Patrick Considering U.S. Senate Run With Exploratory Committee

State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, appeared on conservative talk radio host Laura Ingraham's show Friday morning to announce he is considering a run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. 

Patrick spent the first several minutes discussing his failed bill that would have criminalized "invasive" searches by TSA agents at airports in Texas. He blamed his fellow senators and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst for not standing up to the federal government when the Department of Justice threatened to shut down airports in Texas. Within a day, rumors began to swirl he would run for the same seat that Dewhurst is widely believed to be considering as well. 

About seven and a half minutes into the interview, Patrick recounted to Ingraham — a fellow radio talk show host and long-time friend — his decision to announce he would run for the Texas Senate on her show. He called her his "good luck charm" and declared, "I’m not announcing that I’m running for the U.S. Senate. I am announcing I’m forming an exploratory committee to run for the U.S. Senate, the seat that’s being vacated by Kay Bailey Hutchison." 

Patrick said he has been focused on the Texas Legislature for the past six months, so he will spend another "four or five weeks" making a final decision. 

Immediately after the Houston Republican made his announcement, Ingraham responded with an enthusiastic "Woo hoo!" 

Audio courtesy Talk Radio Network