Texas is facing a significant political shake-up in the upcoming election cycle, with several high-profile races set to take place in 2025. The most notable vacancy is at the Texas Attorney General’s Office, which has been held by Ken Paxton for years.
With Paxton now running for the U.S. Senate, the position of Texas Attorney General will be up for grabs for the first time in over a decade. This has prompted a flurry of candidates from both major parties to announce their campaigns or express strong interest.
Texas Attorney General Race
Three Republicans have officially entered the race for Texas Attorney General so far. State Senator Mayes Middleton of Galveston has pledged to spend a hefty $10 million of his own money to fund his campaign.
Also in the Republican primary are State Senator Joan Huffman of Houston, a former criminal court judge, and Aaron Reitz, a former Trump administration official and a one-time member of Ken Paxton’s office.
On the Democratic side, State Senator Nathan Johnson from Dallas and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski, who ran for the position four years ago, are reportedly considering their bids for the office.
Race for Texas Comptroller
The race for Texas Comptroller is also heating up, with several candidates vying for the position. In the Republican primary, State Representative Mike Hancock is facing competition from former State Senator Don Huffines and Texas Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick.
Glenn Hegar, the current Comptroller who has served for a decade, will not seek re-election as he is now the Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. On the Democratic side, State Representative Gina Hinojosa from Austin is reportedly considering a run for Comptroller.
Texas Senate Races and Vacancies
In the Texas Senate, there are notable shifts as well. Two Republican-held seats in North Texas are up for grabs. Leigh Wambsganss, a party activist, has entered the race for State Senate District 9 in Tarrant County, following Senator Kelly Hancock’s resignation to take up the position of Acting Texas Comptroller.
Initially, State Representative Nate Schatzline from Fort Worth announced his candidacy for the special election to fill Hancock’s seat but later withdrew to run for re-election in his current position.
Governor Greg Abbott has called for a special election for November 4 to fill the vacant Senate District 9 seat. In Senate District 22, Republican State Representative David Cook is running to succeed Senator Brian Birdwell, who announced he would not seek re-election.
Earlier in the year, Cook ran unsuccessfully for Speaker of the House, losing to Dustin Burrows, who was later endorsed by President Donald Trump in his bid for re-election.
Texas’ political landscape is in the midst of significant change as key positions become vacant and new candidates emerge. The race for Texas Attorney General, Comptroller, and Senate seats are heating up as political figures from both major parties prepare for a competitive 2025 election cycle.
Voters can expect an intense battle as these positions could shape the future direction of the state. With multiple well-known figures entering the race and the domino effect of political shifts, the upcoming elections promise to be highly consequential.
