Rep. Chip Roy headed to runoff in Texas AG race

Trump withheld an endorsement in the race to replace Ken Paxton.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) looks on during a House Rules Committee meeting at the U.S. Capitol, on Jan. 21, 2026. | Francis Chung/POLITICO

Rep. Chip Roy will advance to a runoff in the race to replace Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

He will face state Sen. Mayes Middleton, who led Roy by a double-digit margin with three-fifths of the vote counted.

The competitive primary turned into a fealty test to President Donald Trump. Reitz and Middleton slammed Roy for breaking with Trump in the past and calling for Attorney General Ken Paxton to resign after he faced charges of bribery and abuse, while brandishing their own MAGA bona fides.

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