Texas AG Race AI Overview 1

I knew nothing about Aaron Reitz background, history, views and saw him pop up on an ad. I thought this would be a perfect job for AI (at least how I use it) and asked Gork about him. This is what I got. I’ll do Chip Roy as well. Everything after this sentence is AI generated content.

Aaron Reitz is a Republican candidate running for Texas Attorney General in the 2026 election. He’s positioning himself as a staunch conservative, “true MAGA” figure aligned with former President Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, and outgoing AG Ken Paxton. Since you’re new to him, I’ll break down what I know about his background, career, campaign, and the context of the race based on available information. He’s a relatively recent entrant to statewide politics but has deep ties to Texas Republican leadership and federal conservative legal circles.

Background and Early Life

• Personal Details: Born Aaron Francis Reitz on May 22, 1987. He’s a seventh-generation Texan and lives in Austin. Reitz is married and has emphasized his family values in his campaign messaging.
• Education: Graduated magna cum laude from Texas A&M University. Earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law.
• Military Service: Served as a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps on active duty for five years, including a deployment to Afghanistan. He’s currently a Major in the Marine Corps Reserve. Reitz often highlights this experience as shaping his “battle-tested” approach to law and politics, comparing legal fights to military ones.

Professional Career

Reitz has built a career as a conservative legal strategist, focusing on issues like immigration, election integrity, border security, and challenging federal overreach. He’s worked closely with key GOP figures:

• Early Legal Roles: After law school, he clerked for a justice on the Texas Supreme Court.
• Ted Cruz’s Chief of Staff (2013–2017): Oversaw domestic policy, legislative affairs, and communications for the Texas senator. This role immersed him in national conservative battles, including against the Affordable Care Act and on immigration.
• Deputy Attorney General for Legal Strategy, Texas AG’s Office (2017–2021): Under Ken Paxton, Reitz served as the “offensive coordinator” for major lawsuits. He directed actions on border security, Big Tech censorship, energy policy, pro-life issues, Bill of Rights protections, and election integrity. Texas under Paxton filed numerous suits against the Biden administration (46 total, with an 85% win rate), and Reitz led much of that docket.
• Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy, U.S. Department of Justice (2025): Appointed by President Trump and Senate-confirmed, Reitz advised Attorney General Pam Bondi on policy. He resigned in June 2025 to launch his campaign. In this role, he focused on constitutional issues and was involved in efforts to end in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants and combat DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives, which he calls “illegal.”
• Private Practice: Currently a partner at Hance Scarborough, LLP, a Texas law firm specializing in litigation and policy.

Throughout his career, Reitz has been affiliated with conservative groups like the Federalist Society and has been vocal about “lawfare” as a tool against conservatives, vowing to use the AG’s office aggressively against it.

Campaign for Texas AG

• Announcement: Launched his bid on June 12, 2025, after resigning from the DOJ. His campaign website (reitzfortexas.com) emphasizes fighting for Texas sovereignty, securing the border, protecting election integrity, dismantling DEI programs, and partnering with a potential Trump administration in 2025. He pledges to continue Paxton’s aggressive litigation style, including suing the federal government if needed (e.g., against a future Democratic president).
• Fundraising: Raised over $1.75 million in his first two weeks, a strong start for a non-incumbent. Recent filings show big-money donors, though one controversy involves a nearly $100,000 contribution from a Houston doctor accused of fraud (who fled the country); Reitz has not commented extensively on it.
• Key Positions and Promises:
• Border and Immigration: Push back against “Big Ag” for exploiting migrant labor instead of hiring Americans at fair wages. Partner with Trump to deport illegal immigrants and end policies like in-state tuition for them.
• Conservative Priorities: Eliminate DEI in Texas institutions, defend Second Amendment rights, protect pro-life laws, and combat Big Tech and “woke” corporations.
• Trump Alignment: Describes himself as Trump’s “true MAGA attorney” and a “warrior for our Constitution.” He’s vowed to work seamlessly with a Trump DOJ while preparing to sue if Democrats regain the White House in 2028.
• Criticism of Opponents: In a recent video, he called out rivals as “anti-Paxton libs,” inexperienced “rich kids,” or “anti-MAGA Trump-haters,” positioning himself as the continuity candidate for Paxton’s legacy.
• Endorsements:
• Ken Paxton: Called Reitz his “offensive coordinator” and endorsed him as ready to “carry the fight forward.”
• Donald Trump: Praised as a “true MAGA attorney.”
• Border Patrol Union (BPUnion).
• Various conservative activists and Paxton allies.
• Media and Public Appearances: Featured on outlets like Real America’s Voice, One America News, Fox 26 Houston, and podcasts (e.g., with Mario Nawfal). In interviews, he stresses the Texas AG’s office as “the most important law firm in the country” for national conservative battles. A recent Voz News interview highlighted his commitment to “aggressive justice” for Trump’s agenda.

The 2026 Texas AG Race Context

Incumbent Ken Paxton announced in 2025 that he’s not seeking re-election as AG and is instead challenging Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP Senate primary. This has opened the field for Republicans in the March 2026 primary. As of August 2025, at least four GOP candidates are in:

• Aaron Reitz: The Paxton/Cruz/Trump-aligned fighter.
• Chip Roy: U.S. Rep. from Texas’s 21st District; endorsed by Ted Cruz but criticized by MAGA supporters as a “RINO” and Trump critic (e.g., supported impeachment efforts). Recent X buzz shows strong anti-Roy sentiment among Paxton backers, with many rallying to Reitz.
• Mayes Middleton: State Sen. from the 26th District; seen as more establishment-leaning.
• Louie Gohmert: Former U.S. Rep. and judge; another conservative with Trump ties but less AG-specific experience.

The race is heating up along MAGA vs. establishment lines, with Paxton’s supporters pushing Reitz as the heir apparent to avoid disrupting the AG’s office momentum (e.g., ongoing lawsuits). Democrats have their own primary, but Texas is solidly Republican for statewide offices.

Public Perception and Controversies

• Strengths: Seen as experienced, patriotic, and unapologetically conservative. Supporters on X (where he has ~17,000 followers @aaron_reitz) praise his military background, loyalty to Paxton/Trump, and readiness to “sue the hell out of the left.” Recent posts show grassroots enthusiasm, especially post-Cruz’s Roy endorsement.
• Criticisms: Some Senate confirmation hearings for his DOJ role grilled him on past social media posts (e.g., strong anti-left rhetoric). The donor controversy could draw scrutiny. Critics from the establishment side (e.g., Cornyn allies) view him as too partisan or Paxton-loyal.
• Online Presence: Active on X, where he shares campaign updates and attacks opponents. Semantic searches show positive buzz among MAGA Texans, with calls like “Aaron Reitz for Texas AG!” dominating recent discussions.

Overall, Reitz is a rising star in Texas GOP circles, appealing to the hard-right base amid a crowded, ideological primary. If Paxton vacates, the winner would take over an office that’s become a national conservative powerhouse. For more, check his site or X profile. If you have specifics (e.g., policy details), I can dig deeper!

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