Texas Republicans are headed to a high-stakes runoff for attorney general after the Associated Press declared Tuesday that state Sen. Mayes Middleton and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy will advance to a May 26 contest to determine the party’s nominee.
With most early returns and a share of Election Day results reported, Middleton held a commanding lead, while Roy, an Austin congressman who had been considered the frontrunner for much of the race, trailed in second place. Neither candidate appeared positioned to surpass the 50% threshold required to avoid a runoff.
State Sen. Joan Huffman and former U.S. Department of Justice attorney Aaron Reitz lagged behind the two leaders. Reitz had secured the endorsement of incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is not seeking reelection and is instead running for the U.S. Senate.
The Republican runoff sets up a clash between two prominent conservative figures with differing résumés and campaign strategies. Roy entered the race with broad name recognition after three terms in Congress and a lengthy record in state and federal government. He previously served as Paxton’s first deputy attorney general and held senior roles under U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, as well as former Gov. Rick Perry. Roy has emphasized his experience in government and law, arguing that the attorney general’s office should strengthen core administrative responsibilities such as child support enforcement and consumer protection, areas critics say have received less attention in recent years.
However, Roy’s campaign faced criticism from opponents over his past breaks with key Republican figures. He was the first Republican in Congress to call for Paxton’s resignation after several top aides reported the attorney general to federal authorities. Roy also voted to certify the 2020 presidential election results and described President Donald Trump’s actions surrounding Jan. 6, 2021, as impeachable. Supporters characterize those positions as evidence of his independence and adherence to constitutional principles.
Middleton, a Galveston oil and gas executive and one of the Legislature’s most conservative members, closed the gap in the race through substantial personal spending on television ads, mailers and text messages. Branding himself with a “MAGA Mayes” slogan, he highlighted his alignment with Trump and his legislative record. Middleton previously led the Texas House Freedom Caucus and has cast himself as a steadfast conservative prepared to use the attorney general’s office to advance similar priorities.
Questions about Middleton’s legal background became a focal point during the campaign. While he earned a law degree and is registered with the State Bar of Texas, he has limited courtroom experience and has worked primarily within his family’s energy business. Critics argue that the role demands extensive litigation experience. Middleton has countered by pointing to Paxton’s background prior to his election and contending that ideological consistency, rather than courtroom tenure, has driven voter support for conservative attorneys general.
The runoff is expected to be closely watched and expensive, reflecting the growing influence of the Texas attorney general’s office. Under Paxton, the office gained national prominence by filing lawsuits against Democratic presidential administrations, local governments and private organizations. Both Roy and Middleton have pledged to continue using the office to pursue conservative legal priorities.
On the Democratic side, state Sen. Nathan Johnson led early returns against former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski and Dallas attorney Tony Box. Johnson appeared within reach of an outright nomination, while Jaworski and Box competed for second place should a runoff be required.
