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Mayes Middleton, running for Texas attorney general, addresses role of religion in government

State Sen. Mayes Middleton, a Republican candidate for Texas attorney general, has advocated for displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools and allowing religious chaplains in schools. A federal judge blocked a Ten Commandments law in 11 school districts, but Middleton's home district in Galveston was not covered by the injunction and displayed the posters after Paxton sued.

Where
Texas (Galveston, statewide)
When
Oct. 9, 2026
Sources
Reported by 2 outlets

Counties: Galveston

Taxes and money

None stated in sources.

Does this affect you?

Who's involved

  • Mayes MiddletonState Sen., Republican, running for Texas attorney general
  • Ken PaxtonAttorney General
  • Nathan JohnsonState Sen., Democratic opponent for Texas attorney general
  • James TalaricoState Rep., Austin Democrat and Presbyterian pastor
  • David BartonFormer Texas GOP chair
  • Annie Laurie GaylorPresident of Freedom From Religion Foundation Action Fund

The facts

  • Parents sued over a state law requiring public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments.2
  • A federal judge blocked the Ten Commandments law in 11 school districts, citing a 1980 Supreme Court ruling.2
  • Middleton's home school district in Galveston was not covered by the judge's injunction.2
  • Middleton donated Ten Commandments posters and pressed his district to hang them.2
  • Attorney General Ken Paxton sued and a judge ordered the Galveston district to hang the signs.2
  • Middleton carried bills requiring Ten Commandments in classrooms and allowing prayer time during school.2
  • Middleton agreed to carry a proposal to allow religious chaplains to serve in schools.2
  • The election is Nov. 3, 2026; polls show Johnson running just a few points behind Middleton.2

Who said what

These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.

  • Mayes Middleton There is no such thing as 'separation of church and state' in our Constitution; schools are not God-free zones.2
  • Mayes Middleton Our rights come from God, not government.2
  • Mayes Middleton Texas must remain grounded in Judeo-Christian principles that have made us strong.2
  • David Barton Endorsed Middleton as a man of sincere Christian faith.2
  • Annie Laurie Gaylor Middleton would have all non-Christians be second-class citizens.2
  • James Talarico Religious chaplains proposal is a Trojan horse to allow unqualified religious fanatics to indoctrinate students.2

Sources

Outlets: 2 left-leaning, 1 not rated Only left-leaning outlets reported this Who's covering Texas →

These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.

  1. Mayes Middleton, running for Texas attorney general, wants to “put God back in government” The Texas Tribune Lean Left, October 9, 2026
  2. Mayes Middleton, running for Texas attorney general, wants to “put God back in government” The Texas Tribune Lean Left, October 9, 2026
  3. Mayes Middleton, running for Texas attorney general, wants to ‘put God back in government’ Odessa American Not rated, October 9, 2026

Also reported by KETK.com.

This sheet was written by AI from the sources above and adds nothing they don't state. Read the originals for full context.

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