Texas AG Nathan Johnson Wins in Upset, Reveals Past as Dragon Ball Z Composer

Key points

• Nathan Johnson defeated Mayes Middleton to become Texas’s first Democratic attorney general since 1994.
• Johnson previously composed music for 67 episodes and five movies of the anime series 'Dragon Ball Z.'
• Middleton, an oil and gas heir, conceded after spending nearly $20 million of his own money in the primary.
• Johnson vows to prioritize consumer protection, anti-corruption, and child support enforcement over partisan litigation.
• The victory is part of a broader Democratic win in the 2026 midterm elections for the U.S. House and Senate.

Background

Johnson first won a state Senate seat in 2018, flipping a long-held Republican district. In the 2026 cycle, he had previously pledged to investigate state vendor contracts, specifically targeting Deloitte, following a software error that delayed nearly 200,000 voter registration applications. His victory follows the departure of incumbent Ken Paxton, who ran for the U.S. Senate instead of seeking re-election as attorney general.

How outlets are covering it

Variety highlighted Johnson’s unique background as a composer for 'Dragon Ball Z,' noting his comments about gaining 'street cred' with his children. The Texas Tribune emphasized the political significance of the upset, describing it as a 'seismic shift' that limits the conservative legal movement’s influence in Texas. FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth provided neutral election details, confirming the candidates and the open contest following Paxton’s move to the Senate race. While Variety focused on Johnson’s personal history, The Texas Tribune analyzed the broader implications for national jurisprudence, and FOX 4 focused on the procedural aspects of the election.

Why it matters

The election of a Democratic attorney general in Texas, the largest red state, significantly alters the balance of power in U.S. legal affairs. It reduces the influence of conservative litigation strategies that previously shaped national jurisprudence. Johnson’s focus on state-level issues like consumer protection may shift the agency’s priorities away from partisan battles, potentially changing how Texas interacts with the federal government and other states.

What to watch

Johnson will assume office and begin focusing on consumer protection, anti-corruption, and child support enforcement. He has stated he will sue the Trump administration if he believes the federal government is overstepping in Texas. The outcome also leaves open the question of who will lead the conservative legal movement in the absence of a Texas Republican attorney general.