Tea Party-Backed Candidates Win Big In Texas Primary Runoffs

The Tea Party is having a good week in Texas. Texas State Senator Dan Patrick solidly defeated incumbent David Dewhurst in a runoff to win the Republican nomination for Texas's next lieutenant governor.

Patrick is a Tea Party favorite and an outspoken opponent of abortion, same sex marriage and illegal immigration. He will face the Democratic nominee, State Senator Leticia Van de Putte in November.

In other Texas primary runoffs, State Senator Ken Paxton, also with Tea Party support, won the Republican nomination for attorney general. And U.S. Representative Ralph Hall, the oldest serving member of Congress and one of the last World War II veterans serving on Capitol Hill, lost to Tea Party challenger John Ratcliffe, a former U.S. attorney.