His record of fighting President Trump caught up with him
In the long tradition of political movements defining themselves through loyalty tests, Texas Republicans have chosen State Senator Mayes Middleton as their attorney general nominee, elevating a candidate whose campaign rested on the claim of unwavering alignment with Donald Trump's political vision. Middleton defeated U.S. Representative Chip Roy in a runoff triggered when neither man cleared a majority in March, with the contest ultimately turning less on legal philosophy than on the question of ideological fidelity. As Ken Paxton departs the office for a Senate bid, the November general election will now ask whether Texas's dominant Republican coalition can carry that internal momentum into a broader contest.
- Neither candidate could claim a majority in March, forcing a second reckoning between two Republicans who each insisted the other had betrayed the movement.
- Middleton sharpened his attack around Roy's past calls for Trump's impeachment and his defense of Liz Cheney, turning the runoff into a referendum on MAGA loyalty rather than legal credentials.
- Roy pushed back against the characterizations, but the margin of the runoff result suggests Republican voters found Middleton's framing more compelling.
- With Paxton vacating the seat for a Senate run, Middleton now carries the GOP standard into a November general election where statewide Republican dominance makes him the structural favorite.
Mayes Middleton, a Texas state senator, has claimed the Republican nomination for attorney general after defeating U.S. Representative Chip Roy in a runoff election. The contest became necessary when neither man crossed the 50% threshold in the March primary — Middleton led with 39%, Roy followed at 32%.
The weeks between the primary and the runoff were defined by sharp exchanges over loyalty to Donald Trump. Middleton argued that Roy's record — including past calls for Trump's impeachment and his public defense of Liz Cheney — disqualified him in the eyes of Republican voters. "The reason why he did so badly on Election Day is because his record of fighting President Trump caught up with him," Middleton said, framing the race as a test of commitment to the MAGA agenda. Roy disputed the characterizations, but the results suggested Middleton's message landed.
Middleton now moves to the November 6, 2026 general election, where he will seek to succeed Ken Paxton, who is leaving the attorney general's office to run for U.S. Senate. A Democratic opponent has yet to be determined. In a state where Republicans have held every statewide office for decades, the general election outcome will likely depend more on broader political currents than on the dynamics that defined this primary fight.
Mayes Middleton, a state senator from Texas, has won the Republican primary runoff for attorney general, defeating U.S. Representative Chip Roy in a race that hinged on who could claim closer alignment with President Donald Trump's political agenda.
Neither candidate had cleared the 50% threshold in the March 3 primary. Middleton finished first with 39% of the vote, while Roy trailed at 32%, forcing the two into a runoff election held on Tuesday. The contest between them grew sharp in the weeks leading up to the vote, with each man leveling accusations at the other over their records and priorities.
Middleton's central argument was straightforward: Roy had spent his career opposing Trump and the movement built around him. In interviews, Middleton pointed to Roy's past statements calling for Trump's impeachment and his defense of former Representative Liz Cheney, who had voted to impeach the president and later became a vocal Trump critic. "The reason why he did so badly on Election Day is because his record of fighting President Trump caught up with him," Middleton said, drawing a parallel between Roy's political fate and Cheney's loss of support among Republicans. He characterized Roy's career as one spent "fighting against the MAGA agenda," using the shorthand for Trump's political movement.
Roy disputed these characterizations when given the chance to respond to Middleton's claims in his own interview with CBS News Texas, but the runoff results suggest Middleton's message resonated with Republican voters in the state.
Middleton now advances to the general election in November, where he will compete to become Texas's next attorney general. He is replacing Ken Paxton, the outgoing Republican attorney general who is stepping down from the office to run for U.S. Senate. The general election is scheduled for November 6, 2026. Middleton will face a Democratic opponent in that race, though the specific matchup remains to be determined. In a state where Republicans have dominated statewide elections in recent years, the general election outcome will likely hinge on broader political currents and voter turnout rather than on the specific dynamics that shaped the Republican primary.
Citas Notables
Middleton said Roy's record of opposing Trump and supporting Liz Cheney's positions cost him support among Republican voters.— Mayes Middleton
Roy rejected Middleton's characterization of his record in his own interview.— Chip Roy
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why did the runoff matter? Couldn't Middleton have just moved forward after winning the primary?
In Texas Republican politics, you need 50% to win outright. Middleton had 39—a plurality, but not a majority. That triggered the runoff. It's a rule designed to ensure the nominee has genuine consensus support.
And Middleton's attack on Roy—was that about policy, or just about Trump loyalty?
It was framed as Trump loyalty, but it was really about defining who represents the party's current direction. Roy had voted to impeach Trump and praised Cheney. In today's Republican primary, that's disqualifying. Middleton was saying: this is who we are now.
Did Roy have a counter-argument that worked?
He rejected the characterization, but the voters had already decided. When you lose a primary by 7 points and then face a runoff, you're already wounded. The narrative had set.
What does this mean for the general election?
Middleton now faces a Democrat in November. Texas is solidly Republican in statewide races, so his primary victory likely means he'll be the next attorney general—unless something shifts dramatically.
Is there any daylight between Middleton and Paxton on the issues?
The source doesn't say. What matters is that Middleton won by being more Trump-aligned. Whether he governs differently from Paxton remains to be seen.