Texas Attorney General election, 2026
|
← 2022
|
| Texas Attorney General |
|---|
| Democratic primary Republican primary General election |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: December 8, 2025 |
| Primary: March 3, 2026 Primary runoff: May 26, 2026 General: November 3, 2026 |
| How to vote |
| Poll times:
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| Federal and state primary competitiveness State executive elections in 2026 Impact of term limits in 2026 State government trifectas State government triplexes Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026 |
| Texas executive elections |
| Governor Lieutenant Governor |
Texas is holding an election for attorney general on November 3, 2026. The primary is March 3, 2026, and a primary runoff is May 26, 2026. The filing deadline is December 8, 2025.
For more information about the primaries in this election, click on the links below:
- Texas Attorney General election, 2026 (March 3 Democratic primary)
- Texas Attorney General election, 2026 (March 3 Republican primary)
Candidates and election results
Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:
- Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
- Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies
General election
The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas
Joe Jaworski and Nathan Johnson are running in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Joe Jaworski | ||
| Nathan Johnson | ||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Attorney General of Texas
Joan Huffman, Mayes Middleton, Aaron Reitz, and Chip Roy are running in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 3, 2026.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
March 3 Republican Primary
Ballotpedia identified the March 3, 2026, Republican primary as a battleground primary. For more on the Republican primary, click here. For more on the Democratic primary, click here.
Joan Huffman (R), Mayes Middleton (R), Aaron Reitz (R), and Chip Roy (R) are running in the Republican primary election for Texas Attorney General on March 3, 2026. The filing deadline is December 8, 2025.
Incumbent Ken Paxton (R) is running in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Texas in 2026.
The Texas Tribune's Gabby Birenbaum and Eleanor Klibanoff wrote that "[as] the biggest attorney general's office in a red state, Texas' top lawyer serves an outsized role in the conservative legal movement."[1] Birenbaum also said the race will likely be characterized by candidates "position[ing] themselves as the ideological heirs to Paxton’s conservative legal movement, which has put Texas at the forefront of high-profile cases on religious liberty, abortion and election law."[2]
Huffman was elected to the Texas State Senate in 2008. She previously worked as a prosecutor and a judge.[3] Huffman is campaigning on her legal experience, saying she has worked to "[uphold] the rule of law and [protect] our families."[3] She is also campaigning on her support of law enforcement and public safety, highlighting legislation she wrote that increased penalties for violent crimes, targeted drug trafficking, and funded border security.[3] The Houston Police Officers Union and Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association endorsed Huffman.[4]
Middleton was elected to the state Senate in 2023 and served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2019 to 2023. He is an attorney and president of an oil company.[5] Middleton is campaigning on his support for President Donald Trump’s (R) agenda, calling himself "a steadfast ally of President Trump and a proven champion of the America First movement."[5] Middleton says he would focus on public safety and would “fight to secure the border, ensure law and order, and be tough on crime."[6] U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) endorsed Middleton.[7]
Reitz is an attorney who served as Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy in the U.S. Department of Justice from March to June 2025, and he previously served as Texas’ Deputy Attorney General for Legal Strategy under Paxton.[8][9] Reitz is campaigning on his support of Paxton, saying, "Under Ken Paxton, Texas has been a shining example for the conservative movement on how to fight and win against the enemies of Law, Order, and Liberty."[2] He is also campaigning on his support of and connection to Trump, saying he would "ensure the full weight of the Office of the Attorney General is behind President Trump and his agenda," and noting that Trump called him "a true MAGA attorney."[10][11] Paxton endorsed Reitz.[2]
Roy was elected to the U.S. House in 2019. He previously served as Texas’ First Assistant Attorney General under Paxton.[12] Roy is campaigning on his support of Paxton’s legal approach, saying, "[Paxton] and his team have done a great job fighting to defend Texas … We’re going to continue that legacy going forward."[1] Highlighting his legislative career, Roy says he has experience with border security, supporting law enforcement, and combating election fraud.[13] U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) endorsed Roy.[2]
Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office:
- Texas State Senate, District 17 (Assumed office: 2008)
Biography: Huffman received a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a J.D. from South Texas School of Law. She previously worked as a prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and served as a judge in Harris County.
Show sources
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office:
- Texas State Senate, District 11 (Assumed office: 2023)
- Texas House of Representatives, District 23 (2019-2023)
Biography: Middleton received a bachelor’s degree and J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. At the time of the election, he was an attorney, worked as the president of an oil company, and operated ranches and farms.
Show sources
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I’m a Christian, husband, father of four, U.S. Marine, and lifelong conservative fighter who has spent my career on the front lines of lawfare combat. I married my high school sweetheart, and together we’re raising our family in Central Texas. I joined the Marine Corps out of a deep sense of duty, serving in Afghanistan and swearing an oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic—a promise I’ve carried with me into every role since. After my military service, I dedicated my career to defending Texas and conservative values in the legal and political arena. I served as Ken Paxton’s Deputy Attorney General for Legal Strategy, where I led Texas’s biggest fights on border security, election integrity, and constitutional freedoms. I later served as Chief of Staff to Senator Ted Cruz and was appointed by President Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to run the Office of Legal Policy at the Department of Justice, where I helped shape national legal strategy and advance the America First justice agenda. In every chapter of my life, I’ve fought for the principles that keep Texas strong: faith, family, freedom, and the rule of law. I’m not a career politician; I’m a Texan who knows our state and nation are worth defending with everything I have. My record proves I know how to win the battles that matter most, and I’m ready to keep serving Texans with the same grit, conviction, and integrity that have guided me my entire life."
