Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton beats George P. Bush in GOP primary

Ken Paxton
(Image credit: Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) easily thwarted a primary challenge from Land Commissioner George P. Bush (R) on Tuesday, making him the favorite in November despite a string of legal and ethical scandals. He will face Democrat Rochelle Garza, a former American Civil Liberties Union lawyer.

"Paxton has faced a securities fraud indictment for seven years," The Texas Tribune recounts. "More recently, the FBI began investigating him for abuse of office after eight of his former top deputies accused him of bribery. He also reportedly had an extramarital affair." Bush hammered Paxton on his legal and personal scandals, all of which he denies, "but none of Bush's attacks gained traction with socially conservative voters in the runoff, who said they preferred Paxton's combative style to Bush's more civil and polished approach," the Tribune adds.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.