Attorney General of Texas
| Texas Attorney General | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $153,750 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $716,386,916 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxton | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | 2026 |
| Last election: | 2022 |
| Other Texas Executive Offices | |
| Governor •Lieutenant Governor •Secretary of State •Attorney General •Comptroller •Auditor •Education Commissioner •Agriculture Commissioner •Insurance Commissioner •Land Commissioner •Workforce Commission •Public Utility Commission •Railroad Commission | |
TheAttorney General of Texas is the chief lawyer and legal officer for the state ofTexas. According to theTexas Constitution, theattorney general defends the laws and the constitution of the state of Texas, represents the state in litigation, and approves public bond issues.
Texas has a Republicantriplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
Current officeholder
The current Attorney General of Texas isKen Paxton (R). Paxton assumed office in 2023.
Qualifications
According to theTexas Secretary of State, state law says that no person shall be eligible for to run for the office of attorney general unless they are:[1]
- at least 18 years of age
- a citizen of the United States
- a resident of Texas for at least 12 months
Vacancies
Article 4, Section 12 (a) of theTexas Constitution states: "All vacancies in State or district offices, except members of the Legislature, shall be filled unless otherwise provided by law by appointment of the Governor."[2]
Elections
Article 4, Section 2 of theTexas Constitution states: "All the above officers of the Executive Department (except Secretary of State) shall be elected by the qualified voters of the State at the time and places of election for members of the Legislature." The attorney general is elected to serve for a four-year term. There is noterm limit for this office.[2]
Election results
See also: Texas Attorney General election, 2030
There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.
See also: Texas Attorney General election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas
Tony Box (D),Joe Jaworski (D), andNathan Johnson (D) are running in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Tony Box | |
 | Joe Jaworski | |
 | Nathan Johnson | |
| There are noincumbents in this race. | |||
 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary
Republican primary for Attorney General of Texas
Joan Huffman (R),Mayes Middleton (R),Aaron Reitz (R), andChip Roy (R) are running in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 3, 2026.
| There are noincumbents in this race. | |||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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See also: Texas Attorney General election, 2022
General election
General election for Attorney General of Texas
IncumbentKen Paxton (R) defeatedRochelle Garza (D) andMark Ash (L) in the general election for Attorney General of Texas on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Ken Paxton (R) | 53.4 | 4,278,986 |
 | Rochelle Garza (D) | 43.7 | 3,497,267 | |
 | Mark Ash (L) | 2.9 | 233,750 | |
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 8,010,003 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary runoff
Democratic primary runoff for Attorney General of Texas
Rochelle Garza (D) defeatedJoe Jaworski (D) in the Democratic primary runoff for Attorney General of Texas on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rochelle Garza | 62.7 | 305,168 |
| Joe Jaworski | 37.3 | 181,744 | |
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 486,912 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary runoff
Republican primary runoff for Attorney General of Texas
IncumbentKen Paxton (R) defeatedGeorge P. Bush (R) in the Republican primary runoff for Attorney General of Texas on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ken Paxton | 68.0 | 633,223 |
 | George P. Bush | 32.0 | 298,577 | |
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 931,800 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas
Rochelle Garza (D) andJoe Jaworski (D) advanced to a runoff. They defeatedLee Merritt (D),Mike Fields (D), andS. T-Bone Raynor (D) in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rochelle Garza | 43.0 | 438,134 |
| ✔ | | Joe Jaworski | 19.8 | 202,140 |
 | Lee Merritt | 19.4 | 198,108 | |
 | Mike Fields | 12.3 | 125,373 | |
| S. T-Bone Raynor | 5.5 | 55,944 | ||
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 1,019,699 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary
Republican primary for Attorney General of Texas
IncumbentKen Paxton (R) andGeorge P. Bush (R) advanced to a runoff. They defeatedEva Guzman (R) andLouis B. Gohmert Jr. (R) in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ken Paxton | 42.7 | 823,199 |
| ✔ | | George P. Bush | 22.8 | 439,240 |
 | Eva Guzman | 17.5 | 337,761 | |
 | Louis B. Gohmert Jr. | 17.0 | 327,257 | |
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 1,927,457 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Matt Krause (R)
Libertarian Party convention
Libertarian convention for Attorney General of Texas
Mark Ash (L) advanced from the Libertarian Party convention for Attorney General of Texas on April 10, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Ash |
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | |||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
General election
General election for Attorney General of Texas
IncumbentKen Paxton (R) defeatedJustin Nelson (D) andMichael Ray Harris (L) in the general election for Attorney General of Texas on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ken Paxton (R) | 50.6 | 4,193,207 |
