AUSTIN, Texas — The race for attorney general of Texas continues to take center stage as we head into this election year.
On the Republican side, incumbent Ken Paxton is trying to hold onto his seat against three well-known challengers – Land Commissioner George P. Bush, former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman and Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert. All are attacking Paxton for his legal troubles, which include an FBI investigation into claims of misconduct in office and securities fraud charges. Paxton's denied wrongdoing in both.
The race has also attracted a lineup of Democrats. They include Lee Merritt, a nationally known civil rights attorney from Plano, Rochelle Garza, a former lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union from the Rio Grande Valley and Joe Jaworski, a Galveston lawyer and former mayor of the city.
Jaworski joined Capital Tonight Tuesday to discuss his campaign and says he’s battle tested and brings local experience to the job.
“Local decision-making authority is under attack in state government these days and I can personally say that local government is the best government,” he said. “So I think as attorney general, Texans can rest assured whether they live in Republican jurisdiction, Democratic jurisdiction or any independent-type jurisdiction, that local government will be a focus of my attorney general opinion.”
Democrats also say they see an opening for the state’s top cop position because of Paxton’s legal troubles.
“My position is that there are going to be a lot of disappointed moderate Republicans when Mr. Bush and Justice Guzman do not leave the Republican field because I think Mr. Paxton is clearly going to win his party’s nomination,” Jaworski predicted. “So come November, what we want is a candidate who can field support from both sides and defeat Mr. Paxton.”
Jaworski said his top priorities if elected include legalizing marijuana, protecting voter access and civil rights and more focus on consumer protection.
“I think the most important thing the attorney general can do is not embarrass the state of Texas in court. Less focus on culture wars and more on consumer protection. After all, that’s what the attorney general’s office is really designed to be,” he said. “Working with doctors and patients and all insureds in Texas, it would be very important for the AG to let private health insurance know there’s a new sheriff in town and that the insurance companies need to start paying claims and that doctors’ care recommendations are being followed. I think that could be transformative.”
Click the video link above to watch our full interview with Jaworski.