Source: Politics<\/p>\n
Rep. Chip Roy will advance to a runoff in the race to replace Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.<\/p>\n
He will face state Sen. Mayes Middleton, who led Roy by a double-digit margin with three-fifths of the vote counted.<\/p>\n
The competitive primary turned into a fealty test to President Donald Trump. Reitz and Middleton slammed Roy for breaking with Trump in the past<\/a> and calling for Attorney General Ken Paxton to resign<\/a> after he faced charges of bribery and abuse, while brandishing their own MAGA bona fides.<\/p>\n Trump made no endorsement in the race.<\/p>\n Roy \u2014 the House Freedom Caucus policy chair who has represented Texas\u2019 21st congressional district since 2019 \u2014 earned a reputation in Congress as a true conservative ideologue. He has led in polling and fundraising and has been endorsed by well-known conservatives like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and fellow Freedom Caucus representatives.<\/p>\n But Mayes\u2019 apparent first-place finish indicates that he begins the runoff as the favorite. It remains to be seen what the president, who once called for Roy to face a primary challenge, might do in the runoff.<\/p>\n