For the first time in a decade, Texas Republicans are facing open primaries for two of the state’s most powerful offices — attorney general and comptroller — and the early signs point to fierce, expensive battles ahead.
Campaign finance reports released this week offer a revealing first look at how the 2026 primary fields are taking shape. The filings — covering the first half of the year and the narrow window after the legislative fundraising ban lifted on June 23 — underscore the deep political divisions and escalating influence of mega-donors in races that will help shape the future of Texas governance and the conservative movement nationwide.
Attorney General: Power, Cash, and Ideological Clout
The attorney general’s race is emerging as a three-way contest among some of the Texas GOP’s most well-connected and well-funded contenders — and each is taking a distinct path to appeal to the conservative base.
Mayes Middleton, a state senator and oil industry executive, has already poured $10 million of his personal fortune into his campaign, giving him the largest war chest despite raising just $165,000 from other donors. The self-funding approach isn’t new for Middleton, who used a similar strategy in 2018 to flip a House seat and then won a Senate seat in 2022. Known as one of the chamber’s most conservative voices, Middleton enters the race with legislative allies and the financial firepower to run an aggressive campaign.
But Aaron Reitz, a former Trump-era Department of Justice official and ex-deputy to Ken Paxton, posted a surprisingly strong fundraising debut, bringing in $2.1 million — more than Huffman and Middleton combined. His donor list reads like a who’s who of national conservative figures: Pennsylvania billionaire Jeff Yass contributed $250,000, and Trump administration figures and firms with ties to high-profile lawsuits against tech companies also chipped in.
Reitz may lack statewide name recognition, but his résumé — including stints with Sen. Ted Cruz, Trump’s DOJ, and Paxton’s legal team — has made him the early favorite among conservative legal circles. His campaign leans into his background as a “fighter” in the courts and his ties to right-wing legal activism.
Meanwhile, Joan Huffman, chair of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, is staking her bid on experience and establishment support. A former prosecutor and judge, Huffman raised $764,000 from just 29 donors, many from Houston’s donor class. With $3 million on hand, she remains a formidable contender with broad appeal among traditional Republicans. Her campaign message emphasizes public safety, budget discipline, and her long track record in state government.
The race also has a Democratic contender: State Sen. Nathan Johnson of Dallas, who reported raising $58,000 and $435,000 in the bank. He’s the first major Democrat in the race, though the general election in deep-red Texas remains an uphill climb.
Still, with Paxton stepping aside to run against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, the GOP primary will likely determine the next attorney general — and the direction of the state’s influential legal apparatus.
Comptroller: The Shadow Race with Billionaire Backing
While less flashy than the attorney general’s office, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts oversees the state’s vast budget, revenue estimates, and now — a $1 billion private school voucher program that was one of Gov. Greg Abbott’s top legislative priorities.
The vacancy, left by Glenn Hegar’s departure to lead the Texas A&M University System, has triggered another competitive GOP contest.
Christi Craddick, chair of the Texas Railroad Commission and scion of a prominent Republican family, raised $2.9 million and reported $3.2 million in cash on hand. Major backers included oil tycoon Javaid Anwar and tax consultant Brint Ryan, both influential figures in conservative finance circles.
But acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock, a former state senator who was appointed to temporarily fill Hegar’s post, posted more modest fundraising — $1.5 million — but ended the period with a healthy $6 million in the bank. Hancock drew support from top-tier GOP donors, including Harlan Crow, Kelcy Warren, and John Nau, suggesting strong support from establishment Republicans close to Abbott.
Then there’s Don Huffines, the hard-right former state senator who once tried to unseat Abbott himself. Huffines' campaign announced a staggering $15 million fundraising haul — though the source of that money has not yet been disclosed in ethics filings. If history is any guide, it’s likely Huffines is again dipping into his own deep pockets to fund his bid.
On the Democratic side, Rep. Gina Hinojosa of Austin reported raising just $4,400 and has $24,000 in the bank — a sign that Democrats have yet to mount a serious effort in the race.
A Changing of the Guard, and a High-Stakes Transition
The departures of Paxton and Hegar mark the end of an era for Texas Republicans. The two men, both elected in 2014, helped shape the state’s legal and financial landscape in alignment with the conservative agenda of Gov. Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who are both seeking reelection in 2026.
Abbott, meanwhile, is flexing his unmatched fundraising muscle: He raised $20 million in just over a week, bringing his cash-on-hand total to a staggering $86 million. Patrick isn’t far behind, with $5 million raised and $37 million in the bank.
With Texas Republicans deeply divided over school choice, immigration enforcement, and the limits of state authority, the primaries for attorney general and comptroller are shaping up as proxy battles for the future of Texas conservatism. Will establishment figures retain their grip, or will big-spending outsiders and legal warriors chart a new course?
