He didn't run for office for years. He just wrote checks — quietly funding the rise of Texas's hardline conservative movement from behind the scenes. Then he decided to run himself.
A Wallisville native who inherited his father's oil company, Middleton became one of the biggest financial architects of the Texas House Freedom Caucus before entering politics himself. He put $16 million of his own money into the 2026 AG race and beat Chip Roy in the Republican runoff.
Middleton’s take on Texas values
Middleton self-funded $16 million into his AG campaign. Middleton has spent years as a major financial backer of conservative Texas candidates and the House Freedom Caucus.