Chip Roy

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, pushed back Monday on polling showing him trailing in Tuesday's Republican runoff for Texas attorney general, telling Newsmax that his campaign's internal numbers show him ahead and gaining momentum against state Sen. Mayes Middleton.

"We are very much seeing our polling showing us in the lead and moving forward in the right trend," Roy told "Finnerty."

Middleton won the four-person March 3 primary with 39.1% of the vote, according to Decision Desk HQ. Roy was next with 31.6%. Because no one finished with a majority, the top two advanced to Tuesday's runoff.

Roy, who served as first assistant attorney general under current Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, is seeking the Republican nomination to succeed Paxton, who is leaving office amid his Senate campaign against incumbent GOP Sen. John Cornyn.

Host Rob Finnerty cited betting market Kalshi showing Middleton favored by a wide margin and referenced a May University of Houston poll showing Roy trailing by 9 percentage points. Roy dismissed the numbers, arguing voters are now hearing more about his record and his opponent's background.

"The fact is my opponent spent unlimited amounts of money that he inherited," Roy said. "The guy has never been in a courtroom."

Roy said donors helped his campaign "match and exceed the spending" of Middleton during the final stretch of the race, allowing his message to reach more voters.

"They want somebody who can actually do the job on Day 1, as I have," Roy said. "They want somebody like me who is carrying President [Donald] Trump's favorite piece of legislation, the SAVE America Act."

Roy also rejected suggestions that Trump's decision not to endorse in the race reflected poorly on him or indicated distance between the two Republicans.

"The president doesn't get involved in every single race," Roy said. "I think the president lets the voters of Texas figure it out."

Roy pointed to his work with Trump on border and immigration issues and recalled Trump recognizing him during a recent appearance in Corpus Christi.

"The president has said great things about me because we're able to work together to deliver for the people of Texas," Roy said. "That's what's going to carry the day tomorrow in Texas."

During the interview, Roy also emphasized his conservative credentials, saying Texas Republicans want leaders committed to border security and "draining the swamp" in both Washington and Austin.

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