Mayes Middleton

Mayes Middleton
Middleton in 2018
Member of the Texas Senate
from the 11th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 10, 2023
Preceded byLarry Taylor
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 23rd district
In office
January 8, 2019 – January 10, 2023
Preceded byWayne Faircloth
Succeeded byTerri Leo-Wilson
Personal details
BornDavid Mayes Middleton II
(1981-09-18) September 18, 1981 (age 45)
Wallisville, Texas, U.S.
PartyRepublican
SpouseMacy Middleton
Children4
EducationUniversity of Texas, Austin (BA, JD)
Website

David Mayes Middleton II (born September 18, 1981) is an American businessman and politician serving as a member of the Texas Senate for the 11th district. Previously, he served as a Texas House of Representatives for district 23. A member of the Republican Party, Middleton has been in the Texas legislature since January 8, 2019. He was the Republican nominee for Texas Attorney General in the 2026 election, losing to fellow state senator Democrat Nathan Johnson.

Early life and education

David Mayes Middleton II was born in Wallisville, Texas, an unincorporated town in northern Chambers County, Texas. Middleton's father, John Gregg Middleton, named his son after his deceased brother, David Mayes Middleton. Middleton graduated from The Kinkaid School in Houston, Texas, and received a degree in finance from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Juris Doctor from University of Texas Law School.

Business career

Middleton serves as president of Middleton Oil Company, an independent oil and gas company that operates in South Texas and the Gulf Coast. Middleton Oil Company currently claims three employees, and generates an estimated annual revenue of ~$800,000. Middleton owns and manages ranching, cattle, and farming operations in Chambers, Jefferson, Kimble, Liberty, and Webb Counties. He serves on the Board of Directors of First Liberty National Bank, a community bank with locations in the Texas cities of Baytown, China, Dayton, Hardin, Huffman, and Liberty.

Political career

Middleton served in the Texas House of Representatives for district 23. At one time, he was Chairman of the Texas Freedom Caucus.

Texas House of Representatives

Middleton was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in November 2018 Middleton was re-elected in 2020.

2018

In the 2018 primary election, he successfully challenged two-term incumbent representative Wayne Faircloth, an ally of House Speaker Joe Straus. In the November 6, 2018, general election Middleton defeated Democrat Amanda Jamrok.

2020

Middleton ran unopposed in the Republican primary election held on March 3, 2020. He defeated Democrat Jeff Antonelli in the 2020 general election.

House committee assignments

  • 87th legislative session
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
    • Local & Consent Calendars
    • State Water Implementation Fund for Texas Advisory
    • Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund Advisory
  • 86th legislative session
    • Co-chair, Coastal Barrier System
    • Elections
    • Local & Consent Calendars
    • Urban Affairs

Senate committee assignments

  • 88th legislative session
    • Administration
    • Business & Commerce
    • Committee of the Whole Senate
    • Education
    • Vice Chair, Subcommittee on Higher Education
    • Jurisprudence
    • State Affairs

2022 Texas Senate race

On November 30, 2021, Middleton filed to run for the Texas Senate for district 11.

On December 28, 2021, Middleton announced the endorsement of former US president Donald Trump. In a statement endorsing Middleton's senate race, Trump called Middleton "a very effective leader in the Texas House" and said his "voting record on conservative issues is second to none," closing by writing, "I am proud to give my Complete and Total Endorsement to a MAGA champion, Mayes Middleton."

Middleton was elected without opposition in the 2022 general election.

2026 Texas Attorney General race

In April 2025, Middleton announced his campaign to run for Texas attorney general in the 2026 election. As incumbent Ken Paxton was retiring to run for U.S. Senate, the open seat drew several other challengers in the Republican primary including U.S. representative Chip Roy, fellow state senator Joan Huffman, and former U.S. assistant attorney general Aaron Reitz. Middleton placed first in the Republican primary election with 39.1% of the vote and advanced to a runoff election against Roy, who placed second with 31.6% of the vote. Middleton's campaign significantly aligned with Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, ultimately drawing endorsements from Reitz following the primary, Dan Patrick, Briscoe Cain, and Riley Gaines among other conservative figures. Middleton ultimately defeated Roy in the runoff with 55.2% to 44.8% of the vote.

In the November general election, Middleton lost by a considerable margin to Democratic state senator Nathan Johnson.

