Which Attorney General Should I Vote For?

The five Democratic candidates running for attorney general share similar policies and varying experiences, from an outspoken state legislator to a party-backed district attorney and former auditor general who advocate for collaborative approaches to justice.

Democratic prosecutors who seek Pennsylvania’s highest office, and some who favor reforms that take a less punitive approach towards minor drug offenses, are running for election as new Democratic prosecutors have launched their campaigns for political office. Spotlight PA takes an in-depth look at their campaigns.

Texas: Ken Paxton

Paxton made headlines again with an impeachment trial in 2022 which ultimately concluded in his acquittal on 16 articles alleging mishandling and corruption charges. According to allegations leveled against him, including using his office to support political donors like an Austin real estate investor named Nate Paul who helped remodel Paxton’s home while hiring someone he had an extramarital affair with, Paxton used his position for personal gain by using it in service of donor interests.

Paxton quickly made an impactful mark as attorney general during his first year, initiating investigations into human trafficking and religious liberty while fighting federal overreach, filing 27 lawsuits against Obama administration that have resulted in favorable rulings by higher courts. A staunch conservative, Paxton is known as an uncompromising champion of state sovereignty while being pro-life and anti-tax — making him popular with far right groups.

Pennsylvania: Keir Bradford-Grey

Keir Bradford-Grey possesses both courtroom experience and executive knowledge to be an exceptional attorney general. As Chief Public Defender in Montgomery County and Philadelphia, she oversaw 500 employees and an annual budget of $50 Million.

She used data-driven strategies to challenge long-standing assumptions, advocate for reforms and safeguard taxpayer dollars. She advocated for racial equality while creating programs like Philadelphia’s Pre-Entry Initiative that connect people who have been arrested with social services to avoid jail time or cash bail payments.

If elected, she plans on following Colorado’s model for fighting fentanyl trafficking by providing prevention, enforcement, treatment, and recovery solutions in her region. In addition, she supports abortion access and women’s rights as one of five Democratic candidates running for this position.

New Mexico: Raul Torrez

Torrez graduated from Sandia Preparatory School and Harvard before attending London School of Economics for his master’s and Stanford for law studies. While in Washington he served as White House Fellow under President Obama before returning home and becoming Assistant United States Attorney/Bernalillo County district Attorney.

Torrez defeated Republican Jeremy Gay to be selected as California’s next attorney general and will now oversee one of the state’s largest law offices as well as its enforcement and antitrust laws, criminal appeals prosecution and white-collar crime prosecution, training of police officers for certification, natural resource issues and environmental matters as well as overseeing natural resource and environmental matters. As acting AG Torrez has taken on right-wing militias while working through an overwhelming rape kit backlog; additionally supporting recently passed gun safety laws and taking on right-wing militias directly.

Wisconsin: Josh Kaul

Josh Kaul has used his office to use it as a bully pulpit, calling for tighter gun laws and passing legislation to reduce untested sexual assault kits backlog. Additionally, as Wisconsin’s environmental champion he has taken on polluters such as dairy farms and high capacity wells that pollute.

But he has also come under scrutiny for his approach to abortion. He filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn Wisconsin’s 19th century criminal abortion ban and pledged not to use state Department of Justice resources against anyone found violating it.

Republican Eric Toney lashed out during a debate with Kaul for being soft on crime, criticizing his slow turnaround times at the state lab and vacant investigator and prosecutor positions at both. Toney further asked whether Kaul would prosecute election-related offenses which according to Toney are normally prosecuted by district attorneys rather than attorney generals.

Michigan: Dana Nessel

As Michigan Attorney General, Nessel has transformed her office into one that advocates on behalf of all Michiganders. She’s launched initiatives for consumer protection and combatting state utility rate hikes; additionally she established a unit dedicated to prosecuting hate crimes and reviewing conviction integrity.

Her office issued a consumer alert, warning consumers to protect personal data on period and fertility tracking apps, including Nessel who pledged her support should Roe v Wade be overturned.

Nessel is the first openly LGBTQ person to hold statewide office, making her history-making history as she fights to ensure every vote counts and foil attempts at ballot tampering. Polls show she leads DePerno in terms of opinion polling; she’s also being supported by gun-control group Everytown.