Democrat Nathan Johnson, a Dallas state senator and corporate litigator, has claimed victory in the race for Texas attorney general, defeating Mayes Middleton in what the Texas Tribune reported as a stunning upset. Johnson becomes the first Democrat elected to the office since 1994.
Middleton called Johnson to concede, according to a spokesperson for Johnson's campaign.
The Texas attorney general's office has become increasingly focused on pushing conservative causes through the courts. Johnson's victory changes leadership at the country's largest red-state attorney general's office.
Johnson said his office will focus on consumer protection, anti-corruption and child support enforcement. He said he will sue the Trump administration when he believes the federal government is overstepping in Texas. "My strategy is to let them be crazy and unproductive, and run from my side as the serious guy," he told the Texas Tribune before the election.
Middleton tethered himself closely to President Donald Trump during the campaign, promising to "use every resource and tool to back up the president, back up his fight to secure our border, to deport illegal immigrants, the list goes on." He spent close to $20 million of his own money to defeat U.S. Rep. Chip Roy in a contentious primary and runoff, but pulled back during the general election.
Paul Nolette, a political scientist at Marquette University who studies attorneys general, said Johnson's win has kneecapped the conservative legal movement, at least temporarily. "It would be a sea change," Nolette said. "The biggest effect would not even be that there is a Democrat in the office, but that it's not a Republican. Who becomes the new leader of the Republican pack? That's an open question."
California and New York already dominate the space, and Nolette said he anticipates Texas being a smaller player in national litigation. Nolette said that suits Johnson, who hopes to stay out of the political fray and focus on state-level issues.
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- SupportedNathan Johnson won the Texas attorney general race in a major upset.Texas Tribune: “In a stunning upset with repercussions across the national legal landscape, Democrat Nathan Johnson claimed victory in the race to be Texas’ next top lawyer.”
- SupportedJohnson defeated Mayes Middleton, who was closely aligned with Trump.Texas Tribune: “He defeated Mayes Middleton, an oil and gas heir who tethered himself closely to the president.”
- SupportedJohnson is the first Democrat elected Texas attorney general since 1994.Texas Tribune: “Johnson, a Dallas state senator and corporate litigator, is the first Democrat elected attorney general since 1994.”
- SupportedJohnson said before the election, “My strategy is to let them be crazy and unproductive, and run from my side as the serious guy.”Texas Tribune: ““My strategy is to let them be crazy and unproductive, and run from my side as the serious guy,” he told The Texas Tribune before the election.”
- SupportedMiddleton promised to “use every resource and tool to back up the president, back up his fight to secure our border, to deport illegal immigrants, the list goes on.”Texas Tribune: “Middleton ran on his close relationship with President Donald Trump, promising to “use every resource and tool to back up the president, back up his fight to secure our border, to deport illegal immigrants, the list goes on.””
- SupportedNolette said Johnson’s win had kneecapped the conservative legal movement, at least temporarily.Texas Tribune: “In reclaiming this agency from Republican control, he has kneecapped the conservative legal movement, at least temporarily, said Paul Nolette, a political scientist who studies attorneys general at Marquette University.”
- SupportedNolette said, “It would be a sea change.”Texas Tribune: ““It would be a sea change,” Nolette said.”
- SupportedNolette said, “The biggest effect would not even be that there is a Democrat in the office, but that it’s not a Republican. Who becomes the new leader of the Republican pack? That’s an open question.”Texas Tribune: ““The biggest effect would not even be that there is a Democrat in the office, but that it’s not a Republican. Who becomes the new leader of the Republican pack? That’s an open question.””
- SupportedMiddleton called Johnson to concede, according to a spokesperson for Johnson’s campaign.Texas Tribune: “Middleton called Johnson to concede, according to a spokesperson for Johnson’s campaign.”
- SupportedMiddleton spent close to $20 million of his own money to defeat U.S. Rep. Chip Roy in a contentious primary and runoff.Texas Tribune: “Middleton spent close to $20 million of his own money to defeat U.S. Rep. Chip Roy in a contentious primary and runoff.”
- SupportedJohnson said his office will sue the Trump administration when he believes the federal government is overstepping in Texas.Texas Tribune: “He said his office will sue the Trump administration when he believes the federal government is overstepping in Texas.”
- SupportedNolette anticipates Texas will be a smaller player in national litigation.Texas Tribune: “On the other side of the aisle, California and New York already dominate the space, so Nolette said he anticipates Texas being a smaller player in national litigation.”