AUSTIN — Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft endorsed Ken Paxton, a Republican state senator from McKinney, in his bid to succeed Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.

“Ken and I share a common belief in the wisdom of our Founding Fathers and the need for leaders who are willing to fight to preserve conservative values and the constitutional principles of liberty and freedom,” Ashcroft said in a statement Tuesday. “I have every confidence that Ken Paxton will be such a leader as the next Attorney General of Texas and I am pleased with the opportunity to endorse him.”

Paxton faces state Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, in the May 27 runoff election.

The winner will face Democrat Sam Houston in the November general election.