With Attorney General Ken Paxton opting to run for the U.S. Senate instead of seeking a fourth term, Texas faces one of the most competitive and unpredictable races in recent years. The contest for the state’s top legal office, which has often been used as a stepping stone for higher office, is wide open, and both parties have promising candidates ready to take the reins.
A Shifting Republican Field
For Republicans, who have dominated statewide elections for three decades, the battle has become a referendum for the party’s future. Four major candidates have entered the race to date: State Senators Joan Huffman and Mayes Middleton, Congressman Chip Roy, and former Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General Aaron Reitz.
Each represents a different segment of the Texas GOP coalition. Huffman, with her long legislative tenure, relies on her career as a prosecutor and her institutional credibility, which represents a more moderate wing of the Texas Republican Party. Middleton brings business experience from his oil and gas company, representing more traditional Republicans and fiscal conservatives. His conservative voting record in the legislature also appeals to traditional conservatives. Roy enters with the highest name recognition, known for his combative style in Congress and his defiance of party leadership, which also plays well with the grassroots conservatives. Reitz was a former Trump appointee and has Paxton’s blessing, which appeals to MAGA Republicans in Texas.
The endorsements demonstrate a deep divide within Texas Republican politics. Paxton and Senator Ted Cruz, usually political allies, have split. Paxton is lining up behind Reitz, while Cruz supports Roy. The result is a primary driven less by legal policy than by loyalty, and what brand of conservatism is viewed as the future of the Republican Party of Texas.
Democrats Face Long Odds
On the Democratic side, Joe Jaworski, former mayor of Galveston, and State Senator Nathan Johnson have already entered the race. Both argue that after years of legal controversies surrounding Paxton, Texans deserve an Attorney General who will restore integrity to the office.
Democrats face a serious challenge: no Democrat has won a statewide office since the 1990s. However, if Republican infighting intensifies, Democrats could find themselves with an opportunity to break this streak.
What’s at Stake
The Attorney General’s office is one of the most powerful political positions in the state. Paxton turned the office into a prominent Republican position, filing high-profile lawsuits against the Biden administration on issues from immigration to environmental policy. Whoever wins the primary election will decide whether to continue on Paxton’s hard-core brawler approach or pivot toward a more moderate vision of the office.
For Republicans, the choice will determine whether the party continues Paxton’s path of litigation-driven politics or selects a candidate who might balance filing lawsuits with a more moderate form of governance. For Democrats, the race presents a chance to break the GOP’s control over statewide offices.
Looking Ahead
The primaries in March 2026 will be the real indicator of where things might go. With multiple strong Republicans in the field, a runoff seems almost inevitable. Currently, polling data is scarce. One poll shows Reitz ahead, but another indicates that 73% of prospective primary voters are undecided. Between now and then, expect the Republican campaigns to blanket the airwaves with ads on immigration, border security, election integrity, and President Trump.
In a state where politics often feels predetermined, the 2026 Attorney General’s race is one of the most competitive, where the outcome is still very much in doubt. As candidates continue to make their case to Texans, the race will examine not only the strength of individual politicians and their campaigns, but also the future of Texas politics.
