State Sen. Nathan Johnson, a Dallas Democrat, is running for Texas attorney general in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Republican Mayes Middleton and Libertarian Tom Oxford, according to the official ballot certification.
Party: “Democrat,” Johnson said in our questionnaire.
Education: “University of Arizona, B.S.; University of Texas, J.D.”
Family: “Three adult children.”
Family in politics or government: “No.”
Johnson has represented Senate District 16 since 2019, following his first election in 2018. He previously served as vice-chair of the Jurisprudence Committee, which dissolved in September 2025. His current committee memberships include Business and Commerce and Transportation, according to his Senate biography.
Johnson practices law at Thompson Coburn LLP, specializing in trial litigation and dispute resolution. He also composed dozens of musical scores for the anime series Dragon Ball Z and classical music for the concert stage, according to the biography.
The attorney general’s office represents the state, enforces child support laws and handles consumer protection and other enforcement responsibilities, according to the office’s description of its divisions.
Why he is running: Johnson said in our questionnaire: “In the 2023 impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton, I found him guilty and voted to convict on 14 of 16 articles of impeachment. Watching Republican colleagues succumb to political pressure and acquit Paxton, despite clear evidence of corruption and abuse of office, was painful. The trial demonstrated the enormous power of the Attorney General’s Office—and convinced me that, under the right leadership, the OAG can be as powerfully good as it has been powerfully bad under Paxton.”
The official proceedings confirm Johnson’s vote count. The Senate acquitted Paxton on all 16 articles considered.
Top three priorities: Johnson said: “First, end corruption and rebuild the OAG. Public power must never serve private or partisan interests. I will end the use of the OAG as a political weapon and rebuild the agency by hiring talented, ethical professionals.”
He continued: “Second, protect consumers and competition. I will elevate consumer protection and antitrust enforcement, targeting consolidation, predatory pricing, fraud, scams, and market manipulation. Technology, particularly AI, is creating new ways to exploit consumers and evade existing laws. I will audit Texas’s consumer protection, competition, and employment laws and work with the Legislature to close gaps that leave Texans vulnerable.”
His third priority: “Third, make government work. I will protect Texans’ rights and Texas’s authority by challenging unlawful federal actions, partner with local prosecutors and law enforcement to improve public safety, and work with agencies, legislators, and businesses to ensure laws are understood, followed, and fairly enforced.”
Consumer protection: Johnson said: “The Trump administration has severely weakened federal consumer protection, leaving state attorneys general to fill the gap. I will make consumer protection a priority, working with AGs of either party to combat fintech abuses, elder fraud, charity scams, crypto schemes, price fixing, deceptive pricing, and junk fees.”
He added: “Effective enforcement requires rebuilding the OAG’s talent pool, replacing political persecution with independent enforcement, and developing modern analytics to identify sophisticated fraud. I will coordinate with state agencies and other AGs effectively.”
Differences from Middleton: In discussing his Republican opponent, Johnson said: “We have fundamentally different approaches to the Attorney General’s Office. I will use its power as the framers intended: as a check against abuse of power by anyone, in the public or private sector. My opponent has promised to use it as a tool of partisan warfare.”
He added: “Voters deserve an Attorney General who serves Texas—not a political party.”
Child support: Johnson said: “I will modernize Texas’s child support system to improve collections, compliance, and service for families.”
He continued: “First, I will modernize payment systems, including convenient phone-based options, and work directly with employers to facilitate payroll deductions. I will upgrade case-management systems for interoperability with courts and employers, automate routine workflows and notices, and improve communication through tools such as text messaging.”
On staffing, he said: “I will increase caseworker pay and advancement opportunities and reduce caseloads, helping recruit and retain experienced professionals. A stronger workforce will allow the OAG to improve customer service and outreach.”
His questionnaire response did not specify the cost or funding source for those changes.
Best advice: “The elimination of possibilities is progress.”
The following organizations have confirmed endorsements of Johnson for attorney general in the 2026 general election:
Candidate responses were collected through a Surround Sound News questionnaire for the Murphy-Wylie-Sachse Courier. Questionnaire quotations are excerpted without changing the candidate’s wording.
