Rochelle Garza makes case against Ken Paxton for Texas attorney general

July 16, 2022 Dallas News Comments Off on Rochelle Garza makes case against Ken Paxton for Texas attorney general 54 Views

Rochelle Garza made her case for why she could be the first Latina and the first Democrat in over 30 years to hold the office of Texas attorney general.

Garza, speaking Friday during the Texas Democratic Convention in Dallas, touted her record defending abortion rights.

The former ACLU attorney from Brownsville sued the Trump Administration in 2017 on behalf of a teenage immigrant held in federal custody who was denied an abortion. Her side ultimately prevailed in the case that drew national attention when it was litigated in 2017. Garza has cited her newborn daughter as motivation to run.

Incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a holiday in his office the day the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade and has filed several lawsuits challenging abortion rights, most recently against the Biden Administration’s order that hospitals must provide abortions in emergency situations.

“Unless we vote him out, people will die,” Garza said.

Paxton, who is seeking a third term as attorney general, is seen as vulnerable because of his legal woes. He was indicted in 2015 on securities fraud charges, and is facing an FBI investigation into bribery and corruption allegations by several former staffers.

Garza attacked Paxton over his felony charges and the professional misconduct allegations brought against him by the Texas State Bar for his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

“Texas could be the only state where the attorney general cannot practice law,” Garza said.

1/99Democratic gubernatorial challenger Beto O’Rourke (right) listens to the Grandmother of Juneteenth, Opal Lee, at Jaxon Beer Garden in Downtown Dallas. Beto was taking photos with supporters following his speech at the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention general session at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 15, 2022.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

2/99Grandmother of Juneteenth, Opal Lee (right) looks at Steve Fox’s photos of his son at the Juneteenth memorial in Galveston during a convention after-party at Jaxon Beer Garden in Downtown Dallas. Lee was there with Democratic gubernatorial challenger Beto O’Rourke who was taking photos with supporters following his speech at the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention general session at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 15, 2022.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

16/99Outgoing U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas (center) is recognized with the Texas Democrats Trailblazer Award by Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa before she spoke during the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 15, 2022. U.S. House Texas District 30 candidate Jasmine Crockett (left) as U.S. Representative Al Green of Houston appeared on stage with them.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

17/99Outgoing U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas (second from right) delivers her speech during the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 15, 2022. Joining her onstage is Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa (left) Democratic U.S. House Texas District 30 candidate Jasmine Crockett, U.S. Representative Al Green of Houston and U.S. Representative Marc Veasey.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

18/99Outgoing U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas (second from right) recognizes Democratic U.S. House Texas District 30 candidate Jasmine Crockett (second from left) as she speaks during the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 15, 2022. Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa (left) and U.S. Representative Al Green of Houston appeared on stage with them.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

29/99Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Chris Turner was recognized with the Texas Democrats President Lyndon B. Johnson Lifetime Service Award by Luci Baines Johnson. Turner led Democrats out of Texas when voting rights were under attack in Austin. He spoke to delegates and guests during the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 15, 2022.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

30/99Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Chris Turner was recognized with the Texas Democrats President Lyndon B. Johnson Lifetime Service Award by Luci Baines Johnson. Turner led Democrats out of Texas when voting rights were under attack in Austin. He spoke to delegates and guests during the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 15, 2022.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

34/99During a Q&A game, Democratic U.S. House Texas District 30 candidate Jasmine Crockett (center) reacts with her answer after being asked if they’d ever cussed out a Republican during a panel discussion at the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 14, 2022. U.S. House Texas District 35 candidate Greg Casar (left) and U.S. House Texas District 15 candidate Michelle Vallejo (right) show their answers as well. Former presidential candidate Julián Castro moderated the kickoff-off reception event.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

39/99Wearing Ranchers for Beto cowboy hats, Sandy Emmons of Waxahachie, Texas and her husband Andy Don Emmons wait in line to meet Democratic gubernatorial challenger Beto O’Rourke at his 2022 Texas Democratic Convention booth at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 15, 2022. Beto is expected to be the main speaker during the general session later in the night.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

64/99During a Q&A game, Democratic U.S. House Texas District 30 candidate Jasmine Crockett (center) reacts with her answer after being asked if they’d ever cussed out a Republican during a panel discussion at the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 14, 2022. U.S. House Texas District 35 candidate Greg Casar (left) and U.S. House Texas District 15 candidate Michelle Vallejo (right) show their answers as well. Former presidential candidate Julián Castro moderated the kickoff-off reception event.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

65/99During a Q&A game, Democratic U.S. House Texas District 30 candidate Jasmine Crockett (center) reacts with her answer after being asked if they’d ever cussed out a Republican during a panel discussion at the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 14, 2022. U.S. House Texas District 35 candidate Greg Casar (left) and U.S. House Texas District 15 candidate Michelle Vallejo (right) show their answers as well. Former presidential candidate Julián Castro moderated the kickoff-off reception event.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )

94/99Maria Cornell adjusts the lettering in Rhetta Andrews Bowers booth during the opening day of the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 14, 2022. The Texas House Representative plans to reintroduce the CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) act to end race based hair discrimination.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )