Democrats flip several Republican AGs offices in midterms, weakening GOP judicial influence avenue

In addition to sweeping victories across congressional and gubernatorial races, Democrats also captured five Republican-held state attorneys general offices, including an unexpected win in the influential Texas attorney

general's race.

The Democratic Attorneys General Association carried out a multi-year effort to recruit and support AG candidates who defended seats in Minnesota and Michigan, but also flipped seats in Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, Georgia and Texas, Politico reported.

State AGs have often used their offices to influence the outcomes of cases involving key issues. In 2026, Republican state AGs weighed in on several notable court cases, including state and local restrictions on semiautomatic rifles, Title IX rules regarding transgender athletes playing on women's sports teams, climate litigation and restrictions on birthright citizenship.

Texas attorney general Ken Paxton didn't run for reelection and instead pursued the senate race, which he lost to James Talarico. Democrat Nathan Johnson won the AG race for Paxton's seat, defeating Republican Mayes Middleton.

The Texas AG's office has long served as a litigation pipeline to the conservative Fifth Circuit U.S. court of appeals, where Democratic presidents' policies can be challenged. Paxton regularly used his office to challenge environmental regulations, policies involving transgendered people, and the certification of Joe Biden's election in 2020.