In full campaign mode Texas candidate for Attorney General Barry Smitherman tells the audience why he believes he'd make a good AG during a campaign stop at the Harris County Courthouse Bay Area Annex in Houston on Nov. 19, 2013.
In full campaign mode Texas candidate for Attorney General Barry Smitherman tells the audience why he believes he'd make a good AG during a campaign stop at the Harris County Courthouse Bay Area Annex in Houston on Nov. 19, 2013. Daniel Kramer

Barry Smitherman, who came in third in March in a three-way race for the Republican nomination for attorney general, has endorsed state Sen. Dan Patrick in his bid to unseat Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.  

“Dan Patrick has an appreciation and understanding of the important issues affecting Texans,” said Smitherman, the chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission. “He believes in the fundamental [tenets] of economic and social conservatism. Further, he understands that oil and gas is the lifeblood of the Texas economy.”

Patrick is the front-runner heading into the May runoff after a primary in which he finished 13 points ahead of Dewhurst, the incumbent, who received 28 percent of the vote. The winner will be a strong favorite in the general election against state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio.

“I am proud to have Barry’s support. There are few in Texas who understand the energy sector like Barry,” Patrick said.