Republican Mayes Middleton, Democrat Nathan Johnson and Libertarian Tom Oxford are competing to become Texas' next attorney general as Ken Paxton leaves the office after more than a decade.
Texas voters will choose a new attorney general in the November 3 general election, setting up a contest that could determine the direction of one of the most powerful legal offices in the country.
Republican state Sen. Mayes Middleton of Galveston, Democratic state Sen. Nathan Johnson of Dallas and Libertarian attorney Tom Oxford are seeking the position currently held by Ken Paxton, who is leaving the office to run for the U.S. Senate.
The race offers voters three candidates with different backgrounds, political philosophies and ideas about how the attorney general's office should operate.
Republicans are hoping to maintain their nearly three-decade hold on the position, while Democrats see an opportunity to break that streak. Several polls have shown Johnson within five percentage points of Middleton, suggesting the contest could be more competitive than some previous statewide races.
For voters, the stakes go well beyond partisan politics. The next attorney general will oversee thousands of employees, defend Texas laws in court, pursue consumer protection cases and help shape the state's relationship with the federal government.
Why the Texas Attorney General Race Matters
The Texas attorney general serves as the state's chief legal officer, leading an agency with more than 4,000 employees, including approximately 750 attorneys.
Although the office frequently makes headlines for political lawsuits, much of its work involves issues that directly affect Texas families.
The agency handles child support enforcement, investigates fraudulent businesses and deceptive charities, protects consumers and provides legal guidance to state agencies. It also defends state laws when they face constitutional challenges.
Under Paxton, the office became a major player in national conservative legal battles.
Paxton repeatedly challenged policies implemented by former President Joe Biden's administration and pursued litigation involving immigration, technology companies, nonprofits and other politically charged issues.
President Donald Trump has praised Paxton as the "greatest attorney general in America," reflecting the outgoing attorney general's standing among many conservatives.
With Paxton seeking another office, the question facing voters is whether Texas should continue that aggressive legal approach or move toward a different set of priorities.
Middleton wants to build on the state's conservative legal agenda. Johnson argues the office needs to return greater attention to its traditional responsibilities. Oxford enters the race representing the Libertarian Party's emphasis on individual liberty and limited government.
Mayes Middleton: Republican Candidate
Mayes Middleton has built his political career around conservative priorities, significant campaign spending and his support for Trump's America First movement.
The Galveston-area Republican has served in the Texas Senate since 2023 after spending four years in the Texas House of Representatives.
Outside politics, Middleton is president of Middleton Oil Company, his family's business. He graduated from the University of Texas School of Law and has been a major Republican donor for years.
His campaign emphasizes his legislative record and commitment to conservative causes rather than extensive courtroom experience.
Middleton describes himself as a "steadfast ally of President Trump and a proven champion of the America First movement."
His political priorities include opposing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, environmental and social governance policies, critical race theory and transgender participation in women's sports.
Middleton's priorities as attorney general
Middleton has promised to use the attorney general's office to support Trump's immigration enforcement agenda, including border security and deportation policies.
He also wants to strengthen the office's authority to prosecute violations of state law.
That proposal could lead to significant legal disagreements over the attorney general's powers. Texas courts have ruled that certain criminal prosecutions, including election-related offenses, fall under the authority of local prosecutors rather than the attorney general acting independently.
Middleton has also identified protecting the oil and gas industry, preventing foreign adversaries from purchasing Texas property and enforcing the state's abortion restrictions as priorities.
He wants greater transparency in government spending and has pledged to oppose the use of taxpayer money for activities he believes conflict with Texas values.
Middleton's campaign finances
Middleton has invested heavily in his campaign.
According to the campaign finance information provided, he has contributed more than $17 million of his own money since launching his bid in 2025.
His personal contributions account for nearly two-thirds of his campaign's fundraising this year.
Major financial supporters include Court Reform Action for Families PAC, Texas Tech Board of Regents Chairman Cody Campbell, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, Buc-ee's owner Don Wasek and Energy Transfer Vice Chairman Kelcy Warren.
His campaign reported $911,117 in cash on hand as of June 30.
That financial backing has helped Middleton establish himself as a formidable Republican contender.
Nathan Johnson: Democratic Candidate
Nathan Johnson is running on his legal experience, bipartisan legislative work and criticism of how Paxton has managed the attorney general's office.
The Dallas Democrat has represented part of Dallas County in the Texas Senate since 2019.
He is also a litigator and mediator with Thompson Coburn, a law firm with a Dallas office.
Johnson says he has helped pass 134 bills during his time in the Legislature, covering issues ranging from water infrastructure and energy to education, healthcare and criminal justice.
His campaign emphasizes the ability to work with Republicans in a Legislature where Democrats hold relatively little power.
Johnson has criticized Paxton for using the attorney general's office to advance what he calls a "radical MAGA agenda."
He has also promised to challenge Trump administration policies that he believes threaten constitutional protections, economic stability and democratic institutions.
