Kelly Giles, chairman of the Randall County Republican Party, has been indicted by a grand jury on one count of election fraud in connection to the 2024 Republican primary election.
According to court records, the indictment was handed down on June 25 and centers on allegations that Giles, while acting in his official capacity as county party chair, knowingly or intentionally submitted false information to the Texas Secretary of State in December 2023. Prosecutors allege Giles falsely certified that his application and nominating petition were legally compliant, which allowed his name to appear on the 2024 Republican primary ballot.
The charge stems from a violation of Texas Election Code 276.013(a)(3);(b)(1), which makes it a crime to intentionally provide false or misleading information on any official election-related document. While such a violation is typically a Class A misdemeanor, the charge is elevated to a state jail felony because Giles was serving as an elected official at the time.
Giles was booked into the Randall County Detention Center on the night of Monday, July 7. He was released without bond, and as of Tuesday, no court date had been scheduled.
The Office of the Attorney General of Texas issued the following statement:
Following an investigation by Texas Rangers, a Randall County Grand Jury issued an indictment against Kelly Giles on one count of election fraud under 276.013(a)(3).Per the indictment, Kelly Giles is accused of knowingly falsely certifying that his application and nominating petition were legally compliant for placement on the 2024 Republican Primary Ballot for Randall County Republican Party Chair in December 2023 on the Texas Secretary of State Candidate Filing System.After the Randall County District Attorney recused his office from prosecuting the case, the Court appointed the OAG as attorney pro tem.
Giles was originally appointed chairman of the Randall County Republican Party by the County Executive Committee in May 2023. He later ran to keep the seat and won 51% of the vote in the March 5, 2024 Republican primary, according to official county election results.
The alleged false filing would have taken place during the candidate filing window in December 2023, when candidates for local party offices submitted applications and nominating petitions to appear on the March primary ballot.
In a procedural development, Randall County District Judge Dee Johnson has recused herself from the case. Judge Bill Sowder of Lubbock County has been appointed to oversee proceedings.
The Randall County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that it was recused from both the investigation and prosecution of the Giles case due to ethical concerns and a potential conflict of interest.
Randall County District Attorney Robert Love stated that the Texas Attorney General’s Office has been appointed as Prosecutor Pro Tem to handle the investigation and prosecution moving forward.
Giles has not released a public statement, and attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful.
If convicted of the state jail felony, Giles could face a sentence ranging from 180 days to two years in a state jail facility, along with potential fines. The case marks a rare instance of a sitting party chair facing criminal charges related to ballot access and election integrity—issues that have become increasingly scrutinized in Texas politics in recent years.
Potter County Republican Party Chairman Dan Rogers issued a statement in response Giles' arrest:
I am deeply saddened to learn of the arrest of Randall County GOP Chair Kelly Giles on allegations of election fraud related to his application for office.As someone who has long been a passionate advocate for election integrity and accountability, I believe it is essential that the rules and laws governing our elections apply equally to everyone — regardless of their position. The integrity of the Republican Party depends on our willingness to uphold the same high standards we demand of others.I have attempted to reach out to Mr. Giles personally to discuss the matter, but I have not yet received a response. I sincerely hope he has the opportunity to address these allegations fully and receive due process, as is his right under the law.This is an unfortunate situation for the voters and precinct chairs of Randall County, and I encourage everyone to withhold judgment until all the facts are known. At the same time, I want to reassure the public that our party remains committed to transparency, fairness, and accountability at every level.We must use this moment as an opportunity to strengthen trust in our elections — both in how we conduct ourselves as leaders and in the systems we use to conduct and count votes. This is why I advocate for hand-marked, self-authenticated, tangible ballots that can be verified. The integrity of the process matters at every level — and it starts with us.
Texas Republican Party Chairman Abraham George said he learned of the allegations Tuesday:
The Republican Party of Texas is steadfastly committed to upholding election integrity and the principles of the rule of law.I am resolute in my duty to ensure that our commitment to securing Texas elections is upheld, which entails conducting elections with integrity by our elected party officials.
The Randall County Republican Party has not issued an official comment on the indictment or the status of Giles’ leadership role pending the outcome of the case.