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office:
- U.S. House of Representatives, Texas District 21 (Assumed office: 2019)
Biography: Roy received a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of Virginia, as well as a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. He previously worked as a prosecutor and political advisor to statewide and national politicians, and he previously served as Texas’ First Assistant Attorney General.
Show sources
See more
Candidate profiles
There are currently no candidate profiles created for this race. Candidate profiles will appear here as they are created. Encourage the candidates in this race to complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey so that their profile will appear here.
Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses
Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
No candidate in this race has completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Ballotpedia is seeking 100 percent participation so voters can learn more about all the candidates on their ballots.
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Texas
Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.
Past elections
The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2014.
2022
- See also: Texas Attorney General election, 2022
General election
General election for Attorney General of Texas
Incumbent Ken Paxton defeated Rochelle Garza and Mark Ash in the general election for Attorney General of Texas on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ken Paxton (R) | 53.4 | 4,278,986 | |
Rochelle Garza (D) ![]() | 43.7 | 3,497,267 | ||
| Mark Ash (L) | 2.9 | 233,750 | ||
| Total votes: 8,010,003 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary runoff election
Democratic primary runoff for Attorney General of Texas
Rochelle Garza defeated Joe Jaworski in the Democratic primary runoff for Attorney General of Texas on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Rochelle Garza ![]() | 62.7 | 305,168 | |
Joe Jaworski ![]() | 37.3 | 181,744 | ||
| Total votes: 486,912 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary runoff election
Republican primary runoff for Attorney General of Texas
Incumbent Ken Paxton defeated George P. Bush in the Republican primary runoff for Attorney General of Texas on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ken Paxton | 68.0 | 633,223 | |
| George P. Bush | 32.0 | 298,577 | ||
| Total votes: 931,800 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas
Rochelle Garza and Joe Jaworski advanced to a runoff. They defeated Lee Merritt, Mike Fields, and S. T-Bone Raynor in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Rochelle Garza ![]() | 43.0 | 438,134 | |
| ✔ | Joe Jaworski ![]() | 19.8 | 202,140 | |
| Lee Merritt | 19.4 | 198,108 | ||
Mike Fields ![]() | 12.3 | 125,373 | ||
| S. T-Bone Raynor | 5.5 | 55,944 | ||
| Total votes: 1,019,699 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Attorney General of Texas
Incumbent Ken Paxton and George P. Bush advanced to a runoff. They defeated Eva Guzman and Louis B. Gohmert Jr. in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ken Paxton | 42.7 | 823,199 | |
| ✔ | George P. Bush | 22.8 | 439,240 | |
Eva Guzman ![]() | 17.5 | 337,761 | ||
| Louis B. Gohmert Jr. | 17.0 | 327,257 | ||
| Total votes: 1,927,457 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Matt Krause (R)
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Attorney General of Texas
Mark Ash advanced from the Libertarian convention for Attorney General of Texas on April 10, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Mark Ash (L) | |
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
- See also: Texas Attorney General election, 2018
General election
General election for Attorney General of Texas
Incumbent Ken Paxton defeated Justin Nelson and Michael Ray Harris in the general election for Attorney General of Texas on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ken Paxton (R) | 50.6 | 4,193,207 | |
| Justin Nelson (D) | 47.0 | 3,898,098 | ||
| Michael Ray Harris (L) | 2.4 | 201,310 | ||
| Total votes: 8,292,615 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas
Justin Nelson advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Justin Nelson | |
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Attorney General of Texas
Incumbent Ken Paxton advanced from the Republican primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Ken Paxton | |
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Attorney General of Texas
Michael Ray Harris defeated Jamar Osborne in the Libertarian convention for Attorney General of Texas on April 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Michael Ray Harris (L) | 90.4 | 236 | |
| Jamar Osborne (L) | 9.6 | 25 | ||
| Total votes: 261 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2014
- See also: Texas attorney general election, 2014
Republican Ken Paxton won election on November 4, 2014.
| Attorney General of Texas, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | 58.8% | 2,742,646 | ||
| Democrat | Sam Houston | 38% | 1,773,108 | |
| Libertarian | Jamie Balagia | 2.5% | 118,186 | |
| Green | Jamar Osborne | 0.6% | 29,590 | |
| Total Votes | 4,663,530 | |||
| Election results via Texas Secretary of State | ||||
Election analysis
This section will contain facts and figures related to this state's elections when those are available.
Attorney General elections in 2026
There are 30 attorney general seats on the ballot in 2026.
See also
| Texas | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Texas Tribune, "U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, Paxton aide turned foe, to run for Texas attorney general," August 21, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The Texas Tribune, "Cruz, Paxton issue dueling endorsements in Texas attorney general GOP primary," August 25, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Joan Huffman 2026 campaign website, "About," accessed October 13, 2025
- ↑ Joan Huffman 2026 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed October 13, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Mayes Middleton 2026 campaign website, "Home," accessed October 13, 2025
- ↑ Mayes Middleton 2026 campaign website, "Conservative Republican Mayes Middleton Announces Campaign for Texas Attorney General," April 15, 2025
- ↑ Mayes Middleton 2026 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed October 13, 2025
- ↑ Texas Office of the Attorney General, "Attorney General Ken Paxton Congratulates Aaron Reitz on Being Sworn in as Assistant Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice," March 31, 2025
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Aaron Reitz, former top DOJ official and Paxton aide, launches bid for Texas attorney general," June 12, 2025
- ↑ "Aaron Reitz 2026 campaign website, "On the Issues," accessed October 13, 2025
- ↑ Aaron Reitz 2026 campaign website, "Home," accessed October 13, 2025
- ↑ Representative Chip Roy, "About," accessed October 13, 2025
- ↑ YouTube, "I'm running for Attorney General of Texas," October 13, 2025
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
= candidate completed the