Congressman Chip Roy announces bid for Texas AG

Texas Rep. Chip Roy announced Thursday that he’s running for attorney general, joining a crowded Republican Primary field vying to replace Ken Paxton.  Roy, the policy chair of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, is best known in Congress for his strong desire to shrink the federal government.

Roy has represented Texas’s 21st Congressional district since 2019.  He has led efforts to reimburse his home state for border security spending and require voters to prove U.S. citizenship.

In a statement, Roy said he could continue his congressional work “forever and be fulfilled professionally,” but he does not believe members of Congress should serve permanently.  Watching the community in his district come together in the wake of the devastating July 4 Hill Country flooding, Roy added, made him want to return to Texas permanently.

Roy’s candidacy shakes up an already crowded field that includes state Sens. Joan Huffman of Houston and Mayes Middleton of Galveston, and Aaron Reitz, a former senior aide to Paxton and at the Department of Justice.  Roy enters the race with more than $2.5 million in his federal campaign account and a likely headstart on name recognition, stemming from his frequent appearances in the national spotlight.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched his long-anticipated campaign for the 2026 Senate race to challenge Sen. John Cornyn in April.  Paxton’s announcement sets up what is likely to be a tough battle with Cornyn, a longtime senator who recently secured an endorsement from Senate Majority Leader John Thune.  Cornyn came in second last year to Thune in the fight to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell for the chamber’s top post.