John Bash, former U.S. attorney and current legal counsel to Elon Musk, has officially launched his campaign to become Texas’ next attorney general. The announcement marked the first formal bid to succeed current Attorney General Ken Paxton, who this week revealed plans to challenge longtime Senator John Cornyn in the 2026 GOP primary.
Bash, a Republican and El Paso native, brings high-profile experience to the race. A Harvard Law School graduate, Bash clerked for two conservative Supreme Court justices—Antonin Scalia and Brett Kavanaugh—before serving as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas from 2017 to 2020, according to the Houston Chronicle. During that time, he played a role in implementing the Trump administration’s policy “Zero Tolerance.”
As the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Bash oversaw the prosecution of migrant parents in West Texas courts during this period. He was involved in briefing Department of Justice officials on a pilot program in El Paso that prosecuted parents and separated them from their children, as reported by The Atlantic. Despite being aware of the program’s issues, including legal challenges and communication problems between parents and children, Bash did not escalate these concerns, assuming the initiative would not expand. His actions contributed to the broader implementation of the family separation policy.
Today, Bash currently practices law at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP in Austin, where he represents Musk in various legal matters. “That office should be led by the strongest possible attorney — one who is battle-tested and will be ready on Day 1,” Bash said.
Bash’s entry into the race signals a potential realignment in Texas GOP politics, especially as Paxton shifts his focus to the federal level. Paxton announced that he will challenge Sen. John Cornyn, criticizing the senator’s lengthy tenure and declaring it’s “time for a change in Texas.” Cornyn has held the seat since 2002 and is expected to seek a fifth term.
Paxton’s decision to move on from the attorney general’s office creates a competitive and closely watched primary. His tenure has been marked by controversy, including multiple legal investigations, but he remains a popular figure among the Texas GOP’s right wing. Bash, by contrast, is emphasizing his legal credentials and courtroom experience as a key differentiator in what could become a crowded field.
“I’ve handled hundreds of cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and represented clients facing the toughest legal challenges,” Bash said. With the Texas attorney general’s office increasingly in the national spotlight over issues like immigration enforcement and federal lawsuits, Bash appears poised to campaign on his insider experience and alignment with the state’s conservative legal agenda.
