurrection. Watching the current Texas legislative session ultimately pushed Dowd to begin his bid so that he would no longer have to feel "embarrassed about our own state."

Prior to working for Bush, Dowd was a Democrat and worked for former Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock, who was the last Democrat to hold the office, between 1991 and 1999. Dowd told The Texas Tribune he would model himself after Bullock, owing to his bipartisanship.

It was bipartisanship that led Dowd to switch parties in 1999 to work for Bush. The Tribune reported that Dowd was drawn to the younger Bush's ability to work with Texas' Democratic lieutenant governor and House speaker during his tenure as Texas' governor.

In 2007, Dowd attracted attention after he publicly criticized Bush for his handling of the Iraq war. After that, Dowd identified as an independent until this year when he rejoined the Democrats to run for lieutenant governor. He told the Tribune he wants to "stay away from labels." However, what has in part motivated his run is his perception that Texas' Republican party has moved far to the right.

"If it's Greg Abbott [who wins reelection], I'm gonna do everything I can to stop his continuous attack on Texans," Dowd told The Tribune. "What I'm gonna propose is we as Democrats have to win because there's too much at stake. I serve your values."