AUSTIN, Texas — Both political parties are entering a second-round election to decide who will be their nominee for Texas Attorney General in November to replace sitting Attorney General Ken Paxton.
After the March primaries failed to produce candidates with 50% of the vote, Democrats and Republicans will revisit the race and decide between the top two candidates in their respective parties.
Republican race: Roy vs. Middleton
Republicans will choose between Congressman Chip Roy and State Sen. Mayes Middleton.
Roy is currently serving his fourth term in Congress, representing Texas’ 21st Congressional District, which serves parts of Austin and the Hill Country.
Middleton took office in the Texas Senate in 2023, representing Galveston.
Both candidates have released similar platforms, focusing on a secure border, pro-life policies, and shutting down the so-called “woke agenda.”
“Policy ads are not going to be there,” political science professor Brian Smith of St. Edward’s University said of the runoff race. “You would just be splitting hairs and confusing voters. So, what we’re talking about is pushing style over substance and presentation over policy. Getting a very simple message out there: come and vote, vote for me.”
During the March primary, Middleton led the race with 39% of the vote. Roy followed with 32% of the vote.
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Democratic race: Johnson vs. Jaworski
Democrats will choose between State Sen. Nathan Johnson and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski.
Johnson has represented Dallas in the Texas Senate since 2019.
Jaworski is running for the Attorney General nomination in the party again after losing it in 2022.
“I think what Democrats have going for them is that they have a runoff that is focused on Texas,” said political science professor Cal Jillson of Southern Methodist University. “They have two candidates who are not tearing each other limb from limb. And they have a candidate that came within two points of winning it outright.”
Johnson won 48% of the vote in March, with Jaworski trailing at 26%.
Importance of the Office of the Attorney General
The office serves as the top legal office in the state. The Texas Attorney General is responsible for representing the state in court, providing legal opinions to state agencies, and defending the state’s laws.
“That is a big office. It’s several thousand people; 750 lawyers divided into many different departments dealing with different issues that are critical to Texas,” Jillson said.
A Republican attorney general could help enforce the Trump administration’s agenda in the state, while a Democratic attorney general could hinder it.
“An active Attorney General’s office controlled by the Democrats could use lawfare and steroids to sue the Trump administration at every turn. This would slow down everything and even stop it,” said Smith.
The runoff election is scheduled for May 26.