Joan Huffman (R), Mayes Middleton (R), Aaron Reitz (R), and Chip Roy (R) are running in the Republican primary election for Texas Attorney General on March 3, 2026. The filing deadline is December 8, 2025.

Incumbent Ken Paxton (R) is running in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Texas in 2026.

The Texas Tribune’s Gabby Birenbaum and Eleanor Klibanoff wrote that “[as] the biggest attorney general’s office in a red state, Texas’ top lawyer serves an outsized role in the conservative legal movement.” Birenbaum also said the race will likely be characterized by candidates “position[ing] themselves as the ideological heirs to Paxton’s conservative legal movement, which has put Texas at the forefront of high-profile cases on religious liberty, abortion and election law.”

Huffman was elected to the Texas State Senate in 2008. She previously worked as a prosecutor and a judge. Huffman is campaigning on her legal experience, saying she has worked to “[uphold] the rule of law and [protect] our families.” She is also campaigning on her support of law enforcement and public safety, highlighting legislation she wrote that increased penalties for violent crimes, targeted drug trafficking, and funded border security. The Houston Police Officers Union and Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association endorsed Huffman.

Middleton was elected to the state Senate in 2023 and served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2019 to 2023. He is an attorney and president of an oil company. Middleton is campaigning on his support for President Donald Trump’s (R) agenda, calling himself “a steadfast ally of President Trump and a proven champion of the America First movement.” Middleton says he would focus on public safety and would “fight to secure the border, ensure law and order, and be tough on crime.” U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) endorsed Middleton.

Reitz is an attorney who served as Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy in the U.S. Department of Justice from March to June 2025, and he previously served as Texas’ Deputy Attorney General for Legal Strategy under Paxton. Reitz is campaigning on his support of Paxton, saying, “Under Ken Paxton, Texas has been a shining example for the conservative movement on how to fight and win against the enemies of Law, Order, and Liberty.” He is also campaigning on his support of and connection to Trump, saying he would “ensure the full weight of the Office of the Attorney General is behind President Trump and his agenda,” and noting that Trump called him “a true MAGA attorney.” Paxton endorsed Reitz.

Roy was elected to the U.S. House in 2019. He previously served as Texas’ First Assistant Attorney General under Paxton. Roy is campaigning on his support of Paxton’s legal approach, saying, “[Paxton] and his team have done a great job fighting to defend Texas … We’re going to continue that legacy going forward.” Highlighting his legislative career, Roy says he has experience with border security, supporting law enforcement, and combating election fraud. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) endorsed Roy.