Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on April 8, 2025 that he will run for US Senate, challenging Senator John Cornyn. Since the OAG seat is on the 2026 ballot, expect to see a number of announcements for Texas Attorney General from current officeholders and new faces. Paxton announcement
AG Candidates
4-15-25
Senator Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston) announced on 4-15-25 that he will run for Attorney General on the 2026 ballot.
Senator Middleton Endorsements (as of 5-23-25):
Sen. Adam Hinojosa
Rep. Briscoe Cain
Congressman Lance Gooden
Congressman Randy Weber
Congressman Brian Babin
Rep. Ben Bumgarner
Rep. JM Lozano
Rep. Matt Morgan
Rep. Alan Schoolcraft
Rep. Richard Hayes
Rep. Helen Kerwin
Rep. Valoree Swanson
Rep. Brian Harrison
Rep. Steve Toth
Rep. Joanne Shofner
Rep. Hillary Hickland
4-30-25
John Bash (R) dropped out of the race for Texas Attorney General on April 30, 2025, citing health reasons. @JohnBashTX “Today, I’ve made the difficult decision to leave the race for Texas AG. On Friday, our family had a health scare that threw into sharp focus how I should prioritize my time right now, and that is not running for office. We’ve been deeply moved by the encouragement and support we’ve received over the past several weeks. I launched this campaign because I believe Texas must continue to lead the national fight to protect our prosperity, safety, and constitutional freedoms. I still believe I have the right experience and judgment for the job. But the timing isn’t right for our young family. I will always be grateful for the incredible support and generosity we received from so many.” Bash had originally announced his candidacy for Texas Attorney General on April 9, 2025. johnbash.com @JohnBashTX “I’m running for Texas Attorney General because our great State needs the toughest, most battle-tested attorney to lead the fight to keep our communities safe, defend our constitutional rights, and make sure Texas remains a leader in innovation and growth. Let’s get to work.” John Bash is Co-Chair of Quinn Emanuel’s National Appellate Practice and Co-Managing Partner of the firm’s Austin office. He joined the firm in 2020. His practice focuses on appellate litigation and internal investigations. Before joining the firm, John served in the United States Department of Justice, first as an Assistant to the Solicitor General and then as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas. He also served as Special Assistant to the President and Associate Counsel to the President.
