Texas AG Ken Paxton endorses Trump attorney Will Scharf for Missouri Attorney General

HOUSTON, TEXAS: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has thrown his support behind Will Scharf, one of former President Donald Trump's attorneys, in the GOP primary race to serve as Missouri's chief legal officer.

Paxton’s endorsement of Scharf is seen as a pivotal moment in the primary contest, potentially influencing the outcome in favor of Scharf, who is vying to unseat incumbent Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey.

Ken Paxton endorses Will Scharf

In a statement shared with Fox News, Paxton voiced his confidence in Scharf’s ability to protect the freedoms and liberties of Missouri residents.

"I wholeheartedly endorse Will Scharf for Missouri Attorney General," Paxton declared.

"I know Will personally, and I am confident that he is the right person to protect the freedoms and liberties of all Missourians. As one of President Trump’s lead attorneys, Will Scharf is relentlessly battling against Biden’s witch hunt into President Trump."

Paxton added, "If he can defend and fight for President Trump, he most certainly can take on the Republican establishment in Missouri. We need more leaders like Will."

Paxton, who has been serving as the attorney general of Texas since 2015, is known for his strong conservative stance and his close ties to former President Trump.

Will Scharf expressed gratitude for Paxton’s endorsement, highlighting Paxton’s role in key legal battles.

"Ken Paxton has been on the front lines of the legal fights to secure the border and defend President Trump. It is a great honor to have his endorsement, and I look forward to working with him," Scharf said in his statement.

Scharf, who holds a degree from Princeton University and a law degree from Harvard University, has a notable legal background, having clerked for two federal appeals court judges and worked at CRC Advisors, a conservative public relations firm. His legal expertise and conservative credentials have made him a formidable contender in the Missouri attorney general race.

In a recent conversation with Newsmax, Scharf criticized the Biden administration’s approach to the 2024 presidential election, accusing it of attempting to influence the outcome through legal means rather than at the ballot box.

Scharf told Newsmax's 'Newsline' that "the legacy media is deeply invested in this narrative that all of these prosecutions [of Trump] are totally above board, that they are all totally normal, when there is nothing at all normal about any of them".

Scharf continued, "I think the American people understand that," adding, "What we are dealing with here is a concerted effort by [President] Joe Biden and his closest political allies to rig the 2024 election, essentially attempting to fight out the 2024 election in the courts instead of at the ballot box."

He stressed that it is at the ballot box "where the people of the United States, as opposed to banana republics, contest our elections," and insisted that "the legacy media is deeply scared of the fact that this campaign of lawfare is collapsing, and they are looking for an out, and I don't think we should give them one."

The primary battle: Will Scharf vs Andrew Bailey

Scharf is challenging incumbent Attorney General Andrew Bailey in the August 6 primary election. The winner of this primary will advance to the November general election in Missouri, a state that leans heavily Republican, giving the GOP nominee a significant advantage.

In addition to his current role as one of Trump’s attorneys, Scharf has served as an assistant US Attorney in St. Louis and worked on the campaign and in the office of former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens. His campaign has emphasized his commitment to conservative principles and his experience in high-profile legal battles.

Andrew Bailey, the incumbent Missouri Attorney General, has spent almost his entire career in Missouri. An Army veteran, Bailey received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Missouri.

He has worked in the state attorney general’s office, served as an assistant county prosecutor, and worked as a state government lawyer before joining the office of Governor Mike Parson, who eventually appointed him as attorney general.

Scharf’s campaign has garnered significant support from prominent conservative groups outside Missouri, who have spent millions backing his candidacy. Interestingly, the Republican Attorneys General Association, which typically supports GOP attorney general incumbents, has stayed out of the Missouri primary.

However, some of the association’s biggest contributors are backing Scharf, channeling their contributions through a Missouri arm of Club for Growth. This major funding power, which focuses on aiding fiscally conservative candidates, has been airing ads to boost Scharf and criticize Bailey, Fox News reported.