Democrats capture attorney general posts in five states; a new challenge for Trump

In the US midterm elections, the Democratic Party has captured the attorney general posts of five Republican-leaning states: Texas, Ohio, Georgia, Iowa and Kansas. This amounts to a significant setback for the conservative legal movement and a new wall of opposition to President Donald Trump's agenda.

The victories are expected to disrupt conservative legal strategy. The incoming Democratic attorneys general could halt cooperation with federal immigration operations, protect abortion access and file multistate challenges against the Trump administration's environmental and gun policies. "The Texas AG's office has functioned as the MAGA movement's private law firm. No longer," Texas's new attorney general Nathan Johnson said in an interview.

Because attorneys general set law enforcement priorities, issue legal guidance and challenge federal mandates, the practical effects of this shift will be felt immediately in state capitals. "Republican state AG offices are the engine of the conservative legal movement; losing them is a major setback," said influential conservative lawyer Mike Davis.

Over the past decade, Republican AGs have advanced conservative goals by challenging federal regulations and expanding gun access. The Texas office in particular served as a platform for suing Democratic administrations. Johnson said he would review the efforts of his predecessor Ken Paxton and examine the state's partnership with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He also plans to refocus the office on antitrust and consumer protection.

In Iowa, new AG Nate Willems has pledged to prosecute corporate polluters; Ohio's John Kulewicz campaigned to curb corporate price fraud; Kansas's Chris Mann has said he wants to make the office non-partisan.