Texas Senator Joan Huffman Announces Candidacy for Attorney General
Texas Senator Joan Huffman has joined the growing list of Republicans aspiring to take over from Ken Paxton as the state’s next attorney general. Paxton will not seek reelection and instead plans to challenge Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) in the 2026 Republican primary.
Upon announcing her candidacy for Texas Attorney General, Huffman, a Republican from Houston, positioned herself as “the most experienced candidate who understands the complexities of all functions of the state government.” It’s a bold statement, perhaps suggesting she believes her experience is quite distinct, but, you know, such claims are typical in politics.
With decades of service, which includes roles as a Harris County assistant district attorney, district court judge, and chair of several significant committees in the Texas Senate, Huffman asserts her comprehensive understanding of state government operations. “I want someone who has real experience,” she emphasized during her announcement.
The Texas Tribune noted that her remarks seem to target her competitors already in the race to become the leading attorney for Texas.
State Senator Mays Middleton, a Republican from Galveston and known as one of the more conservative Congress members, is also in the running. In April, he pledged $10 million toward his campaign for Attorney General. Also in the mix is Aaron Raitz, a former high-ranking Justice Department official and active figure in Texas’ conservative legal movement, who just announced his bid earlier this month.
Raitz reacted to Huffman’s announcement by stating, “Now the liberals have their candidates,” according to the Tribune. Interestingly, a recent ranking from the Tribune has placed Huffman more towards the middle among Republican senators in terms of conservatism.
Meanwhile, Mays Middleton has yet to publicly respond to Huffman’s entry into the race. He is recognized as the second most conservative Texas Senator, per a Texas Tribune report.
Ken Paxton is set to leave his position as Texas Attorney General at the end of this term. His focus is now on the upcoming 2026 primary election against Senator Cornyn. A recent poll shared by Bradley Jaye of Breitbart suggested Cornyn may struggle, notably tracking at a disadvantage with a 56-40 split.
According to Punchbowl News, Cornyn is trailing in a three-way race against Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) who is contemplating a run. The poll indicated Paxton leading at 44% while Cornyn sat at 34%, with Hunt at 19% in those scenarios.
This polling suggests that if Paxton secures the primary nomination, he may face challenges in the general election. Any match-up against the former Democrat leader Colin Allred shows Paxton trailing, with Cornyn and Hunt slightly ahead in their respective match-ups.
