Mayes Middleton
David Mayes Middleton II is an American businessman and politician serving as a member of the Texas Senate for the 11th district. Previously, he served as a Texas House of Representatives for district 23. A member of the Republican Party, Middleton has been in the Texas legislature since January 8, 2019. He is running for Texas Attorney General in the 2026 election.
Early life and education
David Mayes Middleton II was born in Wallisville, Texas, an unincorporated town in northern Chambers County, Texas. Middleton's father, John Gregg Middleton, named his son after his deceased brother, David Mayes Middleton. Middleton is also the great-grandson of Effie Mayes and Archie David Middleton. Middleton received a degree in finance from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Juris Doctor from University of Texas Law School.Business career
Middleton serves as president of Middleton Oil Company, an independent oil and gas company that operates in South Texas and the Gulf Coast. Middleton Oil Company currently claims three employees, and generates an estimated annual revenue of ~$800,000. Middleton owns and manages ranching, cattle, and farming operations in Chambers, Jefferson, Kimble, Liberty, and Webb Counties. He serves on the Board of Directors of First Liberty National Bank, a community bank with locations in the Texas cities of Baytown, China, Dayton, Hardin, Huffman, and Liberty.Political career
Middleton served in the Texas House of Representatives for district 23. At one time, he was Chairman of the Texas Freedom Caucus.Texas House of Representatives
Middleton was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in November 2018 Middleton was re-elected in 2020.;2018
In the 2018 primary election, he successfully challenged two-term incumbent representative Wayne Faircloth, an ally of House Speaker Joe Straus. In the November 6, 2018, general election Middleton defeated Democrat Amanda Jamrok.
;2020
Middleton ran unopposed in the Republican primary election held on March 3, 2020. He defeated Democrat Jeff Antonelli in the 2020 general election.
House committee assignments
- 87th legislative session
- * Insurance
- * Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
- * Local & Consent Calendars
- * State Water Implementation Fund for Texas Advisory
- * Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund Advisory
- 86th legislative session
- * Co-chair, Coastal Barrier System
- * Elections
- * Local & Consent Calendars
- * Urban Affairs
Senate committee assignments
- 88th legislative session
- * Administration
- * Business & Commerce
- * Committee of the Whole Senate
- * Education
- * Vice Chair, Subcommittee on Higher Education
- * Jurisprudence
- * State Affairs
2022 Texas Senate race
On December 28, 2021, Middleton announced the endorsement of former US president Donald Trump. In a statement endorsing Middleton's senate race, Trump called Middleton "a very effective leader in the Texas House" and said his "voting record on conservative issues is second to none," closing by writing, "I am proud to give my Complete and Total Endorsement to a MAGA champion, Mayes Middleton."
Middleton was elected without opposition in the 2022 general election.
2025 off-year redistricting
Middleton issued a racist slur aimed at State House Representative of Texas' 137th district, Gene Wu, in response to Wu joining 53 House members leaving the state to deny quorum for Republicans' attempt to execute an off-year redistricting of Texas political maps at the behest of Governor Greg Abbott, as directed by President Donald Trump, writing on social media platform X,Is Wu back in China?Wu is a naturalized US citizen, born in China and immigrating to the State of Texas as an infant.
Reflecting on Middleton's statement in context, Texas State Senate Representative serving Texas 15th District, Molly Cook, remarked,
This tweet makes it hard for me to believe y’all when you say you’re not undertaking racist gerrymandering.The Bay Area Democratic Movement called on Middleton to resign following the racist remark, saying
I don’t know how you can darken the door of a church and say stuff like this.
Senator Middleton represents a very diverse population in the Bay Area. The state does not need an individual running for the highest legal office in the state who spouts off racist comments. Middleton claims to be a conservative and devout Christian but making racist comments are neither a conservative value nor a Christian value.
Personal life
He and his wife, Macy, have four children. He is a Christian. The Middleton family currently resides in a home located on the east-end of Galveston Island. The Middleton family also own a home in Wallisville, Texas, built by Middleton's great-grandparents in 1905.He serves on the board of directors of the Wallisville Heritage Park, an historical museum in Chambers County, Texas.
Middleton is a former member of the board of directors of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. He was elected to the board in January 2016, but had to relinquish his seat in June 2017 when he announced his candidacy for the Texas House of Representatives due to a requirement in the foundation's bylaws.
In 2017, he served as a member of the executive committee for the Texas Business Leadership Council, a 501 nonprofit organization of Texas-based CEOs and business executives that advocates for free enterprise public policies in Texas government.