Mayes Middleton secured the Republican nomination for Texas attorney general after a bruising runoff with Rep. Chip Roy, a victory driven by heavy self-funding, strong loyalty to former President Trump’s base, and a campaign that leaned hard into conservative credentials.

Mayes Middleton Takes the Republican Spot for Texas Attorney General, Beating Chip Roy

The Texas runoff settled a high-profile GOP fight that had national attention, and Middleton emerged with a clear margin over Roy. Voters chose a candidate who campaigned as firmly aligned with MAGA principles and positioned himself as the conservative defender the party wanted in the state’s top legal post.

Texas Republicans have selected Texas Rep. Mayes Middleton as their candidate in the race for the state’s next attorney general, following a contentious duel with Chip Roy, CBS News projects.

Roy and Middleton criticized each other in the lead-up to Tuesday’s runoff vote, which was triggered after neither Roy nor Middleton earned more than 50% of the vote during the March 3, 2026 primary. In that election, Middleton did win 39% of the vote, while Roy got 32%.

Middleton brings state legislative experience to the ticket, having served in both the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives. He has a reputation as a hardline conservative and runs businesses in oil and gas, ranching, and agriculture, highlighting his ties to Texas industry and rural communities.

Financial muscle played a central role in the campaign’s outcome, with Middleton self-funding a large portion of his bid and investing heavily in TV and mail pushes to build name recognition. His spending surge allowed him to close the gap on Roy’s earlier advantage and reshape the narrative around loyalty and conservatism.

The race, like others in recent weeks, proved the GOP’s continued loyalty to President Donald Trump, as “MAGA Mayes” pummeled Roy for saying Trump engaged in “clearly impeachable conduct” on Jan. 6, 2021, and supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ failed 2024 presidential bid.

This is the first open race for attorney general in more than a decade, after Attorney General Ken Paxton decided to challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. Under Paxton, the agency has become the linchpin of a national effort to push conservative causes through the courts, an effort Middleton and Roy both vowed to continue.

Middleton came from behind to beat Roy’s name ID lead during the primary, thanks in large part to the millions he put into television ads and mailers, promoting his loyalty to the president. While Trump didn’t endorse in the race, Middleton touted the president’s previous positive comments about him, promising to work hand-in-hand with the Trump administration on conservative goals.

Roy abandoned a House reelection bid to pursue the attorney general post, and his background as a federal prosecutor and aide in conservative legal circles framed him as a serious contender. He criticized Middleton for being insufficiently prepared for the complexities of the AG office, but that message didn’t overcome Middleton’s messaging about loyalty and conservative toughness.

Even though Roy outspent Middleton during the short runoff window, Middleton’s overall expenditure across the cycle dwarfed his opponent’s and proved decisive. The campaign’s ability to saturate media markets with a consistent message about defending the constitution and state sovereignty resonated with primary voters.

Middleton’s victory signals that Republican primary voters in Texas favored a candidate who combines staunch conservative legal priorities with the financial means to wage an aggressive media campaign. His promise to continue using the attorney general’s office to challenge federal overreach and defend conservative policy is likely to define the general election fight.

Why I’m voting for @mayes_middleton:

1. Mayes Middleton is one of the most conservative members in Texas Senate history—a proven, unapologetic MAGA conservative who fights and wins.

2. Mayes Middleton will work hand-in-hand with the Governor, the Legislature, the Department of Justice, and President Trump to make the Texas Attorney General’s office the strongest in the nation—relentlessly defending our laws and our Constitution.

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆…𝐠𝐨 𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞!

Roy conceded and signaled he would issue a fuller statement following the race, closing a chapter on a bitter intra-party contest. Middleton now prepares to face Democrat Nathan Johnson in November, and the general election will center on law, order, and the role of the state in pushing back against federal policy.

The outcome also underscores the growing importance of self-funded campaigns and the power of clear alignment with national conservative figures, even without an explicit endorsement. For Republicans in Texas, the choice reflected a desire for an attorney general who will mirror the aggressive legal posture the state has taken in recent years.