The saying that everything is bigger in Texas may now apply to a bitter intraparty brawl following Tuesday night’s primary election.
Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton separately sought revenge on incumbent Republicans they viewed as disloyal, at times working against one another in an attempt to gain control over the state’s Republican Party.
While Paxton went after Republicans in the legislature who voted to impeach him last year after accusations of abusing the power of his office, Abbott targeted lawmakers who helped kill his signature legislative priority to use public money to help families pay for private and religious schools.
In total, at least nine incumbent House Republicans targeted by either Abbott or Paxton lost their primaries on Tuesday. Eight others, including House Speaker Dade Phelan, who was Paxton’s main target, were forced to compete in runoffs that will be at the end of May.
In many cases, the incumbents Abbott endorsed, who supported his school voucher plan, also voted in favor of Paxton’s impeachment, pitting the two leaders against one another. The revenge tour between the two leaders was bolstered at times by high-profile Republicans, with former President Donald Trump wading into a couple of races in support of Paxton-endorsed candidates and others like former Gov. Rick Perry backing Abbott’s picks. In most cases, candidates backed by Abbott won.
Abbott spent more than $6 million in a span of a couple of weeks to go after the House Republicans who defied him on school vouchers. According to a Houston Chronicle tally, the governor made more than 50 campaign stops in an aggressive campaign to oust incumbents who defied him on the school vouchers. Seven of the 14 Abbott-endorsed challengers won their primaries, while at least five were headed to runoffs. Only two of his picks lost, including Liz Case, who was also endorsed by Trump.
“Republican primary voters have once again sent an unmistakable message that parents deserve the freedom to choose the best education pathway for their child,” Abbott said in a statement Tuesday night. “We will continue to help true conservative candidates on the ballot who stand with the majority of their constituents in supporting education freedom for every Texas family.”
Paxton’s pursuit to oust House incumbents who supported his impeachment appeared to be a little less fruitful. Only six of the 35 opponents he backed won, while six headed to runoffs. Two members instrumental in the impeachment push, David Spiller in District 68 and Jeff Leach of District 67, survived primary challenges. However, Mitch Little, who served as an impeachment defense lawyer for Paxton, was able to unseat Kronda Thimesch in District 65.
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A significant victory for Paxton was helping force Phelan into a runoff against David Covey, a former Orange County Republican Party chairman. Covey, an oil and gas consultant, was also endorsed by Trump.
“Let this runoff be a rallying cry for all conservatives across Texas,” Paxton said in a post on X. “The battle lines are drawn, and our resolve has never been stronger.”
Phelan released a statement Tuesday night, emphasizing the importance of the looming runoff.
“This runoff is not just another race, it’s the frontline of the battle for the soul of our district. While my opponent hides behind empty rhetoric, dishonest advertising, and surrogate voices, I stand before voters with a clear record of service and conservative success for Southeast Texas,” Phelan said.
“I am confident we will ultimately be victorious, carrying our momentum into the runoff and securing a resounding win that reflects the true will of our district — not the will of fringe West Texas billionaires,” he added.
Paxton was more successful in his campaign against three Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judges he targeted over a ruling in 2021 that stripped him of the power to prosecute voter fraud without permission from local prosecutors. The attorney general accused the judges — Barbara Hervey, Sharon Keller, and Michelle Slaughter — of being “activist judges.”
Keller, Hervey, and Slaughter voted with five of the other Republican judges on the Court of Criminal Appeals in the 8-1 decision that ruled Paxton violated the separation of powers in the Texas Constitution.
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“To those who would seek to obstruct justice or undermine our laws, know this: The people of Texas will not tolerate it,” Paxton said in an additional post on X. “Your days of judicial activism are numbered, and Texans are ready to hold you accountable.”
Paxton is still facing an April trial on felony security fraud charges and an additional federal corruption investigation involving some of the same allegations raised in his impeachment last year.
