This article was originally published on Reuters and Westlaw Today and is republished here with permission as it originally appeared on November 18, 2025.

The 2026 election season is poised to bring substantial changes to the roster of state Attorneys General (AG). With over 30 races, including high-stakes contests in Texas and Florida, the outcomes of these state AG elections are set to significantly influence legal and policy outcomes across the nation. These elections will not only shape the legal landscape but also impact businesses and industries that operate within these states.

Open states

In 2026, a minimum of 11 new AGs will be elected, marking a pivotal shift in state leadership. Races are open due to term limits on the previous AG or the previous AG vacating to pursue another office.

Each category poses a different challenge for companies. The latter category, for instance, is more likely to result in senior staff turnover, as devoted staff follow the principal to other campaigns and/or higher office. This could leave companies with active investigations or litigations to decide whether to seek a resolution before the current AG leaves or to let the matter proceed under a new AG.

For businesses, these open states represent both opportunities and risks. The transition to a new AG can lead to shifts in enforcement priorities and regulatory approaches, potentially affecting compliance requirements and legal strategies. Companies may need to adapt quickly to new policies or face increased scrutiny under a new administration. Additionally, the uncertainty surrounding these transitions can impact strategic planning, particularly for industries heavily regulated at the state level, such as healthcare, finance, and technology.

Understanding the potential changes is crucial for businesses to navigate the evolving legal landscape effectively. Companies must stay informed and engaged with the electoral process to anticipate and respond to the implications of new AG leadership.

Texas

Texas has an open seat for the first time in over 10 years. With Republican AG Ken Paxton running for Senate, he endorsed Aaron Reitz in the AG race. Reitz previously worked for AG Paxton and briefly served as head of DOJ’s Office of Legal Policy.

Senator Ted Cruz is backing Texas House Representative Chip Roy, his former chief of staff. Two other Republican State Senators Joan Huffman and Mayes Middleton are running, with the latter pledging to spend millions of dollars of his own money on the race.

On the Democratic side, State Senator Nathan Johnson will compete against former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski.

Georgia

Republican AG Chris Carr is running for governor, likely taking much of his senior staff with him. Two candidates from each party have declared. Democratic State Representative Tanya Miller will face Bob Trammell, former minority leader of the Georgia House, while State Senators Bill Cowsert and Brian Strickland face off in the Republican primary.

Michigan

In Michigan, every state office is up for election. Term-limited AG Dana Nessel is considering a run for higher office. Three candidates from each party have filed paperwork to run for state AG.

Former U.S. Attorney and 2014 Democratic nominee Mark Totten is running again. Two former prosecutors will oppose him: Karen McDonald and Eli Savit. Incoming attorneys general with prosecutorial backgrounds typically allocate more resources to criminal matters.

Former superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Detroit Kevin Kijewski, prosecutor Doug Lloyd, and 2022 nominee Matt DePerno have filed paperwork to run in the Republican primary.

Nevada

Democratic AG Aaron Ford is term-limited and running for governor. We expect some of his senior staff to follow him. The Democratic primary should be competitive, and the general election is expected to be extremely close.

Democratic candidates include current Nevada Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro and State Treasurer Zach Conine. Only Danny Tarkanian, Douglas County Commissioner and perennial candidate for various Nevada offices, has declared on the Republican side. This race will affect the technology industry, as AG Ford has been a leader in child privacy cases against various technology companies.

Ohio

Republican AG Dave Yost is term-limited, leading to some turnover in his office with one senior staffer moving to a government affairs role and another to head the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel.

The only declared Republican candidate is State Auditor Keith Faber. As for the Democrats, former Ohio House Representative Elliot Forham and Upper Arlington city councilman John Kulewicz have declared.

Oklahoma

AG Gentner Drummond is running for governor. The Oklahoma AG office remains small compared to neighboring states, and it is unclear how Drummond’s campaign may impact the current AG staff. Nonetheless, the Republican nominee is expected to prevail.

