Nathan Johnson won the election for Texas Attorney General on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, shifting from his past work as an anime composer to the state’s top legal office. The Democratic state senator defeated Republican Mayes Middleton after counting concluded. Before politics, Johnson composed music for the English dub of Dragon Ball Z [1].
Midterm Election Results in Texas
The election outcome became clear once election workers tabulated an estimated 99% of the ballots, representing about 9.8 million votes cast by citizens across the state. Nathan Johnson secured 5,133,762 votes, which gave him 52.4% of the total vote share. His main challenger, Republican Mayes Middleton, collected 4,502,859 votes to finish with 45.9%. Libertarian candidate Tom Oxford received 165,574 votes, accounting for 1.7% of the total tally. The wide margin handed Democrats their strongest statewide showing in years as vote totals finalized on Tuesday evening. County election offices confirmed that turnout remained steady in metropolitan areas, helping Johnson build a lead that Middleton couldn’t overcome as late tallies arrived from larger voting districts [1].
Johnson welcomed the outcome after polls closed on Tuesday night. “This is a tremendous honor, and a tremendous responsibility,” he declared to his supporters. The outgoing Attorney General, Ken Paxton, conceded his own Senate race to Democrat James Talarico that same evening [1].
Johnson will take office in January 2027, when he formally assumes his duties as chief legal officer for Texas. State agencies will adjust to new administrative guidance after years under conservative control. News outlets covering international entertainment, including Japan Today, also reported the victory due to Johnson’s unique creative background [3]. The transition sets up fresh priorities for the office as staff prepare for the incoming administration [2].
Nathan Johnson and the Democratic Turn
The election marks the first time in 32 years that a Democrat has won the race for Texas Attorney General. The last member of the party to hold the office was Dan Morales, who won his general election contest back in 1994. Since that victory more than three decades ago, Republicans had preserved an unbroken hold on the seat through successive statewide ballots. Johnson’s win breaks that long tenure, proving that a well-organized campaign can assemble a winning coalition even in conservative strongholds. Political strategists followed the contest closely as early returns showed strong Democratic turnout across urban counties, where high participation helped offset traditional rural voting patterns and secured an outcome that few expected earlier in the campaign cycle [2].
Nathan Johnson didn’t enter the statewide race as a newcomer to state politics. He has served in the Texas Senate representing District 16 since 2019. He first won that legislative seat in November 2018, defeating a Republican incumbent to flip the district [1].
His legislative service gave him direct familiarity with Texas statutes, but his background remained unusual among lawmakers because of his artistic work. Many colleagues spent their early careers in private law practices, whereas Johnson brought experience from studio composition and sound design. That background helped him stand out during legislative debates and later gave his statewide campaign a distinct appeal among independent voters [2].
Scoring the Dragon Ball Z English Dub
Before entering politics, Johnson worked as a composer for Funimation’s English dub of Dragon Ball Z. He created original music for the first 67 episodes of the 2005 Ultimate Uncut edition of the series, crafting electronic tracks to accompany the early battles on Earth and planet Namek. His compositions replaced earlier music cues to give the re-edited broadcast a fresh, modern energy that resonated with television audiences. Beyond the weekly television episodes, Johnson scored five feature films in the popular anime franchise, including Broly: Second Coming, Fusion Reborn, and Wrath of the Dragon. Those movie scores required studio recordings and complex melodic arrangements to match the fast-moving combat sequences and dramatic character dialogues of Japanese animation [2].
Despite that extensive body of work, Johnson hadn’t watched anime before getting hired. In a 2012 interview with The Dao of Dragon Ball, he revealed that he had never seen the show before his audition and initially struggled to connect with its characters [2].
He soon developed an appreciation for the story, particularly through the character of Gohan. The emotional relationship between Gohan and his father resonated with Johnson as a parent, helping him write themes that captured genuine emotional depth during key story arcs. Fans still discuss those tracks while exploring the evolution of the franchise, which has seen developments like Toyotarou taking the lead on Dragon Ball Super [2].
Nathan Johnson on the Campaign Trail
When Nathan Johnson launched his first legislative campaign for the Texas Senate in 2018, his past musical work quickly became an unexpected conversation starter with voters. Speaking to The Dao of Dragon Ball after that election victory, he explained how younger voters reacted when they discovered his studio history: “Along the way some of them found out about my music background, and specifically about Dragon Ball Z, and they got really excited about it,” he explained. That recognition opened doors to casual conversations on college campuses and community forums where political candidates often struggle to engage student populations. Rather than downplaying his entertainment work, Johnson embraced the connection, showing that professional diversity can make public officials more relatable to everyday citizens [2].
Johnson found that the themes of the anime mirrored his personal approach to politics. In a 2017 interview, he said that the story’s focus on unlikely allies cooperating to solve problems reflected his own legislative philosophy: “I can never not be a part of Dragon Ball Z,” he said [2].
That message of cooperation remained central during his 2026 attorney general campaign. Supporters shared clips of his anime compositions across social media channels, giving his run organic publicity beyond typical political campaign advertisements. He addressed standard campaign topics like consumer protection, state regulations, and civil liberties, but his creative identity helped him connect with younger demographics that do not always turn out in midterm elections. That cultural crossover gave his candidacy a distinct profile throughout the state [2].
Anime Across Political Campaigns
Nathan Johnson is not the only political figure whose public life intersects with Japanese popular culture. In Japan, former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba once appeared at a public gathering dressed as Majin Buu, showing how anime references occasionally appear in political contexts overseas. In Canada, Terri Hawkes, who voiced the lead role in the original English dub of Sailor Moon, ran for Toronto City Council in Ward 11 (University-Rosedale) during the October 2026 local elections. Results published on October 26 by the Toronto City Clerk’s Office confirmed that Hawkes secured 3,782 votes, or 11.1% of the 41,944 ballots cast, concluding a bid that began when she launched her run in May [1].
Political social media accounts have also used anime imagery to attract attention online. On the eve of Election Day, the White House X account posted an artificial intelligence image styled after One Piece, showing President Donald Trump on the ship Going Merry with the caption “The Mark of a Good Crew” [1].
Similar posts included a June video with Trump dressed like Naruto, as well as official videos incorporating clips from Dragon Ball Super and Yu-Gi-Oh!. Those posts drew objections from copyright holders and foreign officials. Shige Watanabe, a deputy director-general in Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, criticized unauthorized government use in April, saying, “It is inappropriate even for public institutions to reproduce copyrighted works without permission.” In contrast, Johnson enters public office with authentic creative credentials, bringing a former anime composer into the leadership of a state justice department [1].
- ONLINE NEWS Iikura-Gross, K. (2026, November 5). Dragon Ball Z’s English dub composer elected as Texas Attorney General. Anime News Network. [Article Link]
- ONLINE NEWS Gwilliam, M. (2026, November 4). Dragon Ball Z composer elected Texas Attorney General. Dexerto. [Article Link]
- ONLINE NEWS Japan Today. (2026, November). Dragon Ball Z composer elected to Texas Attorney General. [Article Link]
