The Democratic nominee for Texas attorney general, state Senator Nathan Johnson, unveiled a seven-figure television advertising campaign on Monday, capitalizing on what his campaign sees as growing momentum for the party in the traditionally Republican state.
The 30-second spot, which will air statewide through Election Day, features Johnson arguing that “Texas could use a good lawyer” to replace outgoing Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican who is now running for the U.S. Senate. The ad also takes aim at Johnson’s opponent, Republican state Senator Mayes Middleton, for his recent comment that the attorney general’s office has not become overly politicized.
“After 12 years of Ken Paxton in office, we need an Attorney General who will put the rule of law over politics and the public good over a personal agenda,” Johnson says in the ad, according to a release from his campaign.
The advertising push comes as polling suggests the race for the state’s top law enforcement post is tighter than expected. An August survey from the University of Texas/Texas Politics Project showed Middleton leading Johnson by 5 points, 40 percent to 35 percent, with 21 percent undecided. A September poll from Texas Southern University also found Middleton up by 5 points, 47 percent to 42 percent, with 9 percent undecided.
Middleton, an oil and gas executive, defeated U.S. Representative Chip Roy in a contentious Republican runoff, touting his alignment with President Trump. Johnson, meanwhile, won his primary runoff on a platform of reforming the office.
The two are vying to replace Paxton, who has been a lightning rod for criticism from Democrats for using the office to challenge the Biden administration and support Trump’s agenda. Paxton’s tenure has also been marred by controversy, including a 2023 impeachment trial on corruption charges that ended in acquittal.
Johnson’s campaign has characterized Paxton’s leadership as turning the office into “a private law firm for the far right.” Middleton, for his part, has said that “the most important thing in the attorney general’s role is defeating the left.”
The Texas attorney general’s office has long been a launching pad for political careers, with alumni including U.S. Senator John Cornyn and Governor Greg Abbott. The race is unfolding against a backdrop of improving prospects for Texas Democrats, who have not won a statewide election in decades.
Recent polling in the concurrent U.S. Senate race shows Paxton trailing his Democratic challenger, state Representative James Talarico, by 2 points, according to a new poll. Decision Desk HQ now rates the Senate race as a toss-up, and Democrats are also eyeing other statewide contests. The party’s hopes have been buoyed by strong showings in key Senate races and Talarico’s narrow lead over Paxton.
With control of the attorney general’s office at stake, both campaigns are expected to pour resources into the final weeks. Johnson’s ad buy signals that Democrats see an opportunity to flip a seat that has been in Republican hands for decades.
