Democrats Eye 2026 Texas Attorney General Race as Chance for Change

Two Democrats, Nathan Johnson and Joe Jaworski, aim to restore integrity to the office and win over primary voters.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Texas hasn't elected a Democrat to statewide office since the 1990s, but state Sen. Nathan Johnson and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski believe the 2026 race for Texas attorney general could be different. Both are running for the Democratic nomination, pledging to restore trust and integrity to the office. However, they must first win over primary voters who currently don't know much about the candidates.

Why it matters

The Texas attorney general's office has been a Republican stronghold for decades, but the two Democratic candidates see an opportunity to shift the balance of power in the state. Restoring public faith in the office and moving away from partisan politics are key priorities for both Johnson and Jaworski.

The details

Johnson and Jaworski are both running on platforms of reform, arguing the attorney general's office has been misused as a "propaganda tool" rather than serving the people of Texas. They promise to run the office in a professional, nonpartisan manner if elected. However, they first must overcome the challenge of winning the Democratic primary, where recent polls show many voters are unfamiliar with the candidates. Johnson touts his record of flipping a long-held Republican state Senate seat, while Jaworski describes himself as the progressive candidate who has taken courageous stands, even at a political cost.

  • The 2026 Texas attorney general election will take place in November 2026.

The players

Nathan Johnson

A state senator from Dallas first elected in 2018, Johnson is running for the Democratic nomination for Texas attorney general.

Joe Jaworski

The former mayor of Galveston, Jaworski is also running for the Democratic nomination for Texas attorney general.

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What they’re saying

“How do you restore the office? How do you restore public faith? Slowly over time, by running the office the way it should be run. It's no longer a propaganda tool. It is there to serve the people of the state.”

— Nathan Johnson, State Senator (wfaa.com)

“Restore integrity, as you say. And what that means is do a lawyer's work, and it would be for Republicans, Democrats, independents.”

— Joe Jaworski, Former Mayor of Galveston (wfaa.com)

What’s next

The Democratic primary election for Texas attorney general will take place in early 2026, with the winner facing the Republican nominee in the November general election.

The takeaway

The 2026 Texas attorney general race represents an opportunity for Democrats to break the Republican stranglehold on statewide offices in the state. However, the two Democratic candidates must first win over primary voters who are largely unfamiliar with them, underscoring the challenges they face in making inroads in a traditionally conservative state.