Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) endorsed Rep. Chip Roy (R) in his bid for Texas attorney general, throwing his support behind his former chief of staff on Saturday. 

“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 said in a statement. 

Roy formally launched his bid to be the next attorney general on Thursday, looking to replace outgoing Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), who has held the post since 2014. Paxton is challenging incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in what is already a hotly contested primary. The Hill first reported on Roy eyeing a bid for the Lone Star State’s top law enforcement post in early August. 

“Texans’ next attorney general must have a proven record of fighting to preserve, protect, and defend our legacy,” Roy said in his campaign video. 

Aside from Roy, other GOP candidates who have joined the open attorney general contest are state Sens. Joan Huffman and Mayes Middleton, along with Aaron Reitz, who was also Cruz’s chief of staff, working for the Republican senator from May 2023 till March of this year. 

Cruz praised Roy, who has served in the House since 2019 and is a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, saying he has “consistently shown the courage, integrity and conviction required to defend our great state.” 

“He is a battle-tested warrior and a fierce defender of the Constitution. I have full confidence that he will stand up for the rule of law, preserve the rights and freedoms of Texans and hold those who threaten our great state accountable,” Cruz said on Saturday. “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.”

Roy has been at odds with Paxton before, calling for him to resign in 2020 over bribery allegations. President Trump has not made an endorsement in the race so far.