Three Candidates Compete for Texas Attorney General Seat

Polls have closed across Texas, marking the end of voting for the state attorney general race. The seat is open because incumbent Ken Paxton chose to run for the U.S. Senate rather than seek a fourth term.

Three qualified candidates appear on the ballot. Mayes Middleton, a Republican, serves as the state senator for Galveston. He earned his party’s nomination after winning a primary runoff against U.S. Rep. Chip Roy.

Nathan M. Johnson, a Democrat, represents Dallas in the state senate. He secured the Democratic nomination by defeating former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski in the primary runoff.

Tom Oxford, a Libertarian, is an attorney from Nederland. He received his party’s nomination at the state convention. Election officials across the state are now processing ballots and tabulating precinct returns.

The vacancy in the attorney general office stems from Paxton’s decision to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Paxton won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate following a primary runoff victory in May 2026. Initial vote totals will begin appearing as local election offices complete their count.