“Today, I’m making an important announcement: I am officially joining the Republican Party,” George said at the June 18 press conference, citing his personal differences in political ideology with the Democratic Party.
The move comes after several candidates in both parties announced their intentions to run for the county judge positions ahead of the March 2026 primary election, which George was elected to in 2018 and 2022, Community Impact reported. With the switch, there are now three Republicans on the Commissioners Court and two Democrats.
In his own words
“This is not a decision I made yesterday,” George told Community Impact. “It has been a thought and conversation with respective people for a period of time”
George said Democratic budget policy was a major factor in his party shift, with the Fort Bend County budget growing from $362.8 million in FY 2018-19 to $731.6 million in FY 2024-25, which George has voted in support of since being sworn-in in 2019.
“I went along as a team player,” he said. “Which I shouldn’t have ever done, and I’m recognizing that, and I’m fixing it.”
George, who said he’s “always been a conservative person,” will now shift his focus toward reflecting those values with his votes.
“We wanted to have a much leaner government, and we wanted to cut taxes, and this is the reason why I said my priorities moving forward is lowering taxes in Fort Bend County, put more money back into the hands of hard-working families, rein in out-of-control Democratic spending in upcoming budgets and also a new budget,” he said.
George said he is also in favor of redrawing the Fort Bend County precinct maps, which came after state Rep. Matt Morgan, R-Richmond, sent a letter to commissioners in February saying 37 of 174 of the county’s voter precincts during the November election didn’t meet state population requirements.
More context
George was indicted last fall on charges of misrepresenting his identity with intent to injure a candidate or influence the November 2022 election and is accused of having knowledge of a Facebook account used by former Democratic Precinct 3 commissioner candidate Taral Patel to post “hateful, racist and xenophobic” comments.
In April, George was also accused of two money laundering charges involving tampering with campaign finance records in 2019, Community Impact reported.
Community Impact reached out to the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office to learn the latest timeline on the charges, but the information was not returned by press time.
What they’re saying
Daniel Wong, former Sugar Land City Council member, who will face George in the Republican primary, said he believes the judge is trying to dodge the repercussions of his actions.
"The Republican Party stands for accountability, transparency and service," Wong said in a June 18 news release. "It is not a refuge for career politicians looking to escape the consequences of their actions."
Fort Bend County Precinct 4 Commissioner Dexter McCoy, a Democrat, called for George’s resignation.
"Let us be clear—this is not a matter of political ideology," McCoy said in a June 18 news release. "It is a matter of integrity. He has chosen to prioritize his own personal self-interests over the will and well-being of the people who elected him. He has turned his back on the values he claimed to represent, and in so doing, has betrayed the trust of our community."
Looking ahead
Filing for the county’s judge seat opens this fall with the primary election scheduled for March 3, 2026, according to the county’s website. The winners of the primaries will advance to the Nov. 3, 2026 election.
George said he is “not [currently] worried” about the outcome of the election as he focuses on his legal issues.
“[The Democrats] can not defeat me at the ballot box,” he said.
