This is a Republican primary race.  Do you promise, if elected, to abide by the RPT platform? And if not, please enumerate what problems you have.

Yes

If elected, do you think you'd be invited to participate in the Freedom Caucus? Why or why not?

While the Attorney General’s office remains separate from the legislature, I am a proven conservative with a track record of standing up to the radical left. 

What differentiates you from your opponents?

My proven success against the Biden administration, and specifically on the border and immigration-related cases makes me the most effective and best candidate to continue as AG. My record of effectiveness and success against this reckless and liberal administration and their efforts to take away Texans’ fundamental freedoms speaks for itself. I am deeply devoted to America’s founding values and the conservative values Texans hold dear. I have a deep passion and respect for our U.S. Constitution that I’ve shown through my previous service in the Texas House, Senate, and now as Attorney General. I have a significant advantage as far as my wide-ranging experience goes. 

Define what the word "Conservative" means to you.

At its most basic levels, I believe carrying out the conservative agenda in Texas means keeping the heavy hand of government at bay. I believe government should be limited to its core functions and then perform those core functions well. I will defend the free market economic model that has made Texas the economic envy of the country and not succumb to pressure from the federal government or other elected officials that seek to increase government regulations. It also means that we should be to America’s founding values and the conservative values Texans hold dear. I have a deep passion and respect for our U.S. Constitution that I’ve shown through my previous service in the Texas House, Senate, and now as Attorney General. My uncompromising devotion to America’s founding values has served me well in this office. I always tell folks that this office is the frontline in the battle against the Biden administration’s attempts to squash our freedoms, and I am honored to fight for Texans and the fundamental freedoms they hold dear. I also fight to ensure our laws are respected and seek to hold those who violate them accountable. 

What is your position on a full forensic election audit? Describe what that would include?

I was in favor of a full, in-depth audit of our elections in large counties. It would not have been a quick process, but it would include a third party to inspect and validate results and ensure our election process is secure.

What is the AG's office doing, (or should be doing) to prevent future/continued election fraud in Texas?

In Texas, we’ve seen the importance of election integrity going back years. Cheating in Texas elections was a serious problem in our state, and we took steps to address it. But what has happened in the last several years, and specifically since the COVID pandemic has deeply troubled me. While I have always been a strong advocate for fair but strong voting laws, the Left’s insistence on changing the rules at every turn has raised the stakes and brought this threat to the forefront. It must be a top priority for every government official. I am vehemently opposed to the Court of Criminal Appeals’ irresponsible decision to place the power to prosecute election fraud in the hands of liberal, local District Attorneys. Free, fair, and honest elections are the bedrock of our democracy, and in Texas, we take our election process and election integrity very seriously. Unfortunately, the CCA has now empowered local district attorneys with radical, liberal views to have the sole power to decide whether election fraud has occurred in deep-blue cities and counties. What’s more, this is just a power grab for the criminal law bar and seeks to consolidate power for the CCA’s district attorney and county attorney friends. This ruling will absolutely be devastating for the security of future elections in Texas. If this decision isn’t overturned, the 2022 elections will be full of fraud, mischief, and irregularities. I’m already fighting this awful CCA decision, and when I’m re-elected, I will continue to fight this every step of the way and ensure we work to reverse it. Following the last election, my office was prosecuting at least 43 individuals for a combined 510 cases of alleged voter or election fraud. Those cases are spread over multiple elections.

What do you see as the major challenges for the courts over this next term?

Across the board, from COVID restrictions to border policy, the Biden administration has refused to follow the law and has sought to pass their radical agenda through executive fiat, bending the rules at every turn. Holding them accountable for this will take significant time and energy in courtrooms across the country. 

How far did founding fathers intend 2nd amendment to go? pistol, rifle, semi-automatic, full automatic, concealed carry, open carry, bazooka, missle launchers, nuclear bomb? Why? How far do you plan to protect the 2nd amendment?

As Attorney General, I am fighting to protect our Second Amendment rights at every turn. I believe that no government entity may set local policies that infringe upon our right to personally keep and bear arms. I don’t think it makes any sense to create laws for law-abiding citizens. There’s a reason that the Second Amendment exists. It was there because the founders feared government and they wanted to make sure that the people could defend themselves if they ever had to against their own government. That’s the reality and that’s why it was put there. I don’t think it makes any sense to create laws for law-abiding citizens.

How do you propose to prevent release of suspected criminals on personal recognizance or reduced bail due to delays in indictment?

Not only is releasing criminals without individualized consideration of the circumstances of the offense or their criminal history completely contrary to Texas law, it presents serious dangers to public safety. I will always fight to protect the people of Texas from violent criminals.

When did you first become aware of the progressive's CScope/Common Core/CRT/SEL/IB and what is your plan going forward to stop it?

The issues facing our schools today are nothing new, that’s why I have championed parental rights and I am a strong believer in school choice. In the Texas Senate, I was proud to champion legislation to boost school vouchers. It is important that our students have access to a variety of options so that each student has the opportunity to succeed. 

Where do you perceive the greatest corruption exists in State government?

There are sadly too many who refuse to follow our Constitution. All judges must abide by their oaths and the Constitution. 

Will you initiate proceeding/s against local officials who issue no bid contracts or otherwise divert tax dollars to themselves and their friends?

The Attorney General plays a lead role in protecting taxpayers through investigating waste, fraud, and abuse, by reviewing and approving local bond packages, and through reviewing large state contracts. As a legislator, I had a record of scrutinizing state budgets, creating transparency for state and local funds, and opposing tax increases.

