Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a member of the Republican party who is running against sitting Republican Senator John Cornyn, is supportingAaron Reitzfor the attorney general, Fox News Digital has found out.
Paxton is endorsing Reitz, who once worked under him as Texas deputy attorney general for legal strategy, just days after U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who once worked under Paxton as the first assistant attorney general of the Lone Star State, declared a candidacy for the attorney general position.
One of the most common questions Texans pose to me is: ‘Ken, who should take over as Attorney General?’ My response is now clear: Aaron Reitz,” Paxton stated in a statement shared with Fox News Digital.
Paxton characterized Reitz as “the sole candidate who is thoroughly vetted, experienced, established, and prepared to serve as Attorney General,” highlighting him as “loyal, courageous, dependable, and intensely dedicated to the Rule of Law.”
TEXAS REP CHIP ROY DECLARES CANDIDACY FOR STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO SUCCEED KEN PAXTON
Aaron Reitz is absolutely essential to becoming Texas’s top lawyer,” Paxton stated in the release, which was part of a Reitz campaign press announcement. “Therefore, I am fully endorsing him to take my place as Attorney General.
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Reitz briefly worked as an assistant attorney general in the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Legal Policy earlier this year. In December, then-President-elect Donald Trump referred to Reitz as “a true MAGA attorney” and “a fighter for our Constitution” on Truth Social.postdeclaring that he was appointing him to lead the DOJ office.
Although Reitz and Roy have both previously worked as chief of staff to Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, the senator is supporting Roy for the position.
“There are multiple outstanding contenders currently in the race for Texas Attorney General. All of them are my friends, and all have been consistent supporters of mine for many years. Texas is fortunate to have a wealth of strong conservatives coming forward to take leadership roles, especially during these times,” Cruz said in a statement.statement.
I am honored to support Chip Roy for the position of Texas Attorney General. Having served as my initial chief of staff, Chip has been a trusted friend and partner for more than 12 years. We have faced countless challenges together, and I am confident that Chip will consistently stand up for conservative principles,” Cruz stated, later in the statement, “No one is more qualified to head the Texas Attorney General’s office, and I am certain he will passionately defend and protect the Lone Star State.”
Republican Texas state Senators Mayes Middleton and Joan Huffman are also seeking to replace Paxton in the position. On the opposite side, Democratic state Senator Nathan Johnson and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski are competing for the role.
TED CRUZ SUPPORTS CHIP ROY FOR TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL: ‘NO ONE MORE QUALIFIED’
Roy, the policy chair of the House Freedom Caucus, declared his candidacy for attorney general last week, stating his reason for focusing on the state position instead of staying in the U.S.House of Representatives, where he has been based since the beginning of 2019.
“I am especially proud of our efforts to implement President Trump’s agenda and work to eliminate the corruption. I could continue doing this indefinitely and find professional satisfaction. However, representatives should not serve indefinitely. My experience witnessing Texans come together in the wake of the severe Hill Country floods made it clear that I want to return home. I wish to use my experience in Congress, as a federal prosecutor, and as First Assistant Attorney General to advocate for Texas from within Texas,” he stated in a release included in his campaign.press release.
Texas is facing an attack – from open-border politicians, extreme leftists, and nameless foreign companies that endanger our independence, security, and our way of life,” he stated. “As Attorney General, I will work tirelessly every day for our God-given rights, for our families, and for the future of Texas. No more judges and district attorneys funded by Soros who let criminals roam our streets. No more court-imposed rules forcing Texans to support illegal immigrants in our public schools. No more neighborhoods based on Sharia law.
Reitz has clearly stated that he is not leaving the competition by posting a video from the movie “The Wolf of Wall Street,” where actor Leonardo DiCaprio says, “I’m not leaving. I’m not f***in’ leaving!”
According to a press release obtained by Fox News Digital, the candidate expressed that he is “honored” to have Paxton’s support.
“Acting as Ken Paxton’s ‘offensive coordinator’ was a battle of a lifetime. I am deeply grateful to have his backing in my campaign for Attorney General,” Reitz stated.
“Under Ken Paxton, Texas has served as a model for the conservative movement in how to confront and prevail over those who threaten Law, Order, and Liberty. My commitment to Texans is to maintain momentum and vigorously continue Paxton’s legacy. This is the only way to protect Texas from the radical left. As the sole pro-Paxton candidate in this race, I am clearly the ideal person to guide the Office of the Attorney General of Texas into action,” he added.
In a 2020 statement addressing claims that Paxton had committed misconduct, Roysaid that Paxton should resign.
In 2023, the Texas House of Representatives voted to remove Paxton from office, but he was eventually found not guilty by the state Senate that same year.
During an interview on the radio “The Mark Davis ShowLast week, Roy mentioned that he and Paxton are ‘friends,’ adding, ‘I wish Ken all the best,’ and mentioned that they share ‘similar belief systems.’
Original article source: FIRST ON FOX: Texas’ Ken Paxton supports a candidate to take over as attorney general
