Ted Cruz Endorses Chip Roy for Texas Attorney General

Senator Ted Cruz (R) has officially endorsed Rep. Chip Roy (R) in the 2026 race for Texas attorney general, backing his former chief of staff and longtime political ally in a crowded Republican primary.

“I am proud to endorse Chip Roy for Attorney General of Texas,” Cruz said in a statement. “We have been in more fights together than I can count, and I know Chip will always, always, always fight for conservative values.”

Roy, who formally announced his campaign, is seeking to succeed Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is leaving the post after more than a decade to run against Sen. John Cornyn (R) in what’s shaping up to be a high-stakes Senate primary.

“Texans’ next attorney general must have a proven record of fighting to preserve, protect, and defend our legacy,” Roy said in a campaign launch video.

Roy, a member of the House Freedom Caucus since entering Congress in 2019, previously served as Cruz’s chief of staff.

Cruz highlighted Roy’s credentials, describing him as “a battle-tested warrior and a fierce defender of the Constitution.”

“There is no one better equipped to lead the Office of the Texas Attorney General,” Cruz added. “I have full confidence that he will stand up for the rule of law, preserve the rights and freedoms of Texans and hold those who threaten our great state accountable.”

The GOP field to replace Paxton also includes state Sens. Joan Huffman (R) and Mayes Middleton (R), as well as Aaron Reitz (R), another former Cruz chief of staff.

The race is expected to draw national attention, given Texas’s legal prominence and the AG’s high-profile role in litigation over immigration, elections, and federal authority.