Joan Huffman Announces Run for Texas Attorney General

Texas Senator Joan Huffman Announces Run for Attorney General, Highlighting Legislative Record and Criminal Justice Stances

On June 23, 2025, Texas State Senator Joan Huffman announced her candidacy for Texas Attorney General, entering a competitive race to succeed Ken Paxton. Huffman, a Republican representing Senate District 17 since 2008, brings a robust background as a former prosecutor and judge, emphasizing her commitment to public safety, law enforcement, and conservative values. Her announcement, made via a press conference in Houston, positions her as a “respected, proven leader” with a track record of legislative achievements and a hardline stance on criminal justice. Below, we detail Huffman’s legislative accomplishments and her positions on key criminal justice issues as she seeks the state’s top legal office.

Announcement and Campaign Platform

Huffman’s candidacy launch underscored her extensive experience in the criminal justice system and her legislative tenure. Speaking to supporters, she pledged to uphold the rule of law, protect Texans from crime, and defend state sovereignty against federal overreach. “As a prosecutor, judge, and senator, I’ve dedicated my life to keeping our communities safe and ensuring justice is served,” Huffman stated. She highlighted her work on public safety, border security, and election integrity, framing herself as a steadfast conservative who will challenge the Biden administration’s policies and combat rising crime. Her campaign website emphasizes her role in passing “historic” legislation to secure borders, protect Second Amendment rights, and prevent liberal policies like defunding the police. As Attorney General, she vows to prioritize prosecuting human trafficking, fentanyl distribution, and election fraud while defending Texas’ legal interests in court.

Legislative Accomplishments

Huffman’s 17-year tenure in the Texas Senate, combined with her prior roles as a Harris County prosecutor and 183rd Criminal District Court judge, has produced a significant legislative portfolio, particularly in criminal justice, public safety, and fiscal policy. Below are key bills she has sponsored or championed, as documented by Texas Legislature Online, LegiScan, and other sources:

• Bail Reform (Senate Bill 6, 2021; Senate Bill 372, 2023): Huffman led efforts to reform Texas’ bail system, targeting the release of violent offenders. SB 6 (2021) increased requirements for denying bail in violent crime cases, while SB 372 (2023) aimed to protect judicial integrity by ensuring stricter bail enforcement. In 2025, she filed additional bail reform measures to keep repeat offenders off the streets.

• Combating Fentanyl (Senate Bill 645, 2023): Huffman authored legislation to strengthen penalties for fentanyl-related crimes, addressing the growing opioid crisis. The bill increased prosecutions for distribution and manufacturing, earning praise from law enforcement.

• Anti-Human Trafficking (Senate Bill 20, 2019; 2014 Legislation): Huffman’s SB 20 strengthened penalties for human trafficking and improved victim protections. Earlier, in 2014, she authored bills to enhance prosecution of human smuggling, reflecting her focus on dismantling trafficking networks.

• Election Integrity (2021 Legislation): Huffman co-sponsored legislation to prevent mail-in ballot fraud, increase penalties for vote harvesting, and require photo ID for voting. These measures aimed to secure Texas elections, aligning with Republican priorities.

• Anti-Defunding Police (Senate Bill 740, 2023): Huffman’s SB 740 prohibited counties from defunding district and county attorneys, reinforcing her support for law enforcement funding. She also passed a bill allowing the removal of prosecutors who refuse to uphold the law.

• Child Protection (2013, 2019 Legislation): Huffman sponsored bills to aid prosecution of child sexual assault cases (2013) and combat human trafficking (2019), including measures to admit evidence of similar offenses in child sex abuse cases. These earned her the Texas District and County Attorneys Association’s “Law and Order Award” three times.

• Public Safety and Border Security (2023, 2024): Huffman co-filed the Bishop Evans Act (2022) and a 2023 border security funding bill, allocating over $5 billion for border barriers and law enforcement to combat human trafficking and drug cartels. In 2024, she filed SB 552 to prevent illegal aliens from being eligible for probation.

