In a heated election-year probe, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) faces scrutiny for investigating a Democrat aiming to secure one of the GOP's highly sought-after Texas districts. The nation's oldest Latino rights group, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), has labeled Paxton's actions as a campaign of "intimidation." State authorities recently executed search warrants at the homes of Democratic party organizers in Bexar County, a Democratic stronghold and the fourth-largest urban county in the state.

The search operation included the seizure of Democratic candidate Cecilia Castellano's cellphone. Castellano is running for the state House seat currently held by retiring state Rep. Tracy King (D). Similar searches were conducted at the residences of organizers across Bexar, Frio, and Atascosa counties. LULAC, in response to the investigation, called on the Department of Justice to launch its own inquiry into Paxton's office for potential violations of the Voting Rights Act of 1963.

While LULAC state director Gabriel Rosales stresses that the raids will not deter their efforts, Democrats have criticized the searches. Manuel Medina, former Bexar County Democratic Party chair, reported that authorities forcefully entered his home and pointed "six assault semi-automatic weapons" at him. The Texas Tribune revealed that state agents spent seven hours in Medina's home, confiscating 65 cellphones, 41 computers, and personal documents, including family photos.

State agents from Paxton's election fraud unit, established in 2022 to combat alleged Democratic attempts to manipulate votes, were responsible for executing the search warrants on at least six Latino organizers in the three counties. Paxton defended the searches, stating that they were necessary to safeguard the integrity of the state's elections, which he referred to as the "cornerstone of our republic." His statement further emphasized the commitment to ensuring accountability for those involved in election crimes.

Senator Roland Gutierrez (D) condemned Paxton's actions, accusing him of targeting Latinos and terrorizing senior citizens in his district. Gutierrez expressed support for LULAC's call for an investigation into Paxton's conduct. Court filings obtained by The Texas Tribune disclosed that a primary race loser had informed Paxton's election crimes unit about alleged payments made by Castellano and others to a "ballot harvester" for securing votes.

The investigation originated from a 2022 complaint received by the Republican district attorney responsible for Frio and Atascosa counties. The primary race loser claimed that candidates paid a local organizer up to $2,500 through CashApp to collect ballots from elderly and disabled voters and assist them with mail-in voting. The tipster also alleged that the organizer filled out the mail-in ballots without disclosing any assistance and that handwriting analysis indicated their involvement. Paxton's investigator reportedly found evidence supporting these claims and identified voters who might not have been eligible for assistance, potentially constituting a state crime.

Representative Tracy King's district, viewed as up for grabs, is seen as an opportunity for Republicans to gain ground in their pursuit of a majority needed to pass school vouchers—an important GOP agenda. Although the district slightly favored Republican Governor Greg Abbott in 2022, it has traditionally been a Democratic stronghold during King's tenure, with Republican representative Rep. Tony Gonzales endorsing both bipartisan gun control laws and legislation supporting LGBTQ marriage equality.

Democrats argue that Paxton's actions form part of a wider pattern of voter suppression, particularly targeting Latino and Black voters. LULAC deems it a tactic to perpetuate the "big lie" of voter fraud. Cecilia Castellano herself believes she was targeted due to the Republicans' desire to claim the seat. Despite feeling violated, she remains determined, stating that they will continue to work hard.

Manuel Medina, the Bexar County organizer, referred to the recent searches as a coordinated effort by Paxton to influence voter registrars, senior advocates, and campaign workers involved in contentious state legislature races. He claims that these efforts are directed at suppressing the votes of young and elderly voters, whose preference tends to align overwhelmingly with the Democratic Party. Medina's attorney, in an emergency motion filed in a Bexar County court, described the searches as excessively broad, potentially providing an unfair advantage to political opponents who seek to flip the seat.

As the investigation unfolds, it continues to fuel controversies surrounding voting rights, alleged voter fraud, and the potential impact on upcoming elections. The battle for the Texas district remains fiercely contested, playing a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of the state.