Personal life

He and his wife, Macy, have four children. He is a Christian. The Middleton family currently resides in a home located on the east-end of Galveston Island. The Middleton family also own a home in Wallisville, Texas, built by Middleton's great-grandparents in 1905.

He serves on the board of directors of the Wallisville Heritage Park, a historical museum in Chambers County, Texas.

Middleton is a former member of the board of directors of the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF). He was elected to the board in January 2016, but had to relinquish his seat in June 2017 when he announced his candidacy for the Texas House of Representatives due to a requirement in the foundation's bylaws.

In 2017, he served as a member of the executive committee for the Texas Business Leadership Council, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization of Texas-based CEOs and business executives that advocates for free enterprise public policies in Texas government.

Notes

  1. ↑ Middleton has been dubbed "MAGA Mayes", a moniker that he included in his campaign.

References

  1. ↑ "Rep. Mayes Middleton - Texas State Directory Online".
  2. 1 2 "Legislative Reference Library | Legislators and Leaders | Texas Legislators: Past & Present". lrl.texas.gov. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  3. ↑ Scherer, Jasper (15 April 2025). "Sen. Mayes Middleton announces bid for Texas attorney general". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  4. ↑ Osborne, James (2026-11-04). "Democrat Nathan Johnson wins Texas AG race, flipping seat from Republicans". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-11-04.
  5. 1 2 "Mayes Middleton". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  6. ↑ "John Middleton Obituary (1941 - 2013) - Houston, TX - The Beaumont Enterprise". www.legacy.com. Retrieved 2021-05-16.
  7. ↑ Park (Organization), Wallisville Heritage (January 1998). "The Age, Volume 21, Number 1, January 1998". The Age. Retrieved 2021-05-16.
  8. ↑ "Mayes Middleton Biography" (PDF). lrl.texas.gov. Austin, Texas: Legislative Reference Library of Texas. Retrieved 24 December 2019. Mayes is President of Middleton Oil Company, an independent oil and gas company that operates wells in South Texas and along the Gulf Coast, and is engaged in joint exploration ventures.
  9. ↑ "Middleton Oil Company". Dun & Bradstreet Business Directory. Dun & Bradstreet. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  10. ↑ "TPPF announces Mayes Middleton as newest board member". Texas Public Policy Foundation. 2016-01-13. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  11. ↑ "Board of Directors". www.flnb.com. First Liberty National Bank. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  12. ↑ "Mayes Middleton". www.texaspolicy.com. Texas Public Policy Foundation. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  13. ↑ "FLNB elects directors, announces promotions". bluebonnetnews.com. Bluebonnet News. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  14. ↑ "Our Locations". www.flnb.com. Liberty, Texas: First Liberty National Bank. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  15. ↑ John Wayne Ferguson (13 March 2020). "Political Buzz: Freedom Caucus, led by local rep, vows to find government waste". www.galvnews.com. The Daily News. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  16. ↑ Solange DeLisle (20 August 2021). "Texas Freedom Caucus vows to 'defend' teachers, students who refuse to wear a mask". houstondaily.com. Houston Daily. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  17. ↑ Staff (14 November 2018). "Mayes Middleton defeats Amanda Jamrok". www.reformaustin.org. Reform Austin. Retrieved 31 December 2021. In the Republican primary, Middleton defeated two-term incumbent Wayne Faircloth, an ally of House Speaker Joe Straus
  18. 1 2 3 Nick Powell (1 January 2019). "State Rep.-elect Mayes Middleton eager to prove his conservative bona fides". www.houstonchronicle.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  19. ↑ "Mayes Middleton". ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  20. ↑ "2020 Texas State House - District 23 Election Results". www.usatoday.com. USA Today. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  21. ↑ "87th Legislature Regular Session - Committee Assignments - Rep. Mayes Middleton". house.texas.gov. Austin, Texas: Texas Legislature Online. Retrieved 3 January 2022. Committees:
  22. ↑ "Mayes Middleton". lrl.texas.gov. Austin, Texas: Legislative Reference Library of Texas. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  23. ↑ "87th Legislature Regular Session - Committee Assignments - Rep. Mayes Middleton". capitol.texas.gov. Austin, Texas: Texas Legislature Online. Retrieved 24 October 2023. Committees:
