Vikki Goodwin Defeats Dan Patrick, but Texas Senate Still Blocks Gambling Amendment

Vikki Goodwin defeated Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick on 3 November, winning about 52% to 46% on the Associated Press's unofficial count, but Republicans retained control of the Texas Senate 19 to 12. That arithmetic matters for casino and sports-betting reform because a constitutional amendment requires the support of 21 of 31 senators and two-thirds of the Texas House before going to a statewide vote.

Election outcome and immediate effect on gambling reform

Goodwin's victory removes the lieutenant governor who had sole authority under current Senate rules to refer bills to committees and assign members. Dan Patrick conceded after midnight on 4 November, saying, "It was a fair election, and I accept the majority will of the voters." The results remain unofficial until the Texas Secretary of State certifies them, and Goodwin takes office in January 2027.

Gina Hinojosa, a Democrat and state representative from Austin, defeated Governor Greg Abbott in the same election; Abbott conceded at 10pm on 3 November. Democrats also appear to have flipped the Texas House, leading 76 seats to 61 with 13 races uncalled on the Associated Press count reported on 4 November. Despite those gains, Republicans holding the Senate 19 to 12 means any amendment to legalise sports betting or casinos still needs at least nine Republican senators to cross party lines.

How a gambling amendment clears the Texas Legislature

Article XVII of the Texas Constitution requires a proposed constitutional amendment to receive "two-thirds of all the members elected to each House" before it goes to voters. That threshold equals 100 of 150 House members and 21 of 31 senators. A successful joint resolution then proceeds to a statewide referendum; a governor does not sign amendments.

Because the House already met the threshold once, the decisive hurdle is the Senate. Under the current rules, the lieutenant governor presides over the Senate and appoints committee members and bill referrals. The Texas Tribune noted that senators set those rules, so a Republican majority could alter the lieutenant governor's referral powers when the 90th Legislature convenes on 12 January 2027.

What the 2023 House vote shows

The Texas House adopted House Joint Resolution 102 on 11 May 2023 by 101 votes to 42, one vote more than the required two-thirds. Representative Gina Hinojosa voted against HJR 102; Vikki Goodwin was recorded as absent. The resolution was received by the Senate on 12 May 2023 and the Senate took no further action.

That history matters because it demonstrates both the House's ability to pass a joint resolution and the Senate's prior choice not to advance the same amendment. If Senate Republicans continue to refuse a vote, the amendment cannot reach Texans for a referendum regardless of the House majority.

What winners and other states said

Goodwin told Fox 7 Austin in a September 2025 interview she wanted voters to decide on gambling policy: "why don't we allow them to vote to have a say?" She indicated a preference for a broader approach than destination-resort proposals tied to specific cities and for a deliberative process on locations and operators.

Gina Hinojosa campaigned on education and household costs, according to The Texas Newsroom. Across the US on the same midterm night, Democrats won other governor races relevant to gambling policy: Amy Acton defeated Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio and has expressed support for legalising online casinos with safeguards, while Keisha Lance Bottoms won Georgia and has proposed a public casino referendum, saying it could bring about $300 million into the state.

Nebraska rejected online sports betting in the same election cycle, underscoring that a statewide vote is a final hurdle.

Next steps and what to watch in January

The 90th Texas Legislature meets on 12 January 2027. Practical outcomes to monitor are whether the Republican Senate majority rewrites chamber rules on committee referrals and whether enough Republican senators will vote to send a gambling amendment to voters. With at most 12 Democratic senators, a constitutional amendment would require at least nine Republican votes in the Senate.

Operators and advocates arguing for regulated options may point to Texans already using out-of-state or federally registered exchanges as part of their case, but Patrick's electoral defeat removed the person who traditionally decided which bills moved, not the numerical obstacle the amendment faces.

"It was a fair election, and I accept the majority will of the voters," Dan Patrick said after conceding the lieutenant governor's race.

"Why don't we allow them to vote to have a say?" Vikki Goodwin asked in a 21 September 2025 interview about letting Texans decide on casinos and online sports betting.