Incumbent Ken Paxton defeated George P. Bush in the May 24 Republican Party primary runoff for Texas attorney general. In the March 1 primary, Paxton received 42.7% of the vote, while Bush received 22.4%. Both candidates advanced to a runoff because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote.
Paxton was first elected Attorney General in 2014. He ran unchallenged in the Republican primary in 2018 and subsequently defeated Justin Nelson (D) in the general election, winning 50.6% of the vote to Nelson’s 47.0%. In June 2021, former President Donald Trump (R) endorsed Paxton’s re-election. In a statement, Paxton said, “As the values conservative endorsed by President Trump, I am proud of my record standing up to and defeating the Biden Administration – repeatedly. I stand by my record and values, and ask each voter to join President Trump in standing with me for a safer and stronger Texas.”
Paxton ran on his record as attorney general—a record he said includes challenging the Biden administration in court and guarding religious freedom. In the March 1 primary, Paxton’s competitors—including Bush, as well as Eva Guzman and Louie Gohmert, who lost in the primary—said allegations that Paxton engaged in criminal misconduct made him unfit for office. In 2015, Paxton was indicted on three counts related to securities fraud violations. The case is still open, and no trial has been scheduled. In 2020, the FBI opened an investigation into claims that Paxton used the Office of the Attorney General to benefit a political donor. Paxton denied wrongdoing in both cases.
