State Attorneys General Landscape Shifts Ahead of 2026 Elections

Currently, the nation has 27 Republican and 23 Democratic state attorneys general, which includes a notable Democratic appointee from Hawaii who is a lesbian activist. The Republicans are determined to retain their significant foothold in the nation’s top law offices, a majority they’ve held since 2015.

As it stands, 30 Democratic attorneys general are managing 16 seats, while Republicans hold on to 14. These positions will be contested in the upcoming November elections.

The Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) has been actively involved, although their efforts weren’t sufficient to aid former Virginia Governor Jason Miyares in his re-election bid last year. Recently, RAGA disclosed that it raised an impressive $29.3 million last year, marking the highest total ever for the organization in any given year.

“Four of the toss-up AG races are held in states considered to be presidential battlegrounds in 2024.”

RAGA’s Executive Director, Adam Piper, highlighted that nearly $30 million had been garnered in just 11 months, a historic achievement for the organization. He underscored the necessity to exceed past fundraising records to safeguard incumbent positions in competitive districts and to target winnable seats.

Piper also noted, “2026 is poised to be a crucial election year for AG races, and RAGA is well-prepared for another significant year.”

Several incumbent Republican attorneys general are eyeing re-election; however, Ohio’s Dave Yost is unable to run again due to term limits. Other Republican incumbents seem to have their sights set on different opportunities.

Notably, Alabama’s AG Steve Marshall and Texas AG Ken Paxton are both campaigning for Senate positions. Marshall is pursuing the seat currently held by Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), who is vying for the governorship, while Paxton is challenging Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) for a fifth term.

In South Dakota, Marty Jackley is campaigning for a congressional seat, and Gentner Drummond of Oklahoma is running for governor.

Louis Jacobson from the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia recently observed that seven states will host competitive AG races in 2025-26, with five being toss-ups and one leaning towards each party.

Jacobson indicated that the Democrats would largely be on the defensive, as all five toss-up elections are currently held by Democratic attorneys general. He further pointed out that at least two of these elections will involve open seats, and potentially more as incumbents pursue other roles. States that are identified as toss-ups include Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, and Wisconsin. Additionally, Jacobson noted that Carr (R) has a favorable position in Georgia.

As for other states, the upcoming cycle features ten firmly Republican seats, three leaning Republican seats, and eleven solidly Democratic seats.

Though races in Maryland, Nevada, Ohio, and Wisconsin are catching significant national and donor interest, the contests involving Kobach in Iowa and Kansas are rapidly becoming the focus. Recent reports indicate Chris Mann, the Democratic challenger, is quickly becoming a key contender, having notably outpaced Kobach in previous fundraising efforts. However, Kobach still had a monetary advantage at the start of this year’s election cycle.

The Texas race is also gaining national attention, primarily centered on the Republican primary scheduled for March 3.

During an upcoming moderated debate, several candidates will face off, including:

• Aaron Reitz, former Assistant Attorney General, who has pledged to take aggressive stands if elected, claiming he will “destroy the left wing.”
• Rep. Chip Roy, a critic of Paxton, is also seeking support from prominent Texas figures, including Senator Ted Cruz.
• Texas State Senator Mays Middleton, a vocal supporter of President Trump, is garnering endorsements from fellow Republicans.
• Joan Huffman, another Texas state senator, enjoys backing from police unions and is supported by Joe Gamaldi, a member of the National Fraternal Order of Police.

The debate is set to be broadcast Tuesday at 8 PM ET.