Texas AG candidate pushes Christian government

Texas AG candidate Mayes Middleton wants to require Ten Commandments displays in schools and prayer time.

“There is no such thing as ‘separation of church and state’ in our Constitution, and our schools are not God-free zones”

Federal judge blocks Ten Commandments law

A federal judge blocked the law in 11 school districts based on a 1980 Supreme Court ruling.

Middleton donates Ten Commandments posters

Middleton donated posters of the Ten Commandments and pressed his district to hang them.

School board resists Ten Commandments law

The school board demurred due to the pending lawsuit, so Attorney General Ken Paxton sued.

Middleton’s Christian advocacy record

Over the last decade, Middleton has been a ferocious advocate for injecting Christianity into public life.

Middleton rejects church-state separation

He called church-state separation a ‘false doctrine’ and said Texas must remain ‘grounded in the Judeo-Christian principles that have made us strong’.

“false doctrine”

Middleton criticizes Islam in Texas

He criticized the ‘Islamification of Texas’ as a threat to Christian identity.

David Barton endorses Middleton

David Barton, a former Texas GOP chair, endorsed Middleton as a ‘man of sincere Christian faith’.

“man of sincere christian faith”

Religious freedom groups worry

Religious freedom groups fear Middleton would make non-Christians second-class citizens.

Annie Laurie Gaylor warns

Annie Laurie Gaylor said Middleton would have a powerful gavel to shut down church-state separation.

“he would have all those people be second class citizens”

Middleton ignores questions

Middleton did not respond to questions from The Texas Tribune about his campaign.

Polls show Middleton ahead

Polls show Middleton running just a few points behind Nathan Johnson ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

“just a few points behind”

Johnson criticizes Middleton

Johnson said Middleton’s views make him ‘not fit to be the top legal officer of the state’.

“not fit to be the top legal officer of the state”

Middleton’s faith priority

At Faith Fest, Middleton said his top priority would be to remind Texans that ‘our rights come from God, not government’.

“our rights come from god not government”

2023 chaplain bill passes

In 2023, a bill allowing religious chaplains in schools passed with Middleton’s support.

Opposition to chaplain bill

State Rep. James Talarico called the bill a ‘Trojan horse’ to indoctrinate kids with unqualified religious fanatics.

“trojan horse”

Freedom From Religion Foundation names Middleton

The Freedom From Religion Foundation named Middleton ‘Theocrat of the Week’.

“theocrat of the week”

Middleton’s Supreme Court comment

Middleton said the Supreme Court’s appointments under Trump made it possible to put God back in government.

“so what happened is, our u.s. supreme court, thanks to president trump’s appointments, made it possible for us to go win some of these fights and put god back in government”

Kennedy v Bremerton ruling

In 2022, the Supreme Court ruled in Kennedy v. Bremerton that church-state cases should consider historical context.

Middleton pushes for religious education

Middleton helped pass the Ten Commandments bill and prayer time bill in the legislature.