Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick cautioned that Republicans could face a challenging path to maintaining control of the Texas House, citing party infighting and broader political pressures as key concerns heading into the midterms.

Speaking Wednesday at the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s annual conference in Austin, Patrick said Republicans are “going to have a tough time holding the Texas House,” offering a rare public acknowledgment of vulnerability in a chamber the GOP has controlled for more than two decades.

Patrick urged unity following a contentious Senate primary runoff between Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, warning that lingering divisions between factions of the party could impact not only the Senate race but also down-ballot contests across the state. He cautioned that a fractured Republican base could open the door for Democrat James Talarico in the Senate race, with potential implications for control of the U.S. Senate.

The comments come as Republicans nationally face headwinds tied to economic concerns and fallout from foreign policy developments, including tensions surrounding the Iran conflict. In Texas, those challenges are compounded by competitive races in historically Republican districts and recent Democratic gains, including a victory in a district carried by President Donald Trump in 2024.

Despite the concerns, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows pushed back on the notion that Republicans are at risk of losing control, emphasizing the state’s economic performance under GOP leadership and pledging to defend the party’s majority. Republicans currently hold 88 of the 150 seats in the Texas House, meaning Democrats would need to flip at least 14 seats to take control.

With Patrick himself on the ballot for reelection, the stakes are elevated as party leaders look to unify and maintain their longstanding dominance in Texas politics.