Texas Rep. Chip Roy announced Thursday that he’s running for attorney general in his home state.
The Freedom Caucus policy chair, who has occasionally clashed with his own party and with President Donald Trump, said in a statement that he will crack down on “judge-made mandates that Texas pay for illegals in our public schools” and other problems he sees with the state.
“Texas is under assault — from open-border politicians, radical leftists and faceless foreign corporations that threaten our sovereignty, safety and our way of life,” Roy said.
Roy is the highest-profile candidate so far to run for the seat current state Attorney General Ken Paxton is vacating to run for U.S. Senate. Roy has had a less-than-smooth relationship with Paxton, calling for the attorney general to resign in 2020 amid allegations of bribery.
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Roy’s time in the House has been marked by obstruction — including of his own party’s legislation. He opposed Republican efforts to raise the debt ceiling, which caused Trump to lash out at him in December, calling for a primary challenge.
Roy was also a key swing vote to renew Mike Johnson’s speakership at the start of the new Congress, which he ultimately did.
Roy is the latest of six Freedom Caucus members to launch or mull runs for different offices, meaning the ultraconservative faction’s makeup will likely be very different come 2027.
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