Texas Republicans have selected State Sen. Mayes Middleton as their candidate for attorney general, following a contentious primary runoff against Rep. Chip Roy. According to projections from CBS News and the Associated Press, Middleton won with 56% of the vote in Tuesday's runoff election.
Key Takeaways
Texas Republicans have selected State Sen. Mayes Middleton as their candidate for attorney general after he won the GOP primary runoff against Rep. Chip Roy.
- Texas GOP selects Mayes Middleton over Chip Roy in AG primary runoff
- Middleton wins with 56% of the vote, despite Roy's late fundraising surge
- Both candidates campaigned as strong supporters of President Donald Trump
- Middleton is set to face Democratic State Sen. Nathan Johnson in November
The race between Middleton and Roy was marked by intense criticism from both sides. Middleton, who branded himself as 'MAGA Mayes,' questioned Roy's support for President Donald Trump, citing instances where Roy had criticized the president. Roy, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, countered that his occasional disagreements with Trump demonstrated his independence.
Both candidates campaigned vigorously, with Middleton self-funding much of his campaign and receiving endorsements from prominent conservatives such as Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and activist Riley Gaines. Roy, backed by Sen. Ted Cruz and other conservative influencers, argued that his legal experience made him the better candidate for attorney general.
The election is set to take place on November 6, 2026, with Middleton facing Democratic State Sen. Nathan Johnson. The race will determine who succeeds Ken Paxton, the current attorney general running for U.S. Senate.
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