Sen. Nathan Johnson Becomes First Democrat in 2026 Texas AG Race

State Senator Nathan Johnson (D) has launched his campaign for Texas Attorney General, becoming the first Democrat to announce a run for the open seat. With Republican incumbent Ken Paxton vacating the office to challenge Sen. John Cornyn, the 2026 race marks the first open statewide contest for Attorney General in over a decade.

“Attorney General Ken Paxton has abused the office for his own personal and political interests,” Sen. Johnson said in his announcement. “Under his control, the office has been corrupted and abused and debased, while its powers to do good have been wasted. I’m sick of it.”

Sen. Johnson, a former film composer and practicing attorney, was elected to the Texas Senate in 2018. Known for his detailed approach to policy, he has passed 134 pieces of legislation and led efforts on major issues like health care and energy reform.

“As a senator, I’ve been able to get important things done,” he said. “Seeing Texas’s worst-in-the-nation uninsured rate, I became the state’s leading voice on Medicaid expansion. After Winter Storm Uri, I played a central role in fortifying the Texas power grid.”

On the Republican side, candidates already in the race include former Paxton aide Aaron Reitz, Sen. Mayes Middleton and Sen. Joan Huffman.

Because his current Senate term runs through 2028, Johnson can campaign without risking his seat.

With Paxton's departure and both parties eyeing the open seat, the 2026 attorney general race is shaping up to be one of Texas’s most competitive in years