Gohmert/Photo by Gohmert Congressional Office Facebook
U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tyler) is exploring a bid to challenge Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in next year’s Republican primary for the state’s top legal job.
Gohmert, a multi-term Republican veteran of the U.S. House, announced his exploratory committee on Tuesday, unveiling a website aimed at fundraising for a potential campaign. According to media reports following Gohmert’s campaign kick off, the Republican is seeking to raise $1 million in order to finance his campaign. If Gohmert raises the money over the next ten days, he says he will jump into the race against Paxton.
"We've got to have an attorney general that's undistracted by moral and legal issues of his own and who can get elected a year from now," Gohmert told his supporters.
If Gohmert joins the race for Attorney General, he will be joining a crowded and growing Republican primary field that already includes the incumbent, Paxton, Land Commissioner George P. Bush, former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman, and State Rep. Matt Krause. In addition, three Democrats have also announced campaigns for the seat — former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski, civil rights attorney Lee Merritt, and former American Civil Liberties Union attorney Rochelle Garza.
Candidates can begin filing to run for this office on November 13, with filing ending on December 13. Primary election day is currently scheduled for March 1.