Texas (KWTX) – Dallas attorney Tony Box is seeking the Texas attorney general nomination in the March 3 Democratic primary, saying he wants to defend state laws and protect all Texans.
Box’s candidacy comes after Attorney General Ken Paxton said he would run for the U.S. Senate seat against incumbent Senator John Cornyn. Box faces former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski and State Senator Nathan Johnson of District 16 in the Democratic primary.
The Chicago native says he decided to seek the Democratic nomination because Texans need an attorney general they can rely on.
“An attorney general who they can trust, someone dedicated to service and not someone looking to advance their career,” Box said.
Military and law enforcement background
Box is an Army veteran who led and trained soldiers in a battle tank brigade before returning to serve in Afghanistan as an Army lawyer. He worked as an FBI agent for nearly a decade and deployed to New York after 9/11.
Box said his desire to serve began at age 16 when he was shot in the stomach while trying to stop a woman from being robbed.
“I tried to jump on him and he shot me. I recovered and thought about what I wanted to do with my life. Over the course of that time, I decided to live a life of service,” Box said.
Federal prosecutor experience
In 2018, Box became a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, working on cases ranging from drug violations to violent crimes and large white-collar offenses.
“Most notable about my time there was learning to be a litigator, learning to think on my feet, and to argue in front of a jury. Also, to understand complex cases, when to bring a case, and very important, when not to bring a case,” Box said.
Box says his legal experience sets him apart from his opponents.
“I worked all over the world. I worked on a variety of cases, especially large, complex cases, which is what many of the attorney general office cases are. I have a unique background in criminal law, as well as civil law,” Box said.
Campaign priorities
If elected, Box said he would focus on restoring integrity in the attorney general’s office, reorienting the consumer protection department and working with local district attorneys.
“Under Ken Paxton, there’s been a lot of lawsuits against the DA’s. They’re not used to working with the attorney general’s office in the past. There’s been tense relationships, so I want to rebuild those relationships,” Box said.
Box said his candidacy is not about political advancement.
“The best way to tell what a person will do is to look at what someone has done in the past. This is not a vanity project for me, I’m not looking for accolades. I’m looking to serve the people of Texas,” Box said.
On the Republican side, Paxton’s former deputy Aaron Reitz and State Senator Joan Huffman are also running for attorney general.
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