TEXAS — The position of the state’s top lawyer is open for the first time since 2014. Current Attorney General Ken Paxton opted to leave the office to pursue a seat in the U.S. Senate. There are three Democrats in the race to replace him—Dallas attorney and former FBI agent Tony Box, Dallas state Sen. Nathan Johnson and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski.

What You Need To Know

Three Democrats are running to replace Ken Paxton as Texas attorney general

All of the candidates say they want to revamp and rebuild the office’s reputation, which they say is marred by political corruption

The winner will face one of four Republican candidates in the general election

Jaworski lost the Democratic nomination for attorney general in 2022 but describes himself as a progressive and a proven leader.

“I was the mayor who stood up to a pretty rambunctious opposition in order to rebuild our public housing,” said Jaworski.

Johnson, a two-term senator, ousted big-money candidate Don Huffines in 2018 for his current seat, which he will keep if he loses this election. He thinks only a Democrat can fix the Office of the Attorney General, which he says is marred by Paxton’s political and personal scandals. Johnson voted to impeach Paxton in 2023 for using his office to help a political donor and a mistress. Paxton was ultimately acquitted. 

“It occurred to me that the office can be just as powerfully good under the right leadership as it has been powerfully bad under Ken Paxton,” said Johnson.

At 16 years old, Box was shot by a thief who stole a woman’s purse. He says living with a bullet lodged in his liver is a reminder of his dedication to service.

“Texans need an attorney general that is solely focused on them and not any other parties or interests or the rich buddies,” said Box.

Each candidate wants to revamp the office they all accuse of being corrupt. Box wants to rebuild relationships with district attorneys who are the target of Paxton’s efforts to require prosecutors in large, mostly Democratic counties to send his office detailed reports.

“I’ve worked in the district attorney’s office before. And it’s critical that the attorney general has a great working relationship with district attorneys,” said Box.

Jaworski wants to create civil rights and affordability divisions in the office to better represent Texans.

“We’ll make the Office of Attorney General a Texas law firm again, rather than a political hit job squad,” said Jaworski.

Paxton sued President Joe Biden’s administration 106 times. Johnson said he would treat President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice with the same hostility if warranted.

“I will sue them, but it won’t be ideological. It will be to protect the rule of law and the people of the state,” said Johnson.

With campaigns framed to rebuild what they claim Paxton destroyed, one political scientist says this race could be the biggest opportunity for a statewide Democratic pickup, if the party fields a strong slate of candidates on the ballot.

“They have to run as a ticket because running alone has not worked for Democrats in in the past. I think, you know, their best opportunity is probably in the AG’s race,” said Cal Jillson, a professor of political science at Southern Methodist University.

The winner of this primary will face one of the four Republican AG candidates: Houston state Sen. Joan Huffman, Galveston state Sen. Mayes Middleton, former DOJ attorney Aaron Reitz or Austin U.S. Rep. Chip Roy.