Former Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, a two-time Republican presidential candidate and the Libertarian Party’s 1988 presidential nominee, has endorsed Libertarian nominee Pat Dixon in his campaign for Texas governor.
Dixon announced the endorsement on October 8, publishing a statement from Paul on his campaign website. In his endorsement, Paul praised Dixon’s support for free markets and his commitment to protecting taxpayers and individual liberties.
“I am happy to endorse Pat Dixon for Governor of Texas. Pat is a strong free market advocate. He will protect the wallets of Texas taxpayers and I know he will reject any further assaults on our civil liberties,” Paul said in the statement.
Dixon said he sent Paul a letter requesting his support for governor and received a handwritten response reading “Consider it done.” According to Dixon, this is also not the first time Paul has supported one of his campaigns, having previously backed him when he first ran for the Lago Vista City Council in 2005.
Dixon would win that election, going on to serve two terms on the council. He was also active in the Libertarian Party, chairing its Texas affiliate from 2004 to 2014 and serving two terms as an at-large member of the Libertarian National Committee from 2006 to 2010.
As a gubernatorial candidate, Dixon has called for reducing state spending and pursuing what he calls “free market sustainability,” a principle that businesses and developers should bear the costs associated with their growth rather than shifting those expenses to taxpayers. He has also opposed corporate tax incentives, including those benefiting data centers, and supported allowing cities to adopt alternative forms of voting systems, such as approval voting and ranked-choice voting.
Recent polling has generally placed Dixon’s support in the single digits. A University of Houston survey released just this week found him with 2 percent support among likely voters, compared to 49 percent for Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and 46 percent for Democrat Gina Hinojosa. An On Point Polling survey conducted October 17–18 put Dixon at a slightly higher 3.3 percent.
Under state law, if Dixon receives at least 2 percent but less than 20 percent of the gubernatorial vote, that showing would give the party the option of conducting primary elections rather than conventions, provided it gives advance notice. The party’s ballot access for the 2028 cycle does not depend on his performance.
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