Texas Ballot: Middleton, Johnson Face Off in AG Race

Texas residents cast ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 3, to determine who holds the state’s top legal post. The selection ends an 11 year stretch of leadership by Ken Paxton. He now runs for the U.S. Senate.

Three candidates seek the office. Republican Mayes Middleton and Democrat Nathan Johnson are both current state senators. Libertarian Tom Oxford completes the field.

The attorney general acts as the state’s chief legal representative. The office defends Texas laws in court and represents state agencies in lawsuits. It enforces consumer protection statutes and investigates specific fraud cases. The office also assists families with child support collection and issues legal opinions on state law. Most criminal prosecutions remain with local district attorneys.

Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University, described the contest as high stakes. He noted the role involves interpreting the Texas Constitution and enforcing state law. “They play a pivotal role not only in enforcing the law here in Texas and interpreting the Texas Constitution, but they also historically have played a major role at the national level,” Jones said.

Middleton represents District 11, which covers Galveston County and parts of Houston. He previously served in the Texas House and leads his family’s oil business. His campaign website states he wants to expand the office’s authority to prosecute state law violations. He plans to crack down on crime and hold local prosecutors accountable. He supports aggressive immigration enforcement and cooperation with the Trump administration on border security. He also pledges to sue companies for deceptive trade practices.

Johnson represents parts of Dallas County. He has served in the Senate since 2019 and works as an attorney and mediator. His platform calls for closer cooperation with local district attorneys to improve public safety. He supports border security but opposes enforcement tactics he says violate constitutional rights. He promises to challenge federal actions he deems unlawful. He will prioritize enforcement against price gouging and consumer scams. He stated he would investigate public officials accused of corruption regardless of party affiliation.

A University of Houston poll released in October showed Middleton leading by approximately five points. Jones called the margin close enough for an upset if turnout shifts. “It’s not an insurmountable one for Johnson if Democratic turnout is robust and Republican turnout is lackluster,” Jones said. He added that final results depend on whether undecided Republicans cast ballots by election day.

The winner leads the office for four years. The position influences legal decisions affecting businesses, families, and government agencies. Those decisions cover federal immigration policies, consumer protection, and criminal justice enforcement. Voters decide on Tuesday, Nov. 3.