• Mental Health and School Safety (2013, 2025): Huffman authored a 2013 bill for a mental health jail diversion pilot program in Harris County and, in 2025, secured final legislative approval for increased school safety funding.

• State Budget and Other Initiatives: As chair of the Senate Finance Committee since 2022, Huffman spearheaded unanimous Senate approval of the state’s budget in 2023 and 2025. She also filed Senate Bill 5 and Senate Joint Resolution 3 (2025) to establish the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and SB 379 (2023) to repeal the sales tax on feminine hygiene products.

Huffman’s legislative record also includes controversial actions, such as her 2021 role in creating heavily pro-Republican redistricting maps, criticized by The Guardian for failing to reflect Texas’ non-white population growth.

Criminal Justice Stances

Huffman’s criminal justice philosophy, shaped by her 20 years as a prosecutor and judge, emphasizes a “law and order” approach. Her stances include:

• Tough-on-Crime Policies: Huffman advocates for harsh penalties for violent offenders, drug traffickers, and human smugglers. Her bail reform legislation (SB 6, SB 372) and SB 552 (2024) reflect her belief that violent criminals and illegal immigrants should face stringent consequences, including denying probation for non-citizens.

• Support for Law Enforcement: Huffman is a vocal supporter of police, opposing efforts to defund law enforcement. Her SB 740 (2023) and anti-defunding bills ensure robust funding for prosecutors and police, while her public statements, including a 2022 condemnation of a police officer’s killing by a repeat offender, underscore her stance.

• Victim Protections: Huffman’s three-time receipt of the “Law and Order Award” from the Texas District and County Attorneys Association highlights her focus on victims’ rights, particularly for children and trafficking survivors. Her 2019 and 2013 bills strengthened protections and prosecution in sexual assault and trafficking cases.

• Border Security and Immigration: Huffman ties border security to criminal justice, advocating for over $5 billion in funding to combat drug and human trafficking. She supports building border barriers and has criticized Biden’s “open border policies” as enabling crime. Her 2024 bill (SB 552) aims to exclude illegal immigrants from probation eligibility.

• Judicial Integrity: Huffman’s 2023 SB 372 and SJR 44 (passed with bipartisan support) aim to prevent soft-on-crime judicial practices, such as lenient bail for violent offenders or tampering with ankle monitors (SB 1004, 2023).

• Fentanyl Crisis: Huffman’s SB 645 (2023) targets fentanyl distributors with stricter penalties, addressing the opioid epidemic as a public safety priority.

Huffman’s run for Attorney General positions her as a seasoned candidate with deep ties to Texas’ Republican establishment. Her leadership roles—chair of the Senate Finance Committee, former chair of the State Affairs Committee, and vice chair of the Criminal Justice Committee—bolster her credentials. However, her campaign faces challenges. Critics, including Texas Monthly, which named her among the “worst” legislators in 2013 and 2015 for sponsoring an amendment to shield spousal financial holdings, may question her transparency. Her 2021 redistricting maps also drew accusations of gerrymandering, potentially alienating moderate voters.

In the Republican primary, Huffman will compete against candidates who may appeal to the party’s more populist wing, leveraging Paxton’s legal battles to highlight her prosecutorial experience. Her bipartisan support on bills like SJR 44 and budget approvals could broaden her appeal, but her hardline stances may face scrutiny from progressive groups.

Senator Joan Huffman’s announcement for Texas Attorney General underscores her extensive legislative record and unwavering commitment to criminal justice reform, public safety, and conservative principles. With a career rooted in prosecuting crime and shaping policy, she has authored impactful bills on bail reform, fentanyl, human trafficking, and border security while championing law enforcement and victims’ rights. As the 2026 primary approaches, Huffman’s experience and tough-on-crime platform position her as a formidable contender, though she must navigate a competitive field and past criticisms to secure the nomination.

Sources:

• The Texas Tribune

• Texas Legislature Online

• Wikipedia

• Joan Huffman’s campaign website

• Ballotpedia

• LegiScan