Texas state Sen. Mayes Middleton (R) has won the Republican nomination for attorney general, defeating Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) in a primary runoff, according to Decision Desk HQ. The victory positions Middleton to succeed outgoing Attorney General Ken Paxton, who vacated the post to run for the U.S. Senate.
The contest was shaped by loyalty to former President Donald Trump, but neither candidate secured a coveted endorsement from Trump before Tuesday's vote. Both fell short of the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff in the March primary, setting the stage for a heated rematch.
Middleton, a former chair of the Texas House Freedom Caucus, waged a heavily self-financed campaign that overcame Roy's advantages in experience and institutional support. Roy, a member of the congressional House Freedom Caucus, has often clashed with Trump and GOP leadership, backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2024 presidential primary before eventually supporting Trump.
The race also unfolded alongside Paxton's own Senate runoff against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a contest that drew significant attention. As noted in our coverage of the Paxton-Cornyn race, the attorney general's departure created a rare open-seat opportunity in deep-red Texas.
With the nomination secured, Middleton is now heavily favored in the general election, given Texas's Republican leanings. His path to the attorney general's office mirrors the broader dynamics of the state's GOP, where internal battles over Trump loyalty and ideological purity continue to shape primaries.
Roy's loss marks a setback for the more establishment-aligned wing of the party, while Middleton's victory underscores the influence of grassroots conservatives. The runoff also highlighted the financial muscle of self-funded candidates, a trend seen in other Texas races this cycle.
Looking ahead, Middleton will face Democratic nominee Rochelle Garza in November, but the general election is expected to be a formality in a state where Republicans have held the attorney general's office for decades. The race is one of several high-profile Texas runoffs this year, including the closely watched contest in Houston's congressional district.
