By Jim Mishler | Monday, May 25, 2026
Texas Republicans will decide Tuesday whether state Sen. Mayes Middleton or U.S. Rep. Chip Roy will become the party’s nominee for attorney general after a bitter runoff focused on legal experience, loyalty to President Donald Trump, and the future of the conservative movement.
The race followed a crowded March primary in which Middleton finished first but failed to secure the majority needed to avoid a runoff. Roy, a former federal prosecutor and former first assistant attorney general under Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, has argued that Middleton lacks the legal experience necessary to lead one of the nation’s most powerful conservative legal offices.
“I wouldn’t hire him for an entry-level position at the Office of the Attorney General,” Roy told supporters during a campaign stop. “You need someone who can be in there on day one, who doesn’t need on-the-job training.”
Middleton has countered that voters should focus less on courtroom credentials and more on conservative results and support for Trump’s agenda. “We supported him for attorney general because of that proven conservative record,” Middleton said while comparing his background to Paxton’s rise to the office.
Middleton has also described himself as the only candidate with “executive-level experience of signing the front of a paycheck and knowing where the buck stops.”
The contest has become one of the most closely watched Republican attorney general races in the country, with national conservative groups and high-profile Texas Republicans weighing in. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick endorsed Middleton, calling him “a proven, unapologetic MAGA conservative who fights and wins.”
Roy has faced repeated attacks from Middleton allies over past disagreements with Trump and his criticism of some Republican legislation in Congress. In campaign ads, Middleton accused Roy of being a “backstabbing D.C. congressman” who “betrayed MAGA.”
Roy pushed back on the attacks and argued conservatives should want an attorney general willing to challenge anyone, including Republican leaders, when necessary. “There’s no greater compliment that [Trump] could give me as your attorney general candidate than to say that I’m not easy, but I’m good,” Roy said. “That’s what I want in our attorney general.”
The winner of Tuesday’s runoff will advance to the November general election.
