The primary race for Texas Attorney General has drawn a third GOP challenger to incumbent Ken Paxton - this time, long-time Paxton ally and current state Rep. Matt Krause.
Krause (R-Fort Worth) joins a crowded field in just the Republican primary, one that includes current Land Commissioner George P. Bush and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman in addition to Paxton.
"You just want to have an attorney general who can focus on being that faithful conservative fighter... and how to protect and how to defend the liberties of Texans and not have to worry about FBI investigations or those kinds of things,” Krause told The Dallas Morning News in an interview Thursday. "So the shake up and the turmoil at the office at the end of last year kind of spoke to me and said, ‘Hey, this may be something we’ve got to think about.’"
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Krause has been one of the leading conservatives in the Texas House, having served Tarrant County for five terms. He's also a founding member of the Texas House Freedom Caucus, and currently serves as its secretary and treasurer.
Paxton, meanwhile, is aiming to win re-election for a third term, while fending off an indictment for securities fraud that has loomed over his office since 2015, along with an FBI investigation into claims that he abused his office to intervene in legal matters involving real estate investor Nate Paul. Paxton has denied any wrongdoing in both cases.
When asked what prompted him to enter the crowded field, especially with Bush and Guzman also in the race, Krause said he is "not sure either one of them could win a primary."
The crowded field has led to some significant fundraising, with Bush raking in $2.4 million, Paxton raising $1.9 million, and Guzman collecting $1.2 million.
At least two challengers have entered the race on the Democratic side - former Galveston mayor Joe Jaworski, and civil rights attorney Lee Merritt.
The 2022 primary is currently set for March 1, although it remains to be seen if the Legislature will be able to complete redrawing the state's political maps based on 2020 Census data - or potential legal challenges that could prompt a delay in the election cycle.
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