Randall County GOP Chair Arrested for Felony Election Fraud

Kelly Kenten Giles, the chair of the Randall County Republican Party, was indicted and booked on a felony election fraud charge related to his 2024 primary election application and petition. The indictment alleges that Giles knowingly provided false information and falsely certified that his application and nomination petition were legally compliant to appear on the Republican primary ballot. While the charge is typically a misdemeanor, it was elevated to a felony because Giles was serving as an elected official at the time. Giles was first appointed in May 2023 and won reelection in the March 2024 primary with 51% of the vote. The Randall County District Attorney recused his office due to a conflict of interest, and the Texas Attorney General’s Office was appointed to prosecute the case following an investigation by the Texas Rangers. The election fraud allegations come amid ongoing efforts by Texas Republicans to uphold election integrity, despite no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the state.