Former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman throws her hat in the ring for attorney general
AUSTIN (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — It was about two weeks ago when Eva Guzman announced her resignation from Texas' highest court. Now, the former Supreme Court Justice has formally launched a run for attorney general.
The move makes her the latest challenger to face embattled GOP incumbent Ken Paxton.
Guzman, a Republican who spent more than a decade on Texas' highest court before stepping down this month, joins Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush in what may be the state's most contested primary in 2022.
Guzman is a longtime judge who became the first Latina to join the Texas Supreme Court in 2009. Both Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. John Cornyn are also former justices who were later elected attorney general.
Paxton did not draw a primary challenger in 2018 but now has at least two as his legal problems mount. He is under FBI investigation following an extraordinary revolt by his top aides, who accused him of abusing his office in the service of a donor, and he is still awaiting trial on separate charges of securities fraud.
The Texas bar association is also investigating whether Paxton's failed efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election based on bogus claims of fraud amounted to professional misconduct. Paxton has pleaded not guilty to the fraud charges and has denied the other accusations as politically motivated.
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