AUSTIN, Texas – Former U.S. Attorney John Bash has formally entered the race to become Texas’ next attorney general, just a day after current Attorney General Ken Paxton announced he will not seek re-election and instead plans to challenge Sen. John Cornyn for his U.S. Senate seat in 2026.
Bash, who served as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas until 2020, is also known for his ties to high-profile figures—he was a legal advisor to President Donald Trump during his first term and currently represents Elon Musk in legal matters, including a recent defamation case brought by a college student.
During his time as U.S. Attorney, Bash led major efforts against violent crime, drug and human trafficking, and public corruption. His office secured life sentences for members of the Los Zetas cartel and a human smuggler linked to the deaths of 10 migrants. He also prosecuted leaders of an outlaw motorcycle gang and a couple charged with abusing over two dozen children.
Bash played a key role in the federal response to the 2018 Austin serial bombings and brought charges against the suspect in the 2019 mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart—an indictment that included 90 federal counts, among them 23 capital offenses.
A Harvard Law graduate, Bash clerked for Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Brett Kavanaugh. Originally from El Paso, he now resides in Austin with his wife and three children. His wife, Zina Bash, previously served as senior counsel in Paxton’s office until 2021.
On his campaign site, Bash brands himself as the “left’s worst nightmare” and promises to “shut down woke lawfare.” In a statement shared on social media, he said Texas needs a “battle-tested” attorney to defend constitutional rights, ensure public safety, and protect the state’s position as a national leader in innovation.
Bash’s announcement follows Paxton’s decision to run for U.S. Senate in 2026 against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. While Paxton does not need to resign to run for Senate, he cannot appear on the ballot for both positions.
Texas has not yet opened candidate filing for the 2026 election cycle, but Bash is the first major candidate to announce a campaign for attorney general following Paxton’s Senate bid.
