Democratic candidates flipped attorney general offices in five Republican-leaning states during the 2026 midterm elections, according to results reported on November 8. The victories in Texas, Ohio, Georgia, Iowa, and Kansas shift control of offices previously used to advance conservative legal priorities and challenge federal regulations.
State attorneys general serve as chief legal officers who direct law enforcement priorities, issue legal guidance, and determine whether their states will participate in or challenge federal mandates. For the past decade, Republican attorneys general in these states have frequently challenged federal policies concerning the environment, guns, and healthcare.
In Texas, Attorney General-elect Nathan Johnson stated he plans to review previous legal actions initiated by his predecessor, including lawsuits targeting out-of-state abortion providers and challenges to vaccine efficacy. In Iowa, Attorney General-elect Nate Willems pledged to revive the office’s consumer protection division, while in Kansas, Attorney General-elect Chris Mann said he intends to review a challenge to the abortion pill mifepristone.
The scale of this shift is reflected in the potential redirection of state resources away from multistate litigation against federal environmental and gun regulations. In Iowa and Ohio, incoming officials Willems and John Kulewicz pledged to prioritize corporate polluters and price gouging. This represents a departure from policies such as those in Iowa, where outgoing Attorney General Brenna Bird had halted state reimbursements for abortions for victims of rape.
Conservative lawyer Mike Davis described the loss of these offices as a setback for key causes. With the loss of the Texas office, which is significantly larger than Florida's department, conservative legal leaders told Reuters they are shifting their focus to Florida as a primary hub for challenging federal policies. Incoming attorneys general are expected to begin reviewing pending litigation and staff recruitment following their inaugurations.