Fort Bend County Judge KP George has switched from the Democrat Party to the Republican Party amid legal scrutiny and felony charges, prompting critics to question whether the move is motivated by mere political expedience.
George officially announced his departure from the Democrat Party yesterday, declaring his new affiliation as a Republican. During a press conference, George explained the reasoning behind his dramatic political shift, stating, “For the past few years, it has become very clear to me, and also many others, that the Democratic Party has become one of corrupt and radical political ideologies and positions.”
The announcement comes as George faces multiple legal challenges. The first involves a misdemeanor charge for misrepresentation of identity.
In April, George’s former chief of staff, Taral Patel, pleaded guilty for his role in a social media hoax. As part of his plea deal, Patel received two years of deferred adjudication probation and agreed to write apologies to those he wronged, cease contact with the elected officials involved, complete 200 hours of community service, and cooperate in future legal proceedings—potentially by testifying against George.
In addition to the misdemeanor charge, George is also facing two third-degree felony counts of money laundering.
During his most recent court appearance last Friday related to the social media case, both legal teams requested additional time to review the roughly four terabytes of evidence involved. The judge granted the request, rescheduling the hearing for two weeks later. George is expected to appear in court again this week in connection with the money laundering charges.
The party switch has drawn sharp responses from both sides of the political aisle.
U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, a prominent figure in Fort Bend County’s Republican community, voiced skepticism in an interview with KPRC 2. “I think it’s desperation. I think the Democrats are done with him. I think they have pretty much pushed him off into the deep water, so now he is just trying to find a life vest, so to speak, and if he thinks the Republican Party is there to save him with all of his legal issues, it’s not going to happen,” Nehls said.
Fort Bend County Democrats also released a pointed statement linking George’s legal issues to Democrat talking points regarding President Trump: “In a move that surprised no one who sees the current state of the Fort Bend County GOP supporting a president convicted of 34 felonies, our own County Judge—who is himself under felony indictment—KP George announced that he was switching parties.”
Newly elected Fort Bend County Democrat Party Chairwoman Jennifer Cantu issued her own statement, emphasizing the timing of George’s decision.
Our Party expects our leaders to hold up the Democratic values of honesty, integrity, and accountability. Judge 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, and my counterpart in the Republican Party should be concerned about how quickly Judge George has decided to change his affiliation.
When asked during the press conference whether he’d run for Fort Bend county judge as a Republican in the next cycle, George said, “Why would I not run? I am the sitting county judge. I am definitely looking to run; I am going to be on the ballot.”
Currently, George’s switch has changed the political advantage in the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court to a 3-2 Republican majority.
