Texas Democratic district attorney endorses Ted Cruz

The Democratic district attorney of the most populous county in Texas endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced her support for the Republican senator as he embarks on his third Senate campaign. Ogg announced her support at a Tuesday campaign event alongside Cruz.

“I am endorsing Senator Ted Cruz because he has taken action at a time when Americans want solutions, not excuses about why Democrats and Republicans won't work together,” Ogg told the Texas Tribune in her endorsement.

In her statement, Ogg said she and Cruz had a mutual interest in cracking down on violent crime, calling it "bigger than partisanship." She also said Cruz sought her support for legislation he was pushing aimed at keeping migrants in custody if there is availability. Cruz and Ogg also co-authored an op-ed detailing their support of the legislation.

Ogg is the most prominent Democrat to endorse Cruz in his race against Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX) for Senate. Earlier this year, Cruz launched “Democrats for Cruz” to highlight his bipartisan work. He said he is endorsed by several Democratic county judges, sheriffs, and constables from rural counties along or near the Texas-Mexico border.

Cruz told ABC 13 that Democrats are supporting him because “they know that Colin Allred's radical progressive policies, whether on the border, public safety, or economy, will push Texas back, not forward."

Ogg, however, has sparred with Texas Democrats and progressives in the party in recent years.

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In 2019, she opposed a county bail reform deal, which would have prevented those with misdemeanors who could not afford bail from awaiting trial behind bars. She has also repeatedly tussled with Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo first over funding for county prosecutors and then because Ogg led an investigation that resulted in three of Hidalgo’s aides being indicted. Ogg hired the Texas GOP’s counsel to work on the case, which Hidalgo said was a “political vendetta” against her, according to the Texas Tribune.

Ogg was defeated in the state's March primary, receiving just 25% of the vote and crushing any hope of a third term as Harris County district attorney. Her term is up at the end of the year.