AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and a parade of top Texas Republicans have attended the swearing-in of new state Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Gov.-elect Greg Abbott helped administer the oath of office to his successor Paxton on at the state Capitol on Monday.
Abbott had been attorney general since 2003 and saved his biggest battles for the federal government, suing the Obama administration 30 times.
Paxton was a state senator who coasted to victory in November. He kept a low profile most of last year after being fined $1,000 by state financial regulators for soliciting investment clients without registering.
Aides have called that matter an administrative oversight.
Attorney general has lately been a stepping stone in Texas politics. Before Abbott, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn held the job.