This week, state Senator Mayes Middleton (R) entered the 2026 race for Texas Attorney General. He’s the latest candidate to announce his run after attorney John Bash (R) announced he was running. With state Senator Middleton’s announcement comes praise from Texas Republicans who argue he’s the clear choice to replace outgoing Attorney General Ken Paxton (R).
Shortly after announcing his decision to run for Texas attorney general, state Senator Middleton received support from GOP members who called him a “conservative fighter.”
State Republican Executive Committeeman Rolando Garcia (R) responded to the state senator’s announcement on X, calling him “fearless in pushing a ban on taxpayer funded lobbying despite opposition from RINOs,” adding that “while many electeds sneer at grassroots activists, Mayes has ALWAYS been a friend of the grassroots, not just at election time.” “He’s independently wealthy and not beholden to big law firms or special interests for a living. This is VERY important for an AG,” the Republican executive committeeman added.
Waiting to see who all jumps in before taking sides, but things I like about @mayes_middleton:
✅ Fearless in pushing a ban on taxpayer funded lobbying despite opposition from RINOs
✅ While many electeds sneer at grassroots activists, Mayes has ALWAYS been a friend of the… https://t.co/uxcexGP9ie
— Rolando Garcia (@rdgarcia03) April 15, 2025
State Senator Mayes also drew support from state Rep. Jared Patterson (R), who called him “a conservative fighter long before being elected to the House or Senate.” “I’m proud to offer my full and complete endorsement for Texas’ next Attorney General Mayes Middleton!”
Senator @mayes_middleton was a conservative fighter long before being elected to the House or Senate. I’m proud to offer my full and complete endorsement for Texas’ next Attorney General Mayes Middleton! https://t.co/1GcpUcKV98
— Rep. Jared Patterson (@JaredLPatterson) April 15, 2025
The race for attorney general officially opened up as Attorney General Paxton announced that he would be launching a bid to unseat Senator John Cornyn (R), which has quickly become a hotly contested primary.
Bash, a former attorney for President Donald Trump (R), has welcomed state Senator Mayes into the race, questioning if the state Senator is experienced enough for the role.
“He has no courtroom experience and tried to get rid of the most successful Attorney General in the Nation, General Ken Paxton,” Bash wrote on X.
Given that Attorney General Paxton is vying for the support of President Trump’s wing of the GOP and that Bash has worked closely with the president in the past, could President Trump endorsing Bash sink the Middleton campaign?
Time will tell, but Texas will be watching.