  24. ↑ Patrick Svitek (30 November 2021). "Longtime state Sen. Larry Taylor, best known for his work on education issues, says he won't run for reelection". www.texastribune.org. The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  25. ↑ Matt Hollis (7 December 2021). "Local state rep files for state Senate". baytownsun.com. The Baytown Sun. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  26. ↑ John Wayne Ferguson (28 December 2021). "Political Buzz: Trump endorses Middleton in state Senate race". www.galvnews.com. The Daily News. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  27. ↑ Matt Hollis (30 December 2021). "State representative gets nod of endorsement from Trump Baytownsun.com". baytownsun.com. The Baytown Sun. Retrieved 30 December 2021. In an email, Trump wrote, "Texas Representative Mayes Middleton, who chairs the Texas Freedom Caucus, is a very effective leader in the Texas House. His voting record on conservative issues is second to none. Mayes championed the forensic audit to identify Voter Fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election, he knows (Critical Race Theory) indoctrination is wrong for our school children, he co-authored the bill to triple security along the Texas border, and strongly supports our great Military and Vets, and our under siege Second Amendment. I am proud to give my Complete and Total Endorsement to a MAGA champion, Mayes Middleton."
  28. ↑ Heath, Keri. "Middleton appears to have clinched Senate District 11". The Daily News.
  29. ↑ Scherer, Jasper (April 15, 2025). "Sen. Mayes Middleton announces bid for Texas attorney general". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved October 2, 2026.
  30. ↑ Goldenstein, Taylor (February 13, 2026). "Chip Roy and 'MAGA Mayes' put it all on the line in crowded Texas AG primary". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  31. ↑ "TEXAS: Attorney General, Republican Nominee: Candidate ProfileMayes Middleton" (PDF). stateside.com. July 2026. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
  32. ↑ Schneider, Andrew (2026-05-07). "Texas attorney general candidates make their final pitches to voters as primary runoffs approach". Houston Public Media. Retrieved 2026-09-02.
  33. ↑ Benito, Marcelino (May 22, 2026). "Mayes Middleton says he's the 'Trump candidate' in Texas attorney general runoff". KHOU.com.
  34. ↑ Klibanoff, Eleanor (May 26, 2026). "Mayes Middleton defeats Chip Roy for Texas attorney general GOP nomination". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved October 2, 2026.
  35. ↑ Schneider, Andrew (September 2, 2026). "Middleton leads Johnson in race for Texas attorney general, but the contest is unusually close". Houston Public Media. Retrieved October 2, 2026.
  36. 1 2 Diane Cowen (12 December 2019). "Beach house brings a new generation of memories for Wallisville-Galveston family". www.houstonchronicle.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  37. ↑ "Mayes Middleton". Mayes Middleton for Texas State Representative About Mayes. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  38. 1 2 "Mayes Middleton". Texas Public Policy Foundation. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  39. ↑ Kevin Ladd (January 2013). "The Oldest Standing One-Room Schoolhouse in Chambers County". www.sfasu.edu. Stephen F. Austin State University, Center for Regional Heritage Research. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  40. ↑ "TPPF announces Mayes Middleton as newest board member". www.texaspolicy.com. Texas Public Policy Foundation. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  41. ↑ "Faircloth Gets Potential Primary Challenger in Middleton". www.txelects.com. Texas Election Source LLC. 3 June 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2021. MIddleton is no longer on TPPF's board. The group's bylaws dictate that board members automatically relinquish their seats as soon as they announce or file for state/federal office
  42. ↑ Ross Ramsey (16 January 2018). "Who is the establishment, anyway?". newspapers.com. Longview, Texas: Longview News-Journal. p. A4. Retrieved 31 December 2021. Mayes Middleton, a conservative who until last year served on the board of the Texas Public Policy Foundation
  43. ↑ "Mission Overview". www.txblc.org. Texas Business Leadership Council. Retrieved 31 December 2021. The Texas Business Leadership Council was created in 1994 as a non-partisan 501(c)(6) nonprofit corporation that provides public policy research and recommendations to our state's elected leadership.
  44. ↑ Staff (6 December 2017). "Woody L. Hunt Honored as Business Leader, Philanthropist, and Education Reformer". elpasoheraldpost.com. El Paso, Texas: El Paso Herald-Post. Retrieved 31 December 2021. The Texas Business Leadership Council is a network of Texas based CEOs and senior business executives who advance a long-term vision of a prosperous Texas in a globally competitive business environment