Ten states held attorney general elections in 2020: Indiana, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia. No attorney general offices changed partisan control as a result of the 2020 elections.
Attorneys general are the top legal officers of their state or territory. They advise and represent their legislature and state agencies and act as the “People’s Lawyer” for the citizens. Most are elected, though a few are appointed by the governor. Select your state to connect to your state attorney general's website. Find your state or territory:
Dec 13, 2021 · Texas Attorney General election, 2022 (March 1 Republican primary) Incumbent Ken Paxton and George P. Bush were the top two finishers in the March 1 Republican primary for Texas Attorney General. Because no candidate won more than 50% of the vote, Paxton and Bush advanced to a May 24 primary runoff election.
Elections. Attorneys general are elected on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in federal midterm election years, e.g. 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030. Like all constitutional state officers, the attorney general assumes office on the first Monday in the new year following the election.
Additionally, each candidate for attorney general must: 1 Be a registered voter 2 Be registered with their party for at least three months#N#Not have been registered with a different political party in the last 12 months 3 Not have been previously term-limited out
Further, the attorney general plays a direct role in law enforcement efforts and "coordinates statewide narcotics enforcement efforts, participates in criminal investigations and provides forensic science services, identification and information services and telecommunication support.".
No Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Controller, Secretary of State, or Treasurer may serve in the same office for more than 2 terms.
The current officeholder is Rob Bonta, a Democrat. He was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to replace Xavier Becerra (D), who left office when he was confirmed as U.S. secretary of health and human services.
When a vacancy occurs, the governor nominates a replacement to serve the remainder of the term under the next election. The appointee must be confirmed by a majority of both house of the California legislature. Until the replacement is approved, the former officeholder's chief deputy exercises the office.
Duties. The attorney general acts as the state's chief law officer and oversees the California Department of Justice. He or she supervises the state's district and city attorneys, as well as its law enforcement officers.
State attorneys general enforce both state and federal laws. Because they are sworn to uphold the United States' constitution and laws as well as the state's, they often decline to defend the state in federal lawsuits.
The attorney general in Tennessee is appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court for an eight-year term. In Maine, the attorney general is elected by the state Legislature for a two-year term.
The state attorney general in each of the 50 U.S. states, of the federal district, or of any of the territories is the chief legal advisor to the state government and the state's chief law enforcement officer. In some states, the attorney general serves as the head of a state department of justice, with responsibilities similar to those of the United States Department of Justice.
The most prevalent method of selecting a state's attorney general is by popular election. 43 states have an elected attorney general. Elected attorneys general serve a four-year term, except in Vermont, where the term is two years.
Seven states do not popularly elect an attorney general. In Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Wyoming, the attorney general is a gubernatorial appointee. The attorney general in …
State attorneys general enforce both state and federal laws. Because they are sworn to uphold the United States' constitution and laws as well as the state's, they often decline to defend the state in federal lawsuits.
• State constitutional officer (United States)
• National Association of Attorneys General
• List of U.S. statewide elected officials
• Listing of official State Attorney General websites