State Sen. Mayes Middleton defeated Rep. Chip Roy on Tuesday night in the Republican primary runoff election for Texas attorney general.
Middleton sailed through election night with 55% of the vote in the runoff while Roy brought in roughly 45% of the vote as of publication, according to NBC News. Middleton is now set to face off with the Democratic nominee, State Sen. Nathan Johnson, in the race to determine who will succeed Attorney General Ken Paxton. (RELATED: Trump Endorses Ken Paxton For Texas GOP Senate Nominee)
Middleton currently represents Senate District 11 and previously represented Texas House District 23 for two terms from 2019 to 2023. During his last term in the Texas House, Middleton chaired the Texas House Freedom Caucus.
“Just a little while ago, I called and congratulated @mayes_middleton for his victory in our race for the Republican nominee for Attorney General,” Roy posted shortly before 10 p.m. eastern. “I will have a full statement tomorrow. Onward.”
AUSTIN, TX – JULY 13: Texas State Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-TX) (C) of the Texas Freedom Caucus addresses the media in the Texas Capitol on July 13, 2021 in Austin, Texas. The Texas House voted to arrest Democrats who fled the state to deny a quorum in protest of Republicans’ controversial voting bill. (Photo by Montinique Monroe/Getty Images)
Roy racked up several high-profile endorsements leading up to the race, including from his former boss Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Other Republicans including Utah Sen. Mike Lee, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, and Florida gubernatorial candidate and Rep. Byron Donalds also threw their support behind Roy leading up to election night.
While Roy boasted an impressive roster of congressional and Texan endorsements, Middleton’s backers were almost entirely local officials. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: GOP Rep Introduces Bill Banning Foreign Adversaries From Buying American Homes)
Middleton’s campaign website lists dozens of endorsements from Texas state representatives, business leaders, and local organizations leading up to the election. Middleton also earned the support of former attorney general candidate Aaron Reitz, who endorsed Middleton after failing to advance in the runoff.
Paxton did not endorse either Middleton or Roy in the runoff after his preferred candidate, Reitz, failed to advance.
President Donald Trump also declined to endorse in the attorney general race, although some of his allies lambasted Roy for times he broke with the president, including vocally opposing attempts not to certify the 2020 election, backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2024 presidential primary, and coming out against raising the debt ceiling.