Rep. Matt Krause (R-Fort Worth) announced he would challenge Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton (R) in the primary. He joins Land Comm. George P. Bush (R) and former Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman (R) in what is now a four-way primary.
“It’s more important than ever that we have an Attorney General who will focus completely on fighting to protect Texas,” Krause said in a statement, which does not mention Paxton. “I will be a faithful conservative fighter for Texas values, the citizens of Texas and the Constitution.”
Krause, a founding member of the Texas Freedom Caucus, could fracture the conservative base that first elevated Paxton, then a state senator, to the office in 2014. Paxton had no primary opposition in 2018.
Krause becomes the second sitting state representative to announce for statewide office this year, joining Rep. James White (R-Hillister), who is challenging Agriculture Comm. Sid Miller (R). Both must also defeat history to win their respective offices. No sitting state representative has won a statewide race in Texas since then-Reps. Dan Morales (D-San Antonio) and Rick Perry (R-Haskell) in 1990.
Krause’s district runs from west of Haslet all the way to Grand Prairie by bending around nearly all of Haltom City (See district map). His decision to run statewide gives his Republican colleagues a lot of flexibility in redistricting.
HD99: Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) announced he would seek re-election.
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