Justices Tom Phillips and Deborah Hankinson say the rule of law belongs to no party and support Democrat Nathan Johnson to put the people of Texas above political party
DALLAS, TX — Former Texas Supreme Court Justices Tom Phillips (the Court’s Chief Justice) and Deborah Hankinson endorsed Democrat Nathan Johnson for Texas Attorney General. Both cited the vital importance of electing an independent attorney general to uphold the Rule of Law and service to the state over a partisan agenda.
Neither Phillips or Hankinson has endorsed another Democrat in the 2026 cycle, underscoring the stakes of the Texas Attorney General’s race.
Retired Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Phillips issued the following statement:
“The Attorney General is a very different office from the one I held on the Texas Supreme Court, but the basic obligation is the same: to the state and federal constitutions and to the laws passed by the people’s representatives, not to political ideologies or to campaign supporters. Nathan Johnson has the legal experience, the constitutional vision, and the leadership skills to be an outstanding Attorney General. He will ensure that the Attorney General’s actions are guided by the law as written, not partisan agendas. There is no Republican way or Democratic way to perform the Attorney General’s many and diverse duties, such as managing child support, protecting consumers, or regulating charitable trusts. That’s why I am proud to ask Texans of all political persuasions to support his candidacy.”
Retired Texas Supreme Court Justice Deborah Hankinson issued the following statement:
“The Attorney General’s office holds one universal truth above the others, which is that the law reaches everyone the same way. Nathan Johnson has spent eight years in the Senate writing and following the law, and has a track record of putting the people he was elected to represent over national battles and headlines. He will represent the whole state, including Republicans and Independents, along with the people who need it the most – the people with no lawyer of their own. My endorsement today is about holding the Office of Attorney General to a higher standard–one that serves the Rule of Law above politics.”
Texas Democratic Attorney General Nominee Nathan Johnson issued the following statement:
“I am deeply honored by the endorsements of Justices Tom Phillps and Deborah Hankinson. Although in Texas the Justices are chosen in partisan elections, Justices Tom Phillips and Deborah Hankinson serve the people of this state by deciding cases on the law rather than on who brought them. They know better than almost anyone what the office of Attorney General requires of the person who holds it. Their endorsement of me does not reflect a change in their political views. Rather, it reflects their recognition that the Texas Attorney General must serve the interests of all people in this state through a commitment to upholding the rule of law, rather than serving as the legal arm of any political faction.
“The Attorney General’s Office serves the people of Texas, by protecting the public against predatory business practices– including those enabled by AI and other technological advances, by enforcing market competition laws, by supporting law enforcement, by ensuring that government operates effectively and within appropriate boundaries, and by reigning in modern corruption in both the private and public sectors. None of this is partisan. All of this relies on respect for the rule of law. The office belongs to no donor list and to no partisan club. That standard used to be unremarkable in this state, and I intend to make it unremarkable again, by restoring competence and independence to the office. ”
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