- Democrat Fort Bend County Judge KP George has announced that he has switched parties to become a Republican
- George currently faces criminal charges involving racist comments made from a fake social media profile, as well as money laundering charges
- Many conservative leaders in Fort Bend County have denounced George’s announcement, describing it as a “publicity stunt” and “political maneuvering”
Embattled Fort Bend County Judge KP George, who is currently facing criminal charges, announced yesterday that he was leaving the Democratic Party to become a Republican. This move was met with skepticism by many conservative leaders in Fort Bend County, who viewed it as a ploy by a disgraced politician.
Last year, George was indicted on a criminal charge of misrepresentation of identity arising out of allegations that he and his former Chief of Staff, Taral Patel, used a Facebook profile under the alias of “Antonio Scalywag” to post racist comments about George to aid his 2022 re-election campaign.
Patel, who unsuccessfully challenged Republican Fort Bend County Commissioner Andy Meyers in the 2024 general election, pled guilty earlier this year to misdemeanor charges stemming from his use of fake social media accounts to make racist comments to benefit his campaign.
George was also indicted on felony money laundering charges earlier this year.
In a statement announcing his switch to the Republican Party, George attempted to compare himself to President Trump.
“When the Fort Bend County Democrat District Attorney, and his fellow liberal elites, realized that I was too conservative for their radical agenda, they decided to weaponize the DA’s office to destroy me personally and politically with baseless charges and frivolous lawsuits. It’s all about politics as they have stated “it will all go away” if I just resign. Well, that’s not my way and it’s not the Republican way! I realize that, if they can go after President Donald Trump – and come after me – then they can, and will, come after everyday voters who dare not affirm, accept and celebrate their radical agenda,” said George.
“Like President Donald Trump, I will stand up and fight the wild-eyed left who seek to destroy everything we hold dear in this county and I will continue to serve Fort Bend County with integrity and vision.”
Despite now embracing Trump, George was involved in voter mobilization efforts for Kamala Harris and Colin Allred last year. In a Facebook post on October 20, 2024, George wrote, “Fort Bend residents are energized and ready to make their voices heard! Be sure to plan ahead and vote early!” George’s Facebook post featured pictures of him alongside activists promoting the Allred and Harris campaigns.
In a July 31, 2024 Facebook post, George posted a selfie of himself and Kamala Harris.
As a featured speaker at the 2022 Texas Democratic Party State Convention, George was very critical of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, describing Abbott as his “biggest problem” in responding to COVID as Fort Bend County Judge. George and Beto O’Rourke campaigned together in Fort Bend County during the 2022 general election.
Many conservatives in Fort Bend County reacted negatively to George’s announcement that he was joining the Republican Party.
“As a Republican in Fort Bend, I’m disgusted. KP George slandered every GOP voter with fake, race-baiting posts just to cling to power. He may have swung key races, including his own, disenfranchising the entire county. There’s no place for his style of politics in the Fort Bend GOP. He must resign,” said conservative commentator Garrett Fulce, who also characterized George’s party switch as a “publicity stunt.”
Former Republican State Representative Jacey Jetton described George’s announcement as “political maneuvering.”
“KP George has not proven that he understands what Republicans stand for, and he has not shown any real intention to lead as one. His sudden party switch, after multiple indictments that even a Democrat DA and Democrat judge could not overlook, is clearly political maneuvering—not a genuine shift in values. Trying to play the victim now is not a strategy Republican voters should fall for in a Republican primary. And Fort Bend County voters are not going to reward this kind of behavior with another term,” said Jetton, who has created an exploratory committee for a potential campaign for Fort Bend County Judge.
Trever Nehls, the Republican who George narrowly defeated in his 2022 re-election campaign, also had harsh words about George.
“This isn’t about principles. It’s about panic. Democrat County Judge, KP George has been indicted and stands accused of faking racist posts to interfere with an election. Now, with court dates piling up in multiple cases, he suddenly wants to reinvent himself as a Republican?” said Nehls.
I was one of the people targeted in that smear campaign. I saw how low he was willing to go. This isn’t a shift in beliefs. It’s a calculated move to escape accountability. The people of Fort Bend remember. They remember the lies, the fake accounts, and the abuse of public trust. A party label doesn’t erase any of that. This isn’t leadership. It’s theater. And Fort Bend voters are smarter than that.”
