© 2024 Texas Public Radio
Real. Reliable. Texas Public Radio.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Twitter Row Sparks Immigration Debate Between Castro And Patrick

State of Texas
Current state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, is running for lieutenant governor in 2014.

It all started with a candid tweet from San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro regarding campaign speeches about immigration and the Texas border made by Republican candidate for lieutenant governor Dan Patrick.

To which Patrick, currently a state senator representing Houston, responded:

Patrick then added a poke at Castro's close ties to President Obama.

The exchange of tweets quickly resulted in a agreement that the two would face-off for a live debate regarding the subject of immigration.

Patrick said he was blindsided by Castro's initial statement.

"For him to inject himself basically in a Republican primary race, I mean that’s his right and that’s fine," Patrick said. "I was very surprised by his tweet, but this is an important issue and this whole idea that if you want a secure border that you are anti-anything is absurd."

Patrick is hoping that his debate with Castro will be streamed live on the internet for all to see, much like his debate against those supporting the online curriculum provider known as CSCOPE.  

Both Patrick and Castro have agreed to hold the debate in San Antonio and the Texas Tribune’s Evan Smith has confirmed he has been approached to serve as a moderator. Details on the time and place are still being worked out.

Ryan started his radio career in 2002 working for Austin’s News Radio KLBJ-AM as a show producer for the station's organic gardening shows. This slowly evolved into a role as the morning show producer and later as the group’s executive producer.