At a debate that hit all the major GOP talking points, the four Republicans vying to be Texas鈥� next attorney general sought to differentiate themselves and their vision for running one of the state鈥檚 most powerful offices.
All four candidates are conservative, with little ideological daylight between each other and current Attorney General . At the debate, they echoed calls to use the agency to go after the 鈥淚slamification鈥� of Texas, wrest immigration enforcement authority from the federal government and stop the flow of abortion pills into the state.
As the , U.S. Rep. took the most arrows, as the other three candidates hope to keep him below 50% of the vote to force a runoff. Roy, a fourth-term congressman from Austin, previously served as chief of staff for Texas Sen. and the top deputy to Paxton when he was first elected attorney general.
Aaron Reitz, who also worked under Paxton and is endorsed by him, said at the debate that Roy was 鈥渟o ineffective, so bad at serving as Paxton's deputy, that Paxton fired him.鈥� Roy said that was untrue and touted his endorsement from Cruz, whom Reitz also worked under.
鈥淭ed, having served as solicitor general for 10 years for this great state, he knows what is necessary in that office, and I'm proud to have his full support and endorsement,鈥� Roy said.
Roy also took criticism for pushing back against a GOP bill that would have criminalized providing hormone therapy to minors, which he felt would have given the federal government unconstitutional authority over the states. Galveston state Sen. rejected Roy鈥檚 state鈥檚 rights qualms, saying there鈥檚 鈥渘o right鈥� to hurt a child, a point Reitz echoed vehemently.
Roy, who was otherwise relatively muted on the stage, pushed back heatedly 鈥� not just on his record of being anti-transgender, but on the deeper conflict at the center of this issue.
鈥淚t is amazing to listen to Republican attorneys general candidates standing up, saying they want massive federal laws to step over the state of Texas,鈥� Roy said. 鈥淭hat is a new frontier.鈥�
Roy, whose principled stands have often put him at odds with GOP leadership, touts this He points out that he has voted with President Donald Trump鈥檚 agenda more than almost any other candidate, but he鈥檚 vowing to keep federal overreach out of the state 鈥� no matter who is president.
State Sen. of Houston echoed Roy, saying 鈥渢here can be overreach and bad ideas, no matter who the administration is.鈥� Huffman is as a prosecutor, judge and longtime state legislator, and has tried to swap the other candidates鈥� bombast for measured experience.
While her opponents have vowed to remove left-leaning district attorneys as soon as they assume office, Huffman pointed out on the debate stage that removing local elected officials isn鈥檛 as easy as they make it seem. Reitz called that a 鈥渓oser鈥� mentality.
鈥淚f it was something that could be done on day one,鈥� Huffman shot back, 鈥渋t begs the question, why hasn鈥檛 Paxton already done it?鈥�
Middleton, an oil and gas executive and prominent GOP donor, has poured almost $12 million of his own money into the race. Running as 鈥淢AGA Mayes,鈥� Middleton as one of Texas鈥� most conservative legislators. Recent polling shows Middleton鈥檚 self-funded ad buys are moving the needle, putting him in the running for the second spot in the runoff against Roy.
But Middleton鈥檚 opponents criticize his lack of legal experience outside of his family company. When asked what the attorney general鈥檚 office could do about illegal gambling, Middleton said 鈥渘ot only is gambling unconstitutional in Texas, it's illegal.鈥�
鈥淣ews flash to the guy who's never practiced law a day in his life,鈥� Reitz said in response. 鈥淚f something is unconstitutional, it is illegal.鈥�
This is the first GOP primary for attorney general in more than a decade without Paxton in the running. During Paxton鈥檚 tenure, the office has become an increasingly influential part of the national conservative legal strategy to use the courts to advance policy goals, meaning this race is being closely watched in Texas and beyond.
The debate was hosted by the Republican Attorneys General Association and conservative Blaze Media, with seven other Republican AGs in attendance.
鈥淭he next Texas Attorney General will build upon an office shaped by Ken Paxton, Greg Abbott, and John Cornyn,鈥� RAGA Executive Director Adam Piper said in a statement. 鈥淭he Texas Attorney General plays a critical role locally and nationally, from protecting Texans to promoting the rule of law and preserving freedom for future generations.鈥�
Tuesday marked the start of Texas鈥� 11-day , running through Feb. 27.
Whoever wins the primary on March 3 鈥� or the runoff in late May, if necessary 鈥� will face the Democratic nominee in November. Three candidates are running; no Democrat has won statewide office in Texas since 1994.
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