The Republican primary for Texas attorney general has become a test of loyalty to the Maga movement, with Rep. Chip Roy facing attacks over his past breaks with President Donald Trump. Roy leads in polls but must fend off rivals emphasizing their strong Trump ties. The race carries implications for the post-Trump direction of the Gop.
The contest to replace Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running for U.S. Senate, pits Rep. Chip Roy against State Sen. Mayes Middleton, former Department of Justice attorney Aaron Reitz, and State Sen. Joan Huffman. All candidates align on conservative policies, including strict constitutional interpretations, but differences emerge in their Maga credentials.
In a debate on Tuesday night, the rivals highlighted their Trump connections. Middleton noted that Trump called him a “Maga champion.” Reitz described himself as a “true Maga attorney.” Huffman said she “led the fight with President Trump on border security” in the state legislature. Roy countered by mentioning his work with Trump to designate cartels as terrorist organizations.
Roy's opponents have criticized his history of diverging from Trump. He was the first to call for Paxton's resignation after 2020 charges of bribery and abuse of office. Roy certified the 2020 election results, stated that Trump showed “clearly impeachable conduct” on January 6, and supported Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries. In late 2024, Trump called Roy “just another ambitious guy, with no talent” amid a debt ceiling dispute.
Reitz, who worked in the Trump Justice Department’s Office of Legal Policy, said of Roy: “This is somebody who has a deep disdain for the Maga movement … and he’s only now singing a different tune now that it’s campaign season.” Reitz has Paxton's endorsement and strong fundraising.
A recent poll shows Roy at 33 percent among likely Republican voters, Middleton at 23 percent, Huffman at 13 percent, Reitz at 6 percent, and 25 percent undecided. The March primary could lead to a May runoff if no candidate exceeds 50 percent.
Roy, a Freedom Caucus member, has endorsements from Sen. Ted Cruz, Rep. Lauren Boebert, and Rep. Andy Biggs. He reports $4.2 million in campaign funds. Middleton, an oil and gas businessman, has self-funded over $11 million and brands himself “Maga Mayes,” focusing on issues like banning trans student athletes and displaying the Ten Commandments in schools.
Huffman emphasizes her experience as a prosecutor and judge, positioning herself as the “chief law enforcement officer for Texans.” The winner will likely prevail in the general election in Republican-leaning Texas, facing Democrats State Sen. Nathan Johnson and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski.
The attorney general role has been a platform for national conservative legal efforts, as seen with predecessors like Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. John Cornyn. Political science professor Mark Jones at Rice University described it as a “choice position” for influencing national policy through state courts.
