Ken Paxton endorses Aaron Reitz over Chip Roy in bid to succeed him as Texas attorney general
Texas Attorney general Ken Paxton has endorsed Aaron Reitz, his former deputy attorney general for legal strategy, to succeed him in the attorney general’s office as Paxton runs for the U.S. Senate. This endorsement comes shortly after Rep. Chip Roy, another former Paxton staffer who has been openly critical of Paxton in the past, announced his candidacy for the position.Paxton praised reitz as a “fully vetted, battle-tested” candidate who will stand strong against threats from big government, big pharma, and big tech, expressing confidence in Reitz’s ability to defend liberty in Texas.
Reitz, grateful for the endorsement, vowed to continue Paxton’s conservative legacy and fight against the radical left. His campaign statement implicitly criticized Roy, who had previously called for Paxton’s resignation during Paxton’s impeachment trial, from which Paxton was acquitted in 2023.despite past tensions, roy has stated that he remains friends with Paxton and wishes him well.
Apart from Reitz and Roy, other Republican contenders include state Senators Mayes Middleton and Joan Huffman, while Democrats Nathan Johnson and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski are running for attorney general. Additionally, Senator Ted Cruz has endorsed Chip Roy, highlighting Roy’s longstanding commitment to conservative values, although Cruz also recognizes several strong candidates in the race.
Ken Paxton endorses Aaron Reitz over Chip Roy in bid to succeed him as Texas attorney general
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday endorsed Aaron Reitz, his former deputy attorney general for legal strategy, to replace him in the statewide office as he runs for the Senate, days after Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) launched his bid to become Texas’s next top prosecutor.
This was Paxton’s first time weighing in on the attorney general race. Both Republican candidates previously served under Paxton, but Roy has been outspokenly critical of the incumbent attorney general since he stopped serving as Texas’s first assistant attorney general.
That left Reitz, who maintained a strong relationship with his former boss after leaving the Texas position. Paxton said he was “proud” to endorse Reitz.
“We need someone willing to stand firm when our liberty is under attack,” Paxton wrote on X. “We need someone who will stand strong no matter the threat. Whether that’s big government, big pharma, or big tech. The only person I trust to do that is Aaron Reitz.”
In a statement from Reitz’s campaign, Paxton described him as the “only candidate who is fully vetted, battle-tested, proven, and ready to be Attorney General.”
Reitz thanked Paxton for the endorsement, saying he is “deeply honored to have his support.”
“Under Ken Paxton, Texas has been a shining example for the conservative movement on how to fight and win against the enemies of Law, Order, and Liberty,” Reitz said. “My promise to Texans is that I will keep my foot on the gas and energetically carry on Paxton’s legacy. That is the only way to defend Texas from the radical left. As the only pro-Paxton candidate in this race, I am unequivocally the best person to lead the Office of the Attorney General of Texas into battle.”
The last part of Reitz’s statement appeared to be a dig at Roy, who called for Paxton to resign in 2020 when the Republican attorney general faced allegations of abuse of office and other charges that led to his impeachment trial. Paxton was ultimately acquitted of all impeachment charges in 2023.
Despite their past tensions, Roy said on a recent radio appearance that he and Paxton remain “friends” and he wishes “Ken all the best.”
Instead of seeking reelection in his current position, Paxton is running to oust Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in the 2026 midterm elections. His Senate run will leave the attorney general’s office open to competition for the first time in years.
Other Republican challengers in the attorney general’s primary race include Texas state Sens. Mayes Middleton and Joan Huffman. On the Democratic side, Texas state Sen. Nathan Johnson and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski are running for the job.
TED CRUZ ENDORSES CHIP ROY FOR TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL: ‘CLOSE FRIEND AND ALLY’
Soon after Roy announced his campaign last week, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) backed the congressman in his bid. Cruz called Roy a “close friend and ally of mine for over 12 years,” while also noting he is friends with “several excellent candidates” in the race.
Notably, Cruz employed both Roy and Reitz as his chief of staff. The senator said he chose Roy because he would “always fight for conservative values” in Texas.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
