Texas is staring down its first wide-open race for the state's top lawyer in a decade. Ken Paxton is finally vacating the seat—not because he lost, but because he’s gunning for John Cornyn’s job in the U.S. Senate. This leaves a massive power vacuum in Austin. For years, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has been the tip of the spear for conservative legal challenges against Washington. Now, a handful of big names want to hold that spear.
The 2026 primary is already messy. You’ve got firebrands, steady-hand legislators, and Democrats hoping this is the year the "blue wave" actually makes landfall instead of just misting the coast. Honestly, most people think this is just another sleepy down-ballot race. It isn't. The candidates for attorney general texas will decide how the state handles everything from border enforcement to the local prosecution of "rogue" district attorneys.
The Republican Brawl for the Right Flank
On the GOP side, it's basically a race to see who can be the most "Texas" of them all. Chip Roy is currently the man to beat. The Congressman from Central Texas has a huge lead in early polls, sitting around 40% according to data from the University of Houston. Roy isn't just a politician; he’s a former federal prosecutor and was actually Paxton’s First Assistant Attorney General. He knows the building. He knows where the bodies are buried, figuratively speaking.
Then there is Aaron Reitz. He’s the "new guy" with the loudest megaphone. Reitz served in the Trump DOJ and has Paxton’s explicit endorsement. He’s positioning himself as a "true MAGA attorney." While he lacks the name recognition of Roy, his $2 million early fundraising haul shows he’s not just some fringe candidate. He’s already promised to go after Democratic District Attorneys in Austin and Houston the moment he takes office.
The Legislative Heavyweights
Joan Huffman and Mayes Middleton are the two State Senators in the mix. Huffman is leaning hard on her "law and order" credentials. She’s a former judge and prosecutor from Houston who has spent years writing the state's criminal justice laws. She isn't as flashy as Roy or Reitz, but she has the backing of major law enforcement groups like the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT).
Middleton, the Senator from Galveston, is running as the wealthy outsider who doesn't need the job. He famously rejects his state salary and pension. He’s got the endorsement of Randy Weber and Riley Gaines. He’s betting that voters want someone who’s already a "proven champion" of the Freedom Caucus.
Can Democrats Actually Win This Time?
Democrats haven't won a statewide office in Texas since the 90s. That’s a long time. But with Paxton out of the way, they see a crack in the armor. The Democratic primary has three main players: Nathan Johnson, Joe Jaworski, and Tony Box.
Nathan Johnson is a State Senator from Dallas who is very well-regarded by the party’s intellectual wing. He talks a lot about transparency and making the OAG less of a "political hit squad" and more of a functioning legal department. Joe Jaworski is a former Mayor of Galveston and has the "Jaworski" name—his grandfather was the Watergate special prosecutor Leon Jaworski. He’s been running for this basically since 2022. He’s the most vocal about "stopping the corruption" he claims has defined the office for the last decade.
The Long Shot: Tony Box
Tony Box is the wildcard here. He’s an attorney and former FBI agent. His pitch is simple: he’s a "G-man" who knows how to investigate and prosecute without the partisan baggage. He’s trailing in the polls, but in a primary where most voters are still undecided (over 50% in some surveys), anything can happen.
Why This Race is Different in 2026
The filing deadline passed in December 2025, and the primary is set for March 3, 2026. If no one gets over 50%, we’re headed for a May runoff. This matters because the OAG has become the most influential state-level legal office in the country. Under Paxton, it sued the Biden administration dozens of times.
The next candidates for attorney general texas have to decide: do they continue that legacy of "lawfare" against the federal government, or do they refocus on state-level consumer protection and child support? Roy and Reitz are clearly in the "fight the feds" camp. Huffman and Johnson are talking more about the actual mechanics of the office.
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Key Dates You Need to Know
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Primary Election | March 3, 2026 |
| Primary Runoff (if needed) | May 26, 2026 |
| General Election | November 3, 2026 |
Polls show that "Undecided" is still the biggest candidate in both primaries. On the GOP side, about 37% of voters don't know who they want. For Democrats, that number is even higher—near 60%. This means the TV ads and debates in February are going to be absolutely brutal.
Your Next Steps for the Election
If you’re a Texas voter, don't wait until November to start paying attention. The primary is where the real choice happens, especially in a state that still leans heavily Republican.
- Check your registration status. The deadline to register for the March primary is usually 30 days before the election.
- Look at the donor lists. Follow the money on the Texas Ethics Commission website to see who is funding these campaigns.
- Watch the debates. The Texas Tribune and local news stations like CBS Texas are hosting forums.
The outcome of this race determines who represents Texas in the Supreme Court and who controls the legal interpretation of our state laws. It’s arguably more important for your daily life than who sits in the U.S. Senate.