Overview

• Ken Paxton's decision to challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has triggered a rare open-seat race for Texas Attorney General, the third since 2000.
• State Sen. Mayes Middleton has officially entered the race, announcing plans to self-fund his campaign with at least $10 million.
• Middleton is running on a platform emphasizing conservative priorities, including border security, law enforcement, and alignment with Trump policies.
• John Bash, a former U.S. Attorney known for representing Elon Musk, was the first major candidate to declare his candidacy for the AG position.
• The Texas Attorney General role is historically significant as a stepping stone to higher offices, with every AG since 1972 pursuing a governorship or Senate seat.