Nathan Johnson wins Democratic runoff for Texas attorney general
State Sen. Nathan Johnson has defeated attorney Joe Jaworski in the Democratic Party primary runoff for Texas Attorney General, according to the Associated Press.
Johnson will face Houston-area Republican State Sen. Mayes Middleton in the Nov. 3 general election.
“I ran a positive primary campaign centered around winning in November and delivering while in office, and I plan to do both,” Johnson said in a text message to the Star-Telegram.
The attorney general’s office under incumbent Ken Paxton had been “powerfully bad,” Johnson said.
“I intend to make it powerfully good,” he said, calling for stricter enforcement of competition rules, fighting corruption, and earning back the public’s trust.
This is the first election since 2015 without an incumbent running to be Texas’ highest ranking prosecutor.
The incumbent, Ken Paxton, defeated four-term incumbent John Cornyn for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
Johnson has highlighted his ability to win votes in Republican leaning districts, pointing to his 2018 victory over former State Sen. Don Huffines that flipped a Northern Dallas County seat had been held by Republicans for decades.
He’s also called for joining with other state attorneys general to sue the Trump administration when it violates the law, and partnering with local district attorneys promote public safety.
Johnson criticized his Republican general election opponent candidate and fellow State Sen. Mayes Middleton for his vote to acquit Paxton in his 2023 impeachment trial.
“He knew what was right, and he did what was wrong. Middleton acquitted Ken Paxton, because that’s what the machine told him to do,” Johnson said in a text message to the Star-Telegram.
“We can’t have that in the AG’s office. When government leaders are controlled by puppet strings, you need an attorney general who isn’t,” he said.
Middleton did not immediately respond to a text message from the Star-Telegram requesting comment on Johnson’s critique.
Jaworski thanked his supporters in a statement sent to the Star-Telegram.
“This campaign was never just about winning an election. It was about fighting for the belief that Texas deserves an Attorney General who respects the rule of law, protects our right, and stands with the people — not power,” he said.
This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 7:09 PM.
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