Incumbent Ken Paxton is trying to hold onto his seat against three well-known challengers: Land Commissioner George P. Bush, former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman and East Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert. All are attacking Paxton for his legal troubles, which include an FBI investigation into claims of misconduct in office and securities fraud charges. Paxton’s denied wrongdoing in both.
Rep. Gohmert joined Capital Tonight Wednesday to discuss his campaign and said Paxton’s legal problems motivated him to get into the race late.
“If anybody in his position were indicted after the primary than you could not replace that name on the primary ballot,” Gohmert said.
Gohmert is an ardent supporter of former President Donald Trump, who has endorsed Paxton for another term. Gohmert said Trump was misled.
“I get a call after I announced from President Trump saying, ‘hey, I was told you were definitely not running.’ ‘Well you didn’t hear that from me because I was considering it,’” Gohmert said. “So anyway, somebody lied to him to help Paxton. Maybe it was Paxton, but somebody on his behalf if it wasn’t him. So I’ve gotta help the president by overcoming that endorsement.”