Texas Attorney General Primary Begins to Take Shape: Eva Guzman Joins

Eva Guzman, former justice of the Texas Supreme Court, has joined Ken Paxton and George P. Bush in an already crowded race to become the next state attorney general. 

A week ago, Ms. Guzman suddenly resigned as justice from the Texas Supreme Court. She had held that position since 2009, when she was appointed as the first Hispanic female justice by former Governor Rick Perry. Her second full term on the court was slated to finish at the end of next year. Governor Greg Abbott now holds the power to choose her replacement on the all-GOP court.

Ms. Guzman’s candidacy presents a new mystery in the race and it’s unclear whether her candidacy will influence former President Donald Trump’s favorite candidate in the primary. 

After Mr. Bush announced his campaign for attorney general, the former President of the United States said he liked both incumbent AG Ken Paxton and Bush “very much” and that he would make an endorsement “in the not-so-distant future”. Guzman might be Gov. Abbott’s personal favorite, especially since she could help him gain some hispanic votes.

Current Attorney General Ken Paxton has spent most of his tenure in office fighting securities fraud allegations, and he is currently under FBI investigation for allegedly abusing his position to benefit a wealthy donor (he has denied both allegations) and was heavily criticized by his opponent, Mr. Bush who said his office lacked dignity.