GOP candidates Jon Echols, an Oklahoma state representative, and Oklahoma Energy and Environment Secretary Jeff Starling have declared their candidacy. No Democratic candidates have declared.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island Democratic AG Pete Neronha is term-limited. On Aug. 18, his Chief of Policy, Keith Hoffmann, announced his candidacy. State Representatives Jason Knight, Robert Craven, and State Senator Dawn Euer are each considering a run.

Former U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island Zachary Cunha is expected to run for the Republicans, where he likely will face 2022 nominee Charles Calenda. The outcome of the Rhode Island race could impact the wind industry’s future in the state, as the current AG has been a staunch supporter of wind development.

Alabama

Two-term AG Steve Marshall’s Senate bid opens a competitive Republican primary and a leadership gap at the Republican Attorney General Association (RAGA), which AG Marshall has helped lead in recent years.

Marshall endorses his former chief counsel, Katherine Robertson, for AG. District Attorney Pamela Casey and Alabama Supreme Court Associate Justice Jay Mitchell are also candidates. No matter who prevails in this race, we expect the political and legal philosophies of the office will remain consistent with those of AG Marshall.

Colorado

Term-limited AG Phil Weiser is running for governor. Considering Colorado’s Democratic lean in past elections, it is no surprise that five candidates have declared for the Democratic primary. These candidates include District Attorney and 2018 AG candidate Michael Dougherty, former Speaker of the Colorado House Crisanta Duran, and current Secretary of State Jena Griswold. Former Deputy Assistant AG Hetal Doshi and nonprofit law firm executive David Seligman have also declared. In the Republican primary, only Conner Pennington has declared.

South Carolina

Republican AG Alan Wilson is running for governor. Barring more declarations, the Republican primary will feature State Senator Stephen Goldfinch and former Democrat David Pascoe. As for the Democrats, commentators have suggested State Senator Margie Bright Matthews as a potential candidate. We expect this race to remain in GOP hands.

South Dakota

Republican AG Marty Jackley is planning a House of Representatives run in 2026. Lance Russell — former State Senator, former candidate for AG, and current county prosecutor — is the lone candidate to announce. Republicans are likely to retain the seat, with no stark departures from AG Jackley’s current governing philosophies.

Uncompetitive incumbent states

The incumbent AG is expected to run without substantial opposition in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, and Vermont. We do not expect much change in how these AG offices are currently run; companies with business in these jurisdictions can continue with their current strategies for those offices.

Competitive incumbent states

The following states involve an incumbent AG facing either primary or general election challenges.

Arizona

Democratic AG Kris Mayes is running for a second term. She won the last election by just .01%; 2026 is expected to remain tight. For Republicans, former Tucson city councilman Rodney Glassman will likely face President of the Arizona Senate Warren Petersen in the GOP primary.

Florida

Florida is the main draw here, with the AG James Uthmeier, appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis, facing his first election. Florida’s AG Office has competed with Texas for the most active Republican office, with Florida leaning hard into current cultural issues.

Former State Senator José Javier Rodríguez has declared his Democratic candidacy. Jerry Demings, the Mayor of Orange County, has publicly expressed interest but has not filed to run.

Iowa

Republican AG Brenna Bird recently announced her re-election bid, foreclosing a rumored governorship race. She will likely face Democrat and current State Representative Nathan Willems.

AG Bird has focused her tenure on kitchen table issues, often emphasizing the work of her consumer protection division. We expect that focus to continue as she seeks reelection.

Kansas

Kansans can expect a rematch of 2022, which had the closest margin among Kansas statewide elections that year. Incumbent Republican AG Kris Kobach, current RAGA chair, is due to face Democrat Chris Mann.

Mann announced his candidacy in July, hoping to close the 1.6 percentage point margin that allowed Kobach to take the seat in 2022. The Kansas AG office is large for the state’s size, and the election’s outcome will determine whether resources are used toward Republican or Democratic priorities.

Wisconsin

The Wisconsin AG race should be a toss-up. Incumbent Democrat Josh Kaul is facing Republican Eric Toney in a rematch from the 2022 election, where Kaul beat Toney by just 1.33%.