FIRST ON FOX: Texas' Ken Paxton endorses candidate to succeed him as attorney general

"One of the most frequent questions Texans ask me is: 'Ken, who should succeed you as Attorney General?' My answer is now definitive: Aaron Reitz," Paxton said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital. 

Paxton described Reitz as "the only candidate who is fully vetted, battle-tested, proven, and ready to be Attorney General," calling him "loyal, fearless, trusted, and relentlessly committed to the Rule of Law."

"Aaron Reitz absolutely must be Texas's next top lawyer," Paxton asserted in the statement, included in a Reitz campaign press release. "For that reason, I am giving him my complete and total endorsement to succeed me as Attorney General."

While Reitz and Roy have both previously served as chief of staff to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, the senator is backing Roy for the job.

"I am proud to endorse Chip Roy for Attorney General of Texas. As my very first chief of staff, Chip has been a close friend and ally of mine for over 12 years. We have been in more fights together than I can count, and I know Chip will always, always, always fight for conservative values," Cruz asserted, adding later in the statement, "There is no one better equipped to lead the Office of the Texas Attorney General, and I know that he will ferociously fight and protect the Lone Star State."

Republican Texas state Sens. Mayes Middleton and Joan Huffman are also running to succeed Paxton in the post. On the other side of the aisle, Democratic state Sen. Nathan Johnson and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski are vying for the job.

"Texas is under assault - from open-border politicians, radical leftists, and faceless foreign corporations that threaten our sovereignty, safety, and our way of life," he asserted. "As Attorney General, I will fight every single day for our God-given rights, for our families, and for the future of Texas. No more Soros-funded judges and DA's putting criminals on our streets. No more judge-made mandates that Texans pay for illegals in our public schools. No more communities built on Sharia law."

Reitz has since made it crystal clear that he is not dropping out of the contest by sharing a clip from the film "The Wolf of Wall Street," in which actor Leonardo DiCaprio declares, "I'm not leavin'. I'm not f***in leavin'!'"

In the press release obtained by Fox News Digital, the candidate noted that he was "honored" to receive Paxton's endorsement.

"Serving as Ken Paxton's 'offensive coordinator' was the crusade of a lifetime. I am deeply honored to have his support in my campaign for Attorney General," Reitz said the statement.

"Under Ken Paxton, Texas has been a shining example for the conservative movement on how to fight and win against the enemies of Law, Order, and Liberty. My promise to Texans is that I will keep my foot on the gas and energetically carry on Paxton's legacy. That is the only way to defend Texas from the radical left. As the only pro-Paxton candidate in this race, I am unequivocally the best person to lead the Office of the Attorney General of Texas into battle," he added.

The Texas House of Representatives voted to impeach Paxton in 2023, but he was later acquitted by the state Senate the same year.