Fort Worth Rep. Matt Krause to run for Tarrant County DA

Fort Worth Rep. Matt Krause is running for Tarrant County District Attorney after previously announcing his candidacy for Texas Attorney General. Krause, who has served in the Texas House of Representatives since 2013, announced in September his plans to challenge Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in what’s expected to be a crowded Republican primary. However, earlier this month Tarrant County DA Sharen Wilson, a Republican, announced she wouldn’t seek reelection. As of Nov. 12, Krause told the Star-Telegram his focus remained on the attorney general election. At the time he said it’s the “very, very strong likelihood” he’d remain in the AG race. The remarks came after a tweet by the editor of the Quorum Report, a political newsletter, noting rumors of him switching bids.

Krause’s campaign confirmed he plans to announce for district attorney on Tuesday morning. On Monday, CBS DFW and WFAA reported he would run for district attorney. Also on Monday, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert announced he’d run for attorney general as a Republican. Republicans running for attorney general include Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman. Democrats who’ve said they are running include civil rights lawyer Lee Merrit, Galveston lawyer Joe Jaworski and former ACLU lawyer Rochelle Garza. Krause did not immediately return a request for comment. Candidates who’ve filed for District Attorney in Tarrant County include Tiffany Burks, a Democrat, and Phil Sorrells, a Republican. Tarrant County District Court Judge Mollee Westfall, a Republican, has also announced she’ll run for DA.