Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) barely escaped political disaster Tuesday night, squeaking into a runoff for Texas Attorney General after finishing a distant second in the Republican primary. The America First conservative found himself trailing by 8 percentage points, raising serious questions about his political future in the Lone Star State.
Despite backing from Sen. Ted Cruz, his former boss, Roy struggled against a crowded field that included Paxton-endorsed Aaron Reitz and state Sen. Mayes Middleton, who proudly championed the Trump agenda. Political observer Jamie Dupree noted on social media: "Rep. Chip Roy R-TX is 8% back in 2nd for TX Attorney General. He's in the May runoff."
The race has exposed deep fractures within Texas Republican circles, with some questioning the establishment's opposition to current AG Ken Paxton. Conservative activist MizDonna69 raised eyebrows with her pointed observation: "I don't live in Texas so I don't quite understand the Bush/Pence faction hate against Paxton. And yes, that goes from Rove to Cruz to Chip Roy."
Cruz Endorsement Falls Flat
Even Ted Cruz's endorsement couldn't deliver a commanding victory for his former chief of staff. Cruz had praised the field, saying "There are several excellent candidates right now in the race for Texas Attorney General. All of them are friends of mine, and all of them have been strong. Texas is blessed to have an abundance of strong conservatives."
Roy's underwhelming performance raises uncomfortable questions about whether Texas voters are rejecting the Bush-era Republican establishment in favor of authentic MAGA fighters. His opponent Aaron Reitz's promise to "destroy the left" clearly resonated with primary voters hungry for aggressive conservative leadership.
The May runoff will be a crucial test of whether Roy can rebuild momentum or if Texas Republicans are ready to move beyond the old guard. One thing's certain: the America First movement isn't backing down without a fight.