ICYMI: A Messy Debate for a Messy GOP AG Primary

February 25, 2022

Washington, DC — The Republican candidates running for Attorney General in Texas did an amazing job of tearing each other apart in their debate last night. The Texas Tribune reported that it “turned into an all-out brawl.” “Land Commissioner George P. Bush and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman attacked each other,” while “U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert targeted incumbent Ken Paxton, who declined to participate,” they reported.

The Tribune goes on, “Bush and Guzman went after each other’s records and legal qualifications, with both candidates dropping their ceremonial titles and addressing each other by first name throughout the debate. Bush called Guzman a ‘gutter politician,’ while Guzman said Bush was ‘entitled’ and angry that she had jumped into the race.”

“Gohmert took advantage of Paxton’s absence to hammer the incumbent on an FBI investigation into allegations of bribery and abuse of office and present himself as a conservative alternative without the baggage,” they reported.

One of the wilder, but unsurprising, parts of the debate was when out-of-touch, right-wing candidate, with close ties to January 6th, Rep. Gohmert said “I don’t know whether he did or not” when asked if he believed President Joe Biden had won the 2020 election.

The candidates did not hold back on their attacks on AG Paxton either. “Bush also chided Paxton for his absence, saying he was evading conservative voters. ‘Ken, I know you’re watching, you’re sitting there on your couch,’ he said. ‘When are you going to come out of the shadows?’”

Was the debate entertaining? Absolutely. Did it show that any of the candidates will put Texas first and make a good Attorney General for Texans? Absolutely not.

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