“KP George has never supported our platform, principles or priorities,” the party chairman said.
RICHMOND, Texas — The Republican Party of Texas announced Friday it does not support Fort Bend County Judge KP George’s attempt to rebrand himself as a Republican, calling the move a calculated effort to avoid accountability amid legal troubles.
George made his party switch announcement Wednesday morning during a press conference in Sugar Land.
“Today, I’m making an important announcement: I am officially joining the Republican Party.” He claimed the Democratic Party has “embraced a corrupt and radical ideology” that no longer reflects Fort Bend County values.
George, described by the GOP as “a lifelong Democrat who has consistently opposed Republican candidates and values,” made his party switch while facing two felony counts of money laundering and a separate misdemeanor charge for misrepresentation of identity as a candidate. The Republican Party of Texas characterized his timing as suspicious, suggesting the switch is designed to shield him from legal consequences.
During his Wednesday announcement, George made an explosive allegation, claiming prosecutors offered to drop the felony charges if he agreed to resign.
“I was even offered [that] the charges against me would all go away if I resign and go,” George said. The Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office immediately denied the claim and rejected assertions that the charges are politically motivated.
George’s legal troubles continued Friday when an administrative judge denied his attorneys’ request to have the presiding judge in his money laundering case recused and disqualified. Defense attorney Terry Yates had argued for a judge from outside Fort Bend County to oversee the proceedings.
“This is not about lawfare,” the Republican Party stated in a press release. “Lawfare refers to the misuse of the legal system to target political opponents. In KP George’s case, the charges are rooted in documented allegations of unethical and possibly criminal behavior. This is not political prosecution; this is the legal system functioning as it should.”
Despite the Republican Party’s rejection, George announced plans to run for re-election as a Republican in 2026. “I don’t expect everybody is going to come and embrace and… hug me,” George said Wednesday. “I am looking forward to prove it to them. I’m going to be a better Republican than anybody in the coming months.”
The party switch has drawn mixed reactions from local political leaders. Fort Bend County Democratic Party Chairwoman Jennifer Cantu said George’s “sudden departure from the Democratic Party when his campaign of outrage and intimidation against the District Attorney and our Courts raises some important questions.” She noted that the party expects leaders to uphold “Democratic values of honesty, integrity, and accountability.”
Meanwhile, Fort Bend County Republican Party Chairman Bobby Eberle called the news “stunning but should not be surprising,” noting that Republicans won 77% of contested countywide races in 2024 and now control the Commissioners Court with a 3-2 majority.
However, the state Republican Party Chairman Abraham George made the GOP’s position clear in a statement rejecting the judge’s conversion.
“While we are not in the business of telling people they cannot become Republicans, we are also not going to stand by while someone tries to hijack our Party’s good name to escape the consequences of their actions,” Chairman George said. “KP George has never supported our platform, principles or priorities and his sudden shift—under legal pressure—is not credible. The Republican Party of Texas will have no part in it.”
The money laundering charges against George allege criminal activity occurred between January and April 2019, with prosecutors claiming the amounts involved were between $30,000 and $150,000. His defense team previously argued the case should be handled by a judge from outside Fort Bend County to avoid any appearance of impropriety, but that request was denied Friday.
The Republican Party emphasized it remains committed to electing principled conservatives and promoting policies rooted in liberty, personal responsibility, and the rule of law. The organization said it relies on grassroots leaders and elected officials across Texas to maintain its standards and reject attempts to misuse the platform for personal legal gain.
Jared Woodfill, former Chairman Harris County Republican Party, attorney for Judge George sent a statement Friday that reads:
“It is disappointing that the RPT Chair does not welcome an elected official who has given the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court a 3-2 Republican majority for the first time in over a decade. Clearly, the Chairman has not been following Judge George’s votes on redistricting and other budgetary issues related to Fort Bend County. Judge George and Republican county commissioner Andy Meyers recently voted for redistricting that would have resulted in a Republican majority. Unfortunately, one Republican voted with Democrats to kill Judge George’s motion. Regardless, Judge George is committed to districts being redrawn in a fair manner. He will bring the vote up again soon and work for fair districts.
“Clearly, the RPT Chair is not well versed in the facts of the criminal case. George Soros funded DA, Brian Middleton, has abused his office in an effort to take out a political opponent. One need only look at how he handled his own campaign violations and compare how he has targeted Judge George. If Middleton can weaponized his office in an effort to take out Judge George, he can abuse his office in an effort to target any Republican. As someone who chaired the largest county Republican Party for 12 years, I know the importance of growing a party. If we hope to grow the Republican Party, party leaders should not attack those who leave the Democratic Party, but instead commend and encourage them. Imagine if party leadership had rejected Ronald Reagan, Rick Perry, or Phil Graham when they chose to switch parties. By rejecting those who switch parties, party leadership sends a clear message to any future Democrat who would like to join the Republican Party. Fortunately, many Republican leaders do not agree with Chairman George’s assessment, and Judge George has been warmly embraced by numerous party leaders and activist. Ultimately, Judge George asked that people judge him by his votes going forward as a Republican Judge in Fort Bend Party.”
The Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office has previously asserted that it is committed to serving the public and upholding the law.