The race to replace Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) narrowed considerably on Tuesday as voters in both parties delivered a mixed but unmistakably high-stakes verdict in the primary contests.
According to The Blaze, the Republican field featured a sharp ideological contrast between Rep. Chip Roy (R), a persistent critic of Paxton backed by Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, and several contenders running squarely on President Trumps America First platform. Roy faced state Sen. Mayes Middleton, who cast himself as a staunch America First conservative; Aaron Reitz, a former assistant attorney general endorsed by Paxton who vowed to "destroy the left" if elected; and state Sen. Joan Huffman, who enjoyed the backing of multiple police unions.
Roy, who topped a Texas Politics Project poll last month, framed his bid as a homecoming to statewide office and a continuation of his legal and political battles on behalf of conservative Texans. In a video statement on Tuesday, he told voters, "There's a lot of important issues, and as a former federal prosecutor and the former first assistant attorney general someone who's been in the battle fighting for you I'd like to come home to Texas and be your attorney general."
The congressmans showing, however, fell short of expectations as he trailed Middleton for most of the evening and never closed the gap. With more than 91% of the expected vote tallied by early Wednesday, Middleton held 39.2% to Roys 31.6%, while Huffman and Reitz captured 15% and 14.2% respectively, according to NBC News.
Because neither Middleton nor Roy crossed the 50% threshold, the two will advance to a May 26 Republican runoff that will effectively become a referendum on the future direction of Texas conservatism. The contest will pit Roys brand of combative congressional conservatism against Middletons promise to carry the America First banner into the states top law enforcement office.
Middleton, a seventh-generation Texan and father of four, celebrated his first-place finish as a mandate from grassroots conservatives and aligned himself with a slate of influential right-leaning organizations, including the Texas Family Project, Moms for America Action, and the True Texas Project. Posting on X just before midnight, he declared, "1st Place! Thank you to conservatives across Texas for your trust, your vote, and for giving us incredible momentum going into the runoff."
Throughout his campaign, Middleton has emphasized a robust law-and-order and cultural-conservative agenda that mirrors priorities championed by President Trump and many Texas Republicans. He pledged to "lead the charge to secure our border, protect Texas kids, ensure fairness in girls and womens sports, protect Texas taxpayers and consumers, ensure strict election integrity, and root out waste, fraud, and abuse from our government."
Reitz, despite falling short, struck a gracious tone that underscored the seriousness of the race and the unity conservatives will need heading into November. He praised his rivals, saying, "They ran strong campaigns, I respect them both, and they earned their place in the next round. I wish them both well."
Democrats, meanwhile, held their own primary for attorney general, though their field reflected a markedly different set of priorities and backgrounds. Nathan Johnson, a litigator and composer known for contributing music to the anime series "Dragon Ball Z," faced former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski and Anthony Box, an Army veteran, former FBI agent, and attorney.
With 92% of the vote counted, the Associated Press reported that Johnson led by more than 20 percentage points, earning 47.9% and narrowly missing the majority needed to avoid a runoff on May 26. Jaworski stood at 26.7% and Box at 25.4%, setting up a likely intraparty fight that will unfold even as Republicans debate which candidate is best positioned to defend Texas sovereignty, secure the border, and resist the leftward drift of national Democrats in the next phase of this pivotal statewide contest.
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