Johnson's priorities as attorney general
Johnson says the attorney general's office should place greater emphasis on consumer protection, government accountability and the everyday legal responsibilities of state government.
He wants stronger enforcement of laws protecting consumers and promoting fair business competition.
He has also proposed independent investigations of public officials suspected of corruption, regardless of political affiliation.
Unlike Middleton, Johnson does not favor expanding the attorney general's independent criminal prosecution authority.
Instead, he supports cooperation with local district attorneys who already possess the legal authority to prosecute criminal cases.
Johnson has promised to improve the office's handling of child support collections, legal opinions, government transparency and infrastructure financing.
Immigration is another potential source of conflict with the federal government.
Johnson says he would challenge federal border enforcement policies and tactics that violate constitutional protections.
He has also criticized reductions in voting locations in Tarrant County, placing voting access among the issues that could receive attention under his leadership.
Johnson's campaign finances
Johnson faces a substantial fundraising disadvantage compared with Middleton.
His campaign reported raising $978,427 during the first six months of 2026, with $290,566 remaining in cash on hand as of June 30.
Major contributors include Texas Sands PAC, which is connected to casino billionaire Miriam Adelson, Dallas investor Daniel Cocanougher and several other business leaders and political donors.
His contributors also include former Republican state Sen. John Carona and environmental advocate Trammell Crow.
Johnson's challenge will be turning his legal background and bipartisan message into enough statewide support to overcome the Republican Party's longstanding electoral advantage in Texas.
Tom Oxford: Libertarian Candidate
Tom Oxford brings decades of legal experience to the race, although his campaign operates with far fewer financial resources than those of the major-party candidates.
Oxford owns and manages Oxford Law PLLC in Jefferson County.
He graduated from the University of Texas and the University of Houston College of Law and has practiced law since 1982.
His legal background includes personal injury, immigration and civil rights cases.
Oxford has argued cases before the Texas Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, giving him experience in both state and federal appellate courts.
He is running under the Libertarian Party banner, which generally favors limited government and strong protections for individual freedoms.
The Libertarian Party of Texas advocates reducing government involvement in personal decisions involving speech, religion, marriage, family life and property rights.
However, publicly available information in the supplied candidate material does not establish Oxford's specific positions on many of the issues facing the attorney general's office.
That makes it difficult to determine precisely how he would approach immigration enforcement, consumer protection, election litigation or other major legal controversies.
Oxford's campaign also has limited financial resources.
His reported fundraising through June 30 totaled $394, consisting of an in-kind contribution from Liberty Booster PAC. His campaign reported no cash on hand.
While Oxford faces considerable obstacles in competing with the major-party candidates, his presence gives voters another choice in November.
Where the Candidates Stand on Key Issues
The clearest differences between the candidates involve the role of the attorney general and how aggressively the office should pursue politically significant litigation.
Immigration and border security: Middleton supports Trump's border enforcement agenda and wants the office to help enforce federal immigration priorities. Johnson says he would challenge unconstitutional federal enforcement policies. Oxford's specific position was not established in the available campaign information.
Criminal prosecution authority: Middleton wants broader powers for the attorney general to prosecute state law violations, including election-related crimes. Johnson favors working with local prosecutors rather than expanding the office's independent authority.
Consumer protection: Johnson has emphasized stronger consumer safeguards and fair business competition. Middleton has focused more prominently on conservative policy enforcement, government spending and protecting Texas industries.
Government accountability: Both major-party candidates discuss accountability, but their approaches differ. Middleton emphasizes taxpayer spending and enforcement of conservative priorities, while Johnson focuses on investigating public corruption regardless of party affiliation.
The office's overall direction: Middleton represents continuity with the conservative legal movement that gained influence under Paxton. Johnson is campaigning for a shift toward the agency's core legal and administrative functions. Oxford represents a smaller-government political philosophy, although his specific plans remain less clear.
What Voters Should Watch Before Election Day
The attorney general contest is unfolding against a broader struggle over the political direction of Texas.
Republicans have controlled the office for nearly three decades, giving Middleton a historical advantage in a state where GOP candidates have consistently won statewide elections.
But Johnson's standing in some polls suggests Democrats believe they have an opportunity to make the contest competitive.
Campaign spending could become another deciding factor.
Middleton's substantial personal wealth gives him the ability to finance advertising and voter outreach without relying entirely on outside contributors.
Johnson, meanwhile, must compete with fewer resources while attempting to attract Democrats, independents and Republicans dissatisfied with the current direction of the office.
Oxford faces the challenge common to third-party candidates: gaining visibility in a race dominated by two well-funded political organizations.
Ultimately, the election will determine more than who replaces Ken Paxton.
It will help decide how Texas approaches future conflicts with Washington, whether the attorney general's prosecutorial powers should expand and how much attention the office devotes to its everyday responsibilities.
For Texas voters, those decisions could affect everything from consumer protections and child support enforcement to immigration litigation and the defense of state laws.
