2026 Texas Attorney General election

2026 Texas Attorney General election
	November 3, 2026
Incumbent Attorney General; Ken Paxton; Republican	; ;

The 2026 Texas Attorney General election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the Attorney General of Texas. Incumbent Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton is eligible to run for re-election to a fourth term in office, but is instead running for U.S. Senate against incumbent John Cornyn.^[1]

Republican primary

Candidates

Withdrawn

John Bash, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas (2017–2020)^[9]

Declined

Bryan Hughes, state senator from the 1st district (2017–present)^[10]
Ken Paxton, incumbent attorney general (running for U.S. Senate)^[11]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Joe Jaworski, former mayor of Galveston and candidate for attorney general in 2022^[12]
Nathan Johnson, state senator from the 16th district (2019–present)^[13]

Potential

Joaquin Castro, U.S. representative from Texas's 20th congressional district (2013–present)^[14]
Roland Gutierrez, state senator from the 19th district (2021–present) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024^[15]
Justin Nelson, partner at Susman Godfrey and nominee for attorney general in 2018^[15]

References

^ Jeffers, Gromer (November 29, 2024). "John Cornyn and Ken Paxton have been trading jabs as a potential primary showdown looms". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
^ Guo, Kayla (June 23, 2025). "Sen. Joan Huffman joins GOP field vying to succeed Ken Paxton as Texas attorney general". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
^ Scherer, Jasper (April 15, 2025). "Sen. Mayes Middleton announces bid for Texas attorney general". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
^ Goldenstein, Taylor (June 12, 2025). "Aaron Reitz, a former Trump DOJ official and Paxton aide, joins the race for Texas AG". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
^ Bugenhagen, Faith (April 9, 2025). "If Ken Paxton wins Senate race, who could become Texas attorney general?". Chron.com. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
^ Schnell, Mychael (August 8, 2025). "EXCLUSIVE: Chip Roy eyeing bid for Texas attorney general". The Hill. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
^ ^a ^b "pluribus a.m." Pluribus News. Retrieved April 16, 2025. Candidates mentioned as possible contenders for Paxton's job: Sens. Brandon Creighton (R) and Bryan Hughes (R), both frequently mentioned in this newsletter, as well as state Rep. Mitch Little (R) and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R).
^ ^a ^b Jeffers, Gromer Jr. (April 10, 2025). "Ken Paxton's departure creates competitive AG primary in 2026". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
^ Runnels, Ayden (April 30, 2025). "John Bash, first candidate to enter Texas attorney general's race, exits". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
^ Richardson, Michael (June 10, 2025). "Sen. Bryan Hughes says he won't run for attorney general". KLTV. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
^ Scherer, Jasper (April 8, 2025). "Texas AG Ken Paxton officially joins U.S. Senate race challenging John Cornyn". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
^ Klibanoff, Eleanor (July 17, 2025). "Democrat Joe Jaworski to run for Texas attorney general again". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
^ Klibanoff, Eleanor (July 15, 2025). "Democratic state Sen. Nathan Johnson announces run for attorney general". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
^ Bradner, Eric; Ferris, Sarah (July 29, 2025). "Democrats got a top Senate recruit in North Carolina. Now they're trying to find more". CNN. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
^ ^a ^b McCardel, Justin (April 20, 2025). "Democratic consultant says party will field strong candidates in 2026, names several". WFAA. Retrieved April 20, 2025.

External links

Official campaign websites

[1] Jeffers, Gromer (November 29, 2024). "John Cornyn and Ken Paxton have been trading jabs as a potential primary showdown looms". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved November 29, 2024.

[2] Guo, Kayla (June 23, 2025). "Sen. Joan Huffman joins GOP field vying to succeed Ken Paxton as Texas attorney general". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved June 23, 2025.

[3] Scherer, Jasper (April 15, 2025). "Sen. Mayes Middleton announces bid for Texas attorney general". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved April 15, 2025.

[4] Goldenstein, Taylor (June 12, 2025). "Aaron Reitz, a former Trump DOJ official and Paxton aide, joins the race for Texas AG". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 12, 2025.

[5] Bugenhagen, Faith (April 9, 2025). "If Ken Paxton wins Senate race, who could become Texas attorney general?". Chron.com. Retrieved April 11, 2025.

[6] Schnell, Mychael (August 8, 2025). "EXCLUSIVE: Chip Roy eyeing bid for Texas attorney general". The Hill. Retrieved August 8, 2025.

[contenders-7] "pluribus a.m." Pluribus News. Retrieved April 16, 2025. Candidates mentioned as possible contenders for Paxton's job: Sens. Brandon Creighton (R) and Bryan Hughes (R), both frequently mentioned in this newsletter, as well as state Rep. Mitch Little (R) and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R).

[Dallas-8] Jeffers, Gromer Jr. (April 10, 2025). "Ken Paxton's departure creates competitive AG primary in 2026". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved April 10, 2025.

[9] Runnels, Ayden (April 30, 2025). "John Bash, first candidate to enter Texas attorney general's race, exits". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved May 1, 2025.

[10] Richardson, Michael (June 10, 2025). "Sen. Bryan Hughes says he won't run for attorney general". KLTV. Retrieved June 12, 2025.

[11] Scherer, Jasper (April 8, 2025). "Texas AG Ken Paxton officially joins U.S. Senate race challenging John Cornyn". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved April 8, 2025.

[12] Klibanoff, Eleanor (July 17, 2025). "Democrat Joe Jaworski to run for Texas attorney general again". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved July 17, 2025.

[13] Klibanoff, Eleanor (July 15, 2025). "Democratic state Sen. Nathan Johnson announces run for attorney general". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved July 15, 2025.

[14] Bradner, Eric; Ferris, Sarah (July 29, 2025). "Democrats got a top Senate recruit in North Carolina. Now they're trying to find more". CNN. Retrieved July 30, 2025.

[:0-15] McCardel, Justin (April 20, 2025). "Democratic consultant says party will field strong candidates in 2026, names several". WFAA. Retrieved April 20, 2025.

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Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Withdrawn

Declined

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Potential

See also

References

External links