Former Texas Supreme Court justices endorse Democrat Nathan Johnson over GOP candidate Mayes Middleton

Former Texas Supreme Court justices Tom Phillips and Deborah Hankinson, both appointed by Republican governors, have publicly endorsed Democratic attorney-general nominee Nathan Johnson, rejecting the party’s pick, Mayes Middleton. Their endorsement comes as the statewide AG race tightens, with several polls placing Johnson within five points of Middleton, a seat Republicans have held since John Cornyn’s 1998 election.

Phillips praised Johnson’s focus on adhering to law and efficient office management, contrasting it with Middleton’s intent to use the post for political goals. Hankinson warned that Middleton’s claims about the 2020 election and his stance on church-state separation stray from legal norms. Johnson, a three-term state senator who flipped his Dallas district in 2018, runs on an anti-corruption platform, while Middleton, a Galveston senator, emphasizes a “MAGA” identity and cultural-war issues. The justices’ bipartisan support underscores the importance of moderate voters in a race that could break the GOP’s long-standing hold on the office.