Republican Texas Rep. Chip Roy launched a bid for Texas attorney general Thursday, entering a crowded race to replace Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton as the state’s top prosecutor.
Roy, a leading conservative in the House who serves as the policy chair of the House Freedom Caucus, will enter the race with $2.5 million in the bank and likely high name recognition due to his prominence on Capitol Hill. The Austin-based Republican is serving in his fourth term in the House and justified his decision to run for attorney general by arguing that members of Congress should not be in their positions permanently.
“It has been my honor to represent the 21st congressional district of Texas — the best part of the best state in the greatest country in the history of the world,” Roy said in a statement announcing his campaign. “I am particularly proud of our work to deliver on President Trump’s agenda and fight to drain the swamp. I could do it forever and be fulfilled professionally. But representatives should not be permanent.”
“And my experience watching Texans unite in response to the devastating Hill County floods made clear that I want to come home, Roy added. “I want to take my experience in Congress, as a federal prosecutor, and as First Assistant Attorney General to fight for Texas from Texas.”
Roy’s campaign announcement video stated he will fight for Texans against “liberal judges hellbent on coddling criminals,” politicians who support open borders, and “liberal lawmakers pushing to dismantle election security.”
The Texas Republican has been at the forefront of conservative policy fights since being elected to Congress in 2019, including advocating for legislation to require voters to prove U.S. citizenship and cracking down on sanctuary cities who refuse or limit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Roy also helped lead the push for Texas and other states to receive reimbursements from the federal government for border security spending during the Biden administration and helped secure commitments from House GOP leadership to slash more than $1.5 trillion in spending in President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Act.
“Today, we draw a line in the sand: Texas’ next attorney general must have a proven record of fighting to preserve, protect and defend our legacy,” Roy also said in the ad.
His entry into the race will likely shake up the primary contest, which already includes former Department of Justice appointee and Paxton aide Aaron Reitz and Texas state Sens. Mayes Middleton and Joan Huffman.
A poll of the Texas attorney general contest published by Texas Southern University Thursday found that nearly three-quarters of likely Republican primary voters were undecided about their preferred candidate. The survey did not include Roy as a hypothetical candidate.
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