As Attorney General, I am reviewing contracts and bond proposals to ensure our tax money is spent wisely. In reviewing waste, fraud, and abuse, Texas will aggressively investigate and prosecute Medicaid fraud to ensure your tax dollars are not wasted.

What can or should the Atty.Gen.’s office do about illegal immigrants in the State of Texas?

As Texas deals with the consequences of Biden’s border crisis, securing our border and protecting our communities is of the utmost importance. I am the best candidate on border and immigration issues because I’ve fought and won against Biden's administration and his failed, open border policies.These victorious lawsuits have resulted in an injunction against Biden’s freeze on all deportations, a victory in forcing the Biden administration to reinstate the successful "Remain-in-Mexico" program, and a major blow against the unconstitutional Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. I will continue these efforts and do everything in my power to keep the people of Texas safe from threats. 

Despite conflicting SCOTUS rulings in '73 & '82, non-citizens continue to drain education dollars from Texas children. What can the AG do to correct that?

Illegal immigration is costing Texas taxpayers dearly. According to my office’s estimates, Texas spends $855 million on illegal migrants every year. I will continue my efforts to hold the federal government accountable for their refusal to enforce our law and prevent more and more illegal immigrants from flooding across our border. Also, unlike my opponent George P. Bush, who says tuition for illegal immigrants is a “nominal” cost to the state, I have led the fight against Obama’s executive amnesty to help protect our resources in Texas. 

What is the AG's office doing (or should be doing) to stop illegal border crossing? What support does/can your office do to support Texas law enforcement in the fight against human/child trafficking?

As your Attorney General, one of my primary responsibilities is to help keep our communities safe by enforcing our laws. That’s why I’ve been working tirelessly to hold Joe Biden and his radical administration's feet to the fire for their blatant abdication of their responsibility to secure our border – and I’m proud of our results. But our work isn’t done. We need a wall to keep Texans safe and to prevent a crisis of this magnitude from ever happening again. That’s why I’ve been outspoken in calling on the court to require the Biden administration to continue building President Trump's border wall. Joe Biden is refusing to spend funds appropriated by Congress the way that was intended, but that's just not how things work in a constitutional republic. Throughout my entire career in public service, I have always opposed amnesty. I’ve voted to prohibit sanctuary cities, filed bills to stop illegal immigrants from receiving in-state tuition, and voted against providing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.

Human trafficking is one of the most evil practices that some of the most monstrous criminals engage in. To fight this evil, I formed my Human Trafficking and Transnational/Organized Crime (HTTOC) Division—a team of 20 professionals who serve as lawyers, investigators, and analysts. My team has held hundreds of trafficking-prevention preventions all over the state, prosecuted and won several cases in state and federal court, and, one of our proudest accomplishments, shut down backpage.com, which for years was used as a trafficking hub. (To do more, the Texas Legislature must grant my Agency concurrent jurisdiction to prosecute trafficking crimes; right now, we must take cases by referral. Joe Biden has made the human trafficking situation in Texas and around the country infinitely worse thanks to his abandonment of law and order and his border crisis. These are areas in which I’m fighting him—and winning—most aggressively. This, in turn, helps pull young women and girls out of trafficking and prevents them from getting lured in in the first place.

What can the AG do (or have you done) to end the practices of sanctuary cities in Texas?

I’ve taken significant legal action against cities in Texas that prevent federal authorities from enforcing immigration laws. Just this week San Antonio was forced to pay $300,000 to settle lawsuits my office brought. I have fought relentlessly to secure our border and I will continue to take essential steps to protect every city in our great state. I successfully defended Texas’s “Sanctuary City” ban because enforcing immigration law prevents the release of individuals from custody who have been charged with serious crimes. Dangerous criminals shouldn’t be allowed back into our communities to possibly commit more crimes.

The Texas AG must sign off on public-private partnerships that give long term control of public roads to private entities. Several contracts have been approved pledging tax dollars to these partnerships for SH 130, Hwy. 161, the Grand Pkwy and others. "Where should this power be placed, if anywhere? and why? Is this policy constitutional? and why?"

My job is only to defend state law. I have and always supported private property rights and to the best of my ability will always do so.

What have/will you do to promote ALAC(American Laws for American Courts)?

My job is and will continue to be to defend American laws and the constitution. I will never support foreign laws in America. 

What are the 3 biggest problems for the citizens of Texas, that your office will address, and specifically, how will you reduce or manage this?

I believe illegal immigration, threats to our election integrity, and protecting our children and the rights of the unborn are the three greatest challenges facing us. While my plans for securing our border and election integrity As Attorney General, I am working to promote a culture of life in Texas, and ensure that laws passed by the legislature to protect the lives of unborn children are fully implemented and legally protected.

What is the single most important action the government needs to do to keep this a great state to live in?

Protect our freedoms. Good governments must allow the spirit of our nation to thrive, and that means allowing Americans the freedoms necessary to achieve and live their dreams. Texas’ job creators are being attacked in a very real way. Employers are put at risk from the job-killing regulations of the EPA, mountains of regulations, health care fines, and more. Increasingly, business owners are making more and more of their hiring decisions based on potential government regulation. This is wrong. Government should encourage – not restrict – economic opportunity.

How much is spent on outside attorneys to handle State business?  $_________ How much would you pay?  $__________ What is your position on hiring outside attorneys to handle State business?

It would take me a long time to get you a total number on what our budget is currently for outside attorneys. However when you are pushing back against big tech and other very critical lawsuits you must have the top experts in the nation to help fight these type of cases. An example would be a doctor. You certainly wouldn’t want a brain surgeon to handle a heart problem. You have to have attorneys who are the greatest experts in the field. You can guarantee that Google will hire the best lawyers they can find. Texans also deserve this type of counsel.