 | Justin Nelson (D) | 47.0 | 3,898,098 | |
| Michael Ray Harris (L) | 2.4 | 201,310 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 8,292,615 (100% precincts reporting) | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas
Justin Nelson (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Justin Nelson |
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | |||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary
Republican primary for Attorney General of Texas
IncumbentKen Paxton (R) advanced from the Republican primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Ken Paxton |
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | |||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian Party convention
Libertarian convention for Attorney General of Texas
Michael Ray Harris (L) defeatedJamar Osborne (L) in the Libertarian Party convention for Attorney General of Texas on April 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Michael Ray Harris | 90.4 | 236 | |
| Jamar Osborne | 9.6 | 25 | ||
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 261 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Duties
Article 4, Section 22 of theTexas Constitution defines certain duties of theattorney general:
The Attorney General shall represent the State in all suits and pleas in the Supreme Court of the State in which the State may be a party, and shall especially inquire into the charter rights of all private corporations, and from time to time, in the name of the State, take such action in the courts as may be proper and necessary to prevent any private corporation from exercising any power or demanding or collecting any species of taxes, tolls, freight or wharfage not authorized by law. He shall, whenever sufficient cause exists, seek a judicial forfeiture of such charters, unless otherwise expressly directed by law, and give legal advice in writing to the Governor and other executive officers, when requested by them, and perform such other duties as may be required by law.[2] |
Divisions
As of January 11, 2021, divisions within the Attorney General's Office included:[3]
- General Counsel
- Opinion Committee
- Solicitor General
- Open Records
- Civil Litigation
- Child Support
- Criminal Justice
- Law Enforcement
- Crime Victim Services and Victims Assistance Grants
- Colonias
- Administrative Functions
State budget
- See also:Texas state budget and finances
The budget for the Texas Attorney General's office in Fiscal Year 2025 was $716,386,916.[4]
Compensation
See statutes:Texas Statutes Title 6, Chapter 659
The attorney general, along with the rest of Texas' executive officers, is entitled byArticle 4, Section 23 of theTexas Constitution to receive an annual salary, pursuant to Title 6, Section 659.011 of the Texas Statutes. The legislature was empowered to set the salaries of executive branch officers by a 1954 constitutional amendment. Prior to that, the constitution stipulated the salary amounts paid to each officer.[5] The amounts are fixed by the biennial General Appropriations Act.
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $153,750, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[6]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $153,750, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[7]
2021
In 2021, the attorney general received a salary of $153,750, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[8]
2020
In 2020, the attorney general received a salary of $153,750 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[9]
2019
In 2019, the attorney general received a salary of $153,750 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[10]
2018
In 2018, the attorney general received a salary of $153,750 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[11]
2017
In 2017, the attorney general received a salary of $153,750 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[12]
2016
In 2016, the attorney general received a salary of $153,750 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[13]
2015
In 2015, the attorney general received a salary of $150,000 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[14]
2014
In 2014, the attorney general received a salary of $150,000 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[15]
2013
In 2013, the attorney general was paid an estimated$150,000. This figure comes from theCouncil of State Governments.[16]
2010
In 2010, the annual salary for the attorney general was $150,000.[17]
Historical officeholders
Note:Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Attorney General of Texas has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, pleaseemail us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsTexas Attorney General. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Post Office Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548
Phone: 512-463-2100
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑Texas Secretary of State, "Qualifications for Office," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑2.02.12.2Texas State Legislature, "Texas State Constitution," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑Texas Attorney General, "All Divisions," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑Texas Legislature, "H.B. No. 1 General Appropriations Act," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑Texas State Historical Association, "SALARIES OF STATE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 8, 2014
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 28, 2014
- ↑Sunshine Review, "Texas state government salary," accessed May 18